Flexi-Pave, the new standard for sidewalks in Washington, DC

With more than 160,000 square feet of Flexi-Pave installed in the greater Washington DC area, Flexi-Pave is becoming a household name. Landscape Architects, Engineers, Planners, Arborists, and many others are spec’ing Flexi-Pave on their projects each week. ANC commissions are also seeing the benefits of Flexi-Pave and are now submitting their own lists of areas where they want Flexi-Pave installed in their wards. Almost every day, a Flexi-Pave crew can be seen somewhere in DC installing this revolutionary new sustainable paving material. Read more about it in this article in Elevation DC.

ANC 6B Unanimously Approves Use of Flexi-Pave throughout their district

In late 2013 the ANC 6B commission voted unanimously to support a resolution on the use of Flexi-Pave material to repair sidewalks in southeast Capitol Hill.

Eastern Market Historic District Installs Flexi-Pave Sidewalks

Change is always difficult, but in time better technology can meld seamlessly with historic standards. This couldn’t be more true than in Washington DC’s historic Eastern Market where Flexi-Pave has begun to be installed. Business owners and residents were cautious at first, but have since come to see the benefits of this remarkable flexible porous pavement. The ability to eliminate tripping hazards caused by tree roots, and to improve tree health by allowing copious amounts of air and water infiltrating through the pavement have now been realized. Read more about it in this article in the Capital Community News.

Mayor Vincent Gray pleased with Flexi-Pave Sidewalks

On a recent visit to Eastern Market (7th St north of Pennsylvania Ave), Mayor Gray was so pleased about the installation of Flexi-Pave Sidewalks there that he Tweeted about it.

.@SustainDC RT @DDOTDC: We're installing new flex sidewalks on 7th St SE near E. Market. Flex-pave reduces runoff & is better for trees.

— Vincent C. Gray (@mayorvincegray) October 16, 2013

State of Maryland Officially Approves Flexi-Pave for Statewide Use

In October of 2013 the State of Maryland Department of General Services officially approved Flexi-Pave for statewide use. Flexi-Pave had already been in use throughout Maryland, but with the formal approval from the State more widespread use is expected. Several projects already installed in Maryland include:

ANC 1B Approves Flexi-Pave Sidewalks & Tree Surrounds

ANC 1B Flexi-pave approval_Minutes_08012013

Another ANC Commission approves the use of Flexi-Pave in their district.

DDOT Endorses Flexi-Pave for Citywide Use

Washington DC is the latest municipality to adopt Flexi-Pave for use as Tree Surrounds and city Sidewalks. Starting in May 2013, Capitol Flexi-Pave entered into a multi-year contract with DDOT to replace failing tree surrounds and sidewalks throughout the city. But rather than just replace the tree grates or fill in the 4’x10′ tree pits with Flexi-Pave, UFA & DDOT decided to take it one step further and actually improve the microenvironment fo the district trees. This is being accomplished by enlarging the tree boxes to approximately 18′ wide and and deep as the current sidewalk is. After the failing concrete is removed, the soil is aerated with a Supersonic Air Knife and Soil Amendments are added to the soil. Then the flexible porous paving is installed flush with the existing sidewalks and paved up to the tree trunk so the soil will no longer be compacted by heavy pedestrian foot traffic, especially in areas near bus stops. Special installation techniques are used where the Flexi-Pave meets the buttress roots of the trees so that as the trunks continue to grow in diameter, the Flexi-Pave can self-adjust without girdling the tree.

Georgetown Tree Surrounds in the News

Wondering what the new tree surrounds in Georgetown were all about? Read the signs! Then read more about it in DC’s Neighborhood Blog PoPville.

Georgetown begins Flexi-Pave pilot program

Recognizing the challenge keeping trees alive while being trampled by thousands of pedestrians along narrow sidewalks to patronize the high end shops and restaurants in Georgetown, the Business Improvement District needed a solution. John Wiebenson & Johnathon Kass of the Georgetown BID consulted with DDOT officials and the Urban Forestry Administration’s director John Thomas and Urban Forester Joey Perez. They began exploring alternative solutions to meet both the pedestrian safety and tree preservation goals. Flexi-Pave quickly rose to the top of the list of options, so a pilot program on M Street Northwest was started in early 2013 to evaluate the effectiveness of installing Flexi-pave as a replacement for cast-iron tree grates and compacted dirt filled tree boxes. Initially 5 tree boxes were decompacted using the Supersonic Air Knife before being paved with the Flexible Porous Paving material Flexi-Pave which is made from recycled tires and an elastomeric binder so it will allow for continued tree growth without harming the trees as well as allow air and water to pass through to the critical root zone. Read more about it in this article from the Georgetowner.

Total Maximum Daily Loads – the 411

To alleviate the problem of eutrophication, EPA created the Clean Water Act to require states to adopt Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) limits as the basis of their water quality improvement. Flexi-Pave has proven to be a cost effective solution for the removal of nutrients from storm water and reducing nutrient pollution. A long term water quality study conducted in 2010 by a Civil Engineering & Environmental Firm showed an amazing 83% reduction in nitrates and an 88% reduction in phosphates from contaminated water flowing through Flexi-Pave.