Say goodbye to old highways – the future of American driving is already here

What We Know

The Ray is reimagining American highways by paving with rubber-modified asphalt made from recycled scrap tires. Currently being tested on an 18-mile "living laboratory" in Georgia, this material turns a major waste problem into a high-performance roadway. Beyond the pavement, the nonprofit is testing 13 different initiatives, including replacing roadside grass with pollinator meadows to reduce mowing costs and boost local biodiversity.

What They're Saying

Executive Director Allie Kelly highlights a "win-win" for both the planet and the public, noting that these roads are quieter, last longer, and even reduce tire wear for drivers. The ultimate goal is a “net-zero highway system” defined by zero deaths, zero carbon, and zero waste. While the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has announced it will sunset by 2030 to maximize its immediate impact, The Ray's mission continues with urgency. John Lanier emphasizes that the family is "jumping in" now to create "as much impact as we possibly can."

What's Next

The Ray is focused on rapidly expanding its proven technologies, which already provide technical assistance to over half of the DOTs in the country. The goal is to ensure that eco-friendly innovations—from tire-based asphalt to solar-integrated roadsides—become the permanent national standard. By proving the success of these 13 initiatives today, The Ray is building the blueprint for a sustainable transportation system that will outlast the 2030 foundation sunset and thrive for decades to come.