A New Approach to I-787
BY ELIZABETH LOGIUDICE
Climate change is making it imperative for every city to take bold steps toward greater sustainability, while preparing for disruptions caused by extreme weather. The City of Albany has been a leader in Climate Action Planning, earning Bronze level certification as a NYS Climate Smart Community in 2019. In addition to tackling an array of projects to lower its carbon footprint, the municipality has been taking steps to address climate-related impacts by producing a Vulnerability and Adaptation Plan, conducting the Hudson River Shoreline Stabilization Study and addressing combined sewer overflows with initiatives such as the Beaver Creek Clean River Project.
Considering the removal of portions of I-787 presents another opportunity for Albany to meaningfully address issues of waterfront sustainability and resilience. Although the Capital District Transportation Committee’s I-787 Corridor Study (2018) did not consider making major changes to the highway, the time is ripe for Albany to envision a new waterfront with climate resilience in mind.
Looking at the Albany Riverfront Collaborative’s vision for the new waterfront as depicted on its website’s homepage, there are many elements consistent with resilient design, as defined by Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines. The removal of paved surfaces; restoration of natural land cover and expansion of vegetated areas will reduce stormwater runoff, flooding, and the urban heat island effect while increasing habitats, biodiversity and public amenities. Greater river access and connectivity offers the potential to establish flood-adapted, water-dependent uses on the waterfront. All of these changes could lead to greater climate resilience for Albany.
Establishing Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines.
Albany Riverfront Collaborative’s commitment to its stated principles is another important aspect of resilient design. The Collaborative’s principle of “seeking systemic change” demands the consideration of the potential pitfalls of reclaiming the waterfront. Projects that increase amenities like parks and waterfront access are known contribute to gentrification. Efforts to combat gentrification, including affordable housing, must be an integral part of this project from its inception. The Collaborative’s principle of going “beyond inclusion to co-creation” begins to address this concern.
But the effort to construct affordable housing and other buildings in the re-claimed area is complicated by the fact that it is located in the FEMA 100-year flood zone. Rather than being flooded every century, the 100-year floodplain has a 1% chance of being flooded annually. These 1% annual chance floods can be extremely destructive and hazardous. The location of the project in the 100-year floodplain may limit what can be built – either from a regulatory or a feasibility perspective. While affordable housing is needed to avoid gentrification, areas designated for development may be unsuitable for residential use due to present and future flood risk.
Scenic Hudson’s interactive Sea Level Rise Mapper, depicting 100-year flood in Albany.
The effects of sea-level rise on the tidal Hudson are projected to increase the size of Albany’s 100-year floodplain, and will likely contribute to the severity of flooding. NYS has issued official sea-level rise projections that predict the mid-Hudson area could experience as much as 54” of sea-level rise by 2080. Rather than allowing flood risk to dampen enthusiasm for reimagining the 787 corridor, innovative and resilient design provides opportunities to fully consider options for a more connected, equitable and climate-adapted city.
There are many tools available to help Hudson Valley localities characterize present and future climate risk. Here are a few that readers may want to explore:
· Scenic Hudson’s Sea Level Rise Mapper
· Hudson River Flood Decision Support System
· First Street Foundation’s Flood Factor
· Headwater Economics’ Neighborhoods at Risk tool
· NYS Sea Grant’s Hudson Dynamic Shorelines StoryMap •
Elizabeth LoGiudice is an environmental educator and communications specialist. She has been providing education and resources on aquatic ecology, watershed protection, and climate change adaptation for nearly twenty years. You can find out more at Resilience Communications.