Several members of the National Complete Streets Coalition and Transportation for America participated in a meeting yesterday with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that centered on how Complete Streets can help create a safer environment for pedestrians and other road users.
Transportation for America’s Executive Director James Corless presented the Secretary with a petition calling on the Department to make pedestrian safety a priority through a commitment to Complete Streets. The petition followed the release of the new report on pedestrian safety, Dangerous by Design.
Secretary LaHood said his newly created Safety Council would look into the Complete Streets approach and expressed interest in visiting a community that has made the commitment to transforming the way it designs streets to include everyone. “The right of way doesn’t just belong to cars — it belongs to pedestrians and bicyclists as well,” said Secretary LaHood. “The DOT Safety Council is going to look at this report and work with advocacy groups to ensure our streets are as safe as possible.”
Executive Director Barbara McCann spoke to the Secretary about the more than 110 communities that have adopted Complete Streets policies, both to improve safety and to create more livable communities – two of the Secretary’s top priorities. Representatives of Coalition members AARP, America Bikes, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and Smart Growth America talked about how Complete Streets help older adults, bicyclists, and children, as well as public transportation and better growth policies.