Complete Street

Resources, Policies, and Ordinances

 

National Highway Traffic Safety Association- www.nhtsa.dot.gov

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has a Resource Guide on Laws Related to Pedestrians and Bicycle Safety available on-line. It includes model laws and ordinances, based on crash research, designed to have a positive effect on pedestrian or bicycle safety. (At the NHTSA site, type "Resource Guide" in the "Search NHTSA" box, and follow directions to download.)

 

The Livable City (TLC)- http://livablecity.org/campaigns/completestreets.html

Livable City will work to secure funding in the 2006-2007 budget year for an inter-departmental effort to create a comprehensive set of complete streets standards. These standards should address all transportation modes and street types, and include environmental and aesthetic standards. The city's standards should include both minimum (least acceptable) and optimum (best possible) values. The effort should include the SFCTA, MTA, Department of Public Works, Department of Public Health, Planning Department, Public Utilities Commission, Redevelopment Agency, and Department of the Environment. At least $250,000 should be allocated to this effort, include full funding for the Pedestrian Master Plan, and funding for city staff, technical and planning consultants, and broad outreach.

 

Seattle's "Complete Streets" Principles

Guiding Principle:  To design, operate and maintain Seattle's streets to promote safe and convenient access and travel for all users; pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and disabled users, as well as cars and trucks.  This will be accomplished by -

 

1.  Designing, operating and maintaining the transportation network to improve travel conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit and freight, in a manner consistent with and supportive of the surrounding community;

 

2.  Providing where practical an array of facilities and amenities that are recognized as contributing to Complete Streets, including: street and sidewalk lighting; pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; access improvements for freight; access improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; public transit facilities accommodation, including but not limited to pedestrian access improvement to transit stops and stations; street trees and landscaping; and street amenities -  all consistent with Section 3 of the Resolution; and

 

3. Implementing policies and procedures with the construction, reconstruction or other changes of transportation facilities on arterial streets to support the creation of Complete Streets including capital improvements, rechannelization projects and major maintenance, recognizing that all streets are different and in each case user needs must be balanced.

 

Railvolution Complete Streets Power Point www.railvolution.com/rv2005_pdfs/rv2005_228d.pdf

 

Thunderhead Alliance- www.thunderheadalliance.org

In early 2005 the Thunderhead Alliance, a bicycle advocacy organization, published the Complete Streets Report, Analysis of a Survey of Complete Street Laws, Policies and Plans in the United States.  Their guide, “Thunderhead Alliance Guide to Complete Streets Campaigns” is available at all on-line booksellers; ISBN: 0-595-39318-7.

 

Complete the Streets- www.completestreets.org

Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users.  Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete street.  Creating complete streets means changing the policies and practices of transportation agencies.  A complete streets policy ensures that the entire right of way is routinely designed and operated to enable safe access for all users.  Transportation agencies must ensure that all road projects result in a complete street appropriate to local context and needs.

 

Elements of a Good Complete Streets Policy

A good complete streets policy: 

  • Specifies that ‘all users’ includes pedestrians, bicyclists, transit vehicles and users, and motorists, of all ages and abilities.
  • Aims to create a comprehensive, integrated, connected network.
  • Recognizes the need for flexibility: that all streets are different and user needs will be balanced.
  • Is adoptable by all agencies to cover all roads.
  • Applies to both new and retrofit projects, including design, planning, maintenance, and operations, for the entire right of way.
  • Makes any exceptions specific and sets a clear procedure that requires high-level approval of exceptions.
  • Directs the use of the latest and best design standards.
  • Directs that complete streets solutions fit in with context of the community.
  • Establishes performance standards with measurable outcomes.

 

Implementation

An effective complete streets policy should prompt transportation agencies to:

  • Restructure their procedures to accommodate all users on every project.
  • Re-write their design manuals to encompass the safety of all users.
  • Re-train planners and engineers in balancing the needs of diverse users.
  • Create new data collection procedures to track how well the streets are serving all users.