Skip to content

Design Guide

Planning for Stormwater


Lawrence Street, CHICAGO, IL
CanonCorp Engineering

Sustainable stormwater management works to reconcile natural hydrology with human land use and development. Typically, a city’s stormwater management strategy is driven by federal regulatory requirements, existing sewer infrastructure, and the regional climate and ecology. Plans and strategies take shape within the context of the street, where transportation and utility infrastructure compete for space and zoning codes shape development patterns.

Integrating green stormwater infrastructure into the right-of-way requires a coordinated approach and a holistic vision for sustainable urban design. Planning a stormwater network concurrently with an active transportation network unlocks new opportunities for cities and their streets.


Adapted from the Urban Street Stormwater Guide, published by Island Press, an imprint of Princeton University Press. © Copyright 2017 National Association of City Transportation Officials.