In a ceremony to highlight local efforts to conduct heat mitigation, Phoenix leaders, including Mayor Kate Gallego and Vice Mayor-Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari, helped celebrate the laying of the 100th mile of cool pavement in the fifth-largest city in the nation at 81st Avenue and Hammond Lane in Estrella Village.
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Cool Pavement, unlike conventional dark pavement, reflects back shortwave solar radiation out of the local atmosphere and reduces the extreme heat in the impacted area. Other benefits include reduced energy usage and improvement in air quality.
From Mayor Kate Gallego’s Twitter Page.
Speaking at the event that was attended by local, national, and international city representatives that are members of the Sustainability focused C40 Cities organization, Mayor Gallego said:
“We are excited to be with you to mark Phoenix’s leadership in sustainability and building a more comfortable future city…Cool Pavement is one thing, a very cool thing we’re doing to create a more sustainable, comfortable Phoenix. A Phoenix that is resilient and thriving in the desert heat…My goal is to make Phoenix the most sustainable city in the desert world…Cool Pavement not only reduces surface temperatures but also lengthens the maintenance of our streets…I am equally excited that Cool Pavement has created local jobs…It’s safe to say that once again Phoenix is on the world stage for our data-driven solutions. I couldn’t be prouder to recognize this milestone here with you today. Here’s to a hundred miles.
Later on social media, Mayor Gallego posted:
🆒 NEWS: Three years after launching our Cool Pavement program, we've installed over 100 miles of cool coating across Phoenix!
This innovative coating is produced locally and is proven to reduce street surface temperatures by up to 12 degrees! 😎 pic.twitter.com/XLqoX3AkjM
Vice Mayor and Councilwoman Ansari, who represents the area where the 10oth mile of Cool Pavement was laid today spoke next.
Among her remarks were:
“100 miles of Cool Pavement is an extremely impressive milestone that will make such a difference for our residents. Walking to a neighborhood park or grocery store will become a cooler experience once this coat is applied. Whether you’re walking to a local bus stop or taking an evening stroll with a pet, you should be able to feel the difference and they will too…In addition to the impact Cool Pavement has in reflecting heat and lowering the overnight temperature, Cool Pavement is also a very sustainable heat mitigation tool…This is just one part of the puzzle. We’re very very focused on climate and sustainability…Our Cool Pavement efforts paired with our 250 cool corridor goal by 2050 has Phoenix, the fifth largest and fastest growing city in the country on the strongest path for a greener and more heat-ready future.”
The Vice Mayor later posted on social media:
It was especially meaningful to have this celebration take place in the Estrella Village of #PHXD7 — an area where I’ve fought to bring new bus routes, a long-promised regional park & safer, shaded streets.
