Complete Streets

The latest developments, events, and resources from the National Complete Streets Coalition:

The Champions Institute is back with its third cohort of local leaders

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The Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions Institute—launched in 2020—is our initiative to equip a hand-picked group of elected officials to effectively advocate for and support safer and more complete streets in their communities. Today, we are proud to announce the second cohort of champions: 20 local elected officials who will receive comprehensive training to help them become champions in their communities to promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations.

Complete Streets

The most dangerous places in the U.S. for people walking: announcing Dangerous by Design 2022

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Our newest report—Dangerous By Design—is here. More than 6,500 people were struck and killed while walking in 2020, an average of nearly 18 per day, and a 4.5 percent increase over 2019. News reports tend to blame individual behavior for these crashes, but we have another explanation for the ongoing epidemic of traffic fatalities: our streets are dangerous by design.

Complete Streets Transportation

When it comes to design, we must also consider the deadly impacts of ever-larger vehicles

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the increasing size and weight of personal vehicles are also having an impact on the steadily increasing number of people struck and killed while walking. In addition to designing safer streets, improving vehicle design along four main criteria is also critical for reducing pedestrian fatalities.

Complete Streets Transportation

Traffic enforcement cannot do the job of better roadway design

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After reading a report like this, some reporters, residents, and local leaders may be tempted to reach for increased traffic enforcement and financial penalties as an obvious solution. But relying on enforcement and financial penalties to solve issues that stem from street design cannot solve the epidemic of traffic fatalities. And even a simple traffic … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

How to redesign your city’s most dangerous streets to save the most lives 

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Far too many people walking, biking, and waiting for the bus die on North America’s streets. They don’t have to. Proven tools—from safer speed limit setting to safer street designs—have proven to save lives, and can quickly stem America’s traffic safety crisis. Here’s how.

Complete Streets Transportation

Seeking state DOTs and local communities for Complete Streets Leadership Academies 

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Applications are now open for up to three state Complete Streets Leadership Academies. These free technical assistance programs are designed to help state DOTs and local communities work together to put Complete Streets into practice…

Complete Streets DOT Innovation Transportation

We want to see what your streets look like

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Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. So we’re asking you to show us your dangerous streets (or ones that have been designed safely!) With the latest report of Dangerous by Design coming out this summer, we want to see what the roads look like outside of your home — are they stroads? Have safe crossings? Bike lanes non-existent? What about it makes you feel safe or unsafe? Take a video or photo of the place you live or work and share it with us. 

Complete Streets

Six systemic barriers that led to inequitable COVID-19 responses

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While the intent of the COVID-19 emergency-response projects across the country was to retrofit our built and living environments to serve the changing needs and “new normals” generated by the pandemic, people’s experiences navigating their community varied widely. This is the second post in our series profiling findings from our recently released field scan, Shared … Continued

Complete Streets Resilience Transportation

Champions Institute application info and FAQ

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Smart Growth America is now accepting applications for the Champions Institute, an opportunity for local leaders to gain expertise and skills needed to grow activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations in their communities. We recently held an informational webinar about the Champions Institute outlining the program and how to apply. Frequently asked questions What do I … Continued

Complete Streets
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