City Council plans green roofs for bus shelters under R225 pilot program

The Environmental Matters Committee of Annapolis convened on April 10, 2025, to discuss several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the city’s environmental sustainability. The meeting focused primarily on the proposed R225 demonstration program, which aims to establish green roofs on city bus shelters.

The discussion began with a report on the feasibility of implementing green roofs. A committee member shared insights from a recent tour of various bus shelters conducted with the director of transportation and a representative from the Department of Public Works. The city has three types of bus shelters: domed shelters owned by an advertising company, slanted roof shelters, and flat-roofed shelters owned by the city. The domed shelters were deemed unsuitable for green roofs due to their design, while the slanted shelters posed challenges for installation. The flat-roofed shelters were identified as the most viable option, with eight potential locations identified for the pilot program.

The committee plans to select five of these flat-roofed shelters for the green roof initiative. However, further evaluations are necessary to ensure that the selected shelters can support the additional weight and drainage requirements of a green roof. The committee acknowledged the need for structural assessments and potential improvements to the shelters before proceeding.

In addition to the green roofs discussion, a member raised a question regarding the pollinator program. The committee confirmed that a presentation outlining the details of the program would be shared with all council members for further review. This presentation will include diagrams and information about the plants involved in the program.

The meeting also addressed the current contract related to the pollinator park, which covers monitoring, assessment, feasibility studies, and design plans. The committee confirmed that sufficient funds remain available to implement the project, including site preparation and planting.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city’s commitment to enhancing its environmental initiatives through innovative projects like green roofs and pollinator parks. The committee plans to continue evaluating these projects and will provide updates as they progress.