How 5 State Capitals Design Green with The Help of The EPA

Indiana State Capitol Market St. Going Green with the EPA

EPA Partnering with State Capitals on Green Design to Strengthen Local Economies and Protect Consumer Health 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that the capital cities of Louisiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, and Montana will be awarded design assistance from EPA to create healthy, prosperous communities through green development.

The EPA’s Greening America’s Capitals (GAC) program will help those capital cities provide more housing and transportation choices, stimulate economic development, and reduce infrastructure and energy costs. The EPA will provide design assistance from private-sector experts to help the chosen capital cities demonstrate sustainable designs that create vibrant neighborhoods while strengthening the local economies through attracting business and protecting people’s health.

GAC is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities with the EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This is the third year of the successful Greening America’s Capitals program. Capital cities selected in the first two years included Boston, Mass.; Charleston, W.Va.; Hartford, Conn.; Jackson, Miss.; Jefferson City, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Little Rock, Ark.; Montgomery, Ala.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Washington, D.C.

The Following Five Cities Were Selected For Assistance Through a National Competition:

•    Indianapolis, Ind. will receive assistance to make streets more pedestrian-friendly and revitalize public plazas within and adjacent to the Market Square redevelopment area. The project will tie in with the city’s larger plan to develop businesses in a new green cultural district.

•    Des Moines, Iowa will receive assistance to incorporate green infrastructure elements into a proposed streetscape plan for a one-mile segment of 6th Avenue. The project will revitalize the commercial street that serves as the northern gateway to the city’s downtown.

•    Frankfort, Ky. will receive assistance to enhance walkability and add bike lanes between the historic downtown and the State Capitol. The project will also connect the downtown with the proposed Kentucky River trail.

•    Baton Rouge, La. will receive assistance to incorporate green infrastructure elements into a proposed walking and biking trail that connects Louisiana State University with the city’s downtown.

•    Helena, Mont. will receive assistance to improve the walkability and add bike lanes along Last Chance Gulch, a street that connects the northern part of the Helena business district with the historic downtown. The project will also explore design alternatives for a five-way intersection to enhance walkability.

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