CHICAGO -- Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's green initiative is gaining ground yet again -- this time with two new infrastructure technologies.

Cheri Heramb with the Chicago Department of Transportation said the aim of the initiative is to become the "greenest city in the world."

Chicago is taking one more step toward that goal with new green infrastructure technology.

The DOT has kicked off a pilot program to test 550 feet of recycled rubber sidewalk over the next year, right across the street from the Chicago Center for Green Technology on the city's West Side.

Sadhu Johnston, with the city's Department of Environment, explained the logic behind rubber sidewalks.

"We've all seen video of huge mountains of tires. All of it sitting there for years. Well, here is a productive use of that rubber material," Johnston said.

Heramb said the test is to see how durable the material is.

"We're going to examin how durable, if they're prone to theft, how they stand up to snow and ice, (are they) easier for people to walk on," she said.

As Kermit said, it's not easy being green. And it's not cheap, either. Rubber sidewalks cost about two to three times more than traditional sidewalks, but city officials said the savings go beyond dollars and cents.

"Not factored into that cost is that you'd be using recycled material," Heramb said. "It's good for the environment."

It could also be good for future maintenance costs.

"One of the great things about this is when roots grow under sidewalks. (With) normal concrete, you see concrete popping up, but with this you don't see it; you pull it up, trim it up and put them back down," Johnston said. "So, this technoloy not only reuses material but could potentially save money for the city of Chicago."

Chicago's first solar-powered bus shelter will also save money for the city, according to Heramb.

"There's cells that power the lights in the shelter," she said.

About 100 solar shelters will be installed next year by the company that has the contract for shelter advertising. The installation will save the city an estimated $20,000 in electricity costs every year, according to Heramb.

The city is also testing out a Green Alley program, using porous material instead of asphalt to promote drainage and lessen damage.

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