Photo by John Greenfield
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Core Values: Why American companies are moving downtown — Safe, convenient, and attractive streets are in demand, and a growing number of employers are moving to places where their employees can easily walk, bike, or take transit to lunch or a meeting with a client. In fact, hundreds of companies across the country have relocated and invested in walkable downtowns in the past five years. Join Smart Growth America on June 18 to dig into the who’s, how’s, and why’s–and to pick up some ideas for creating places more and more companies want to be. Register for the launch event >>
Safer Streets, Stronger Economies — The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is spreading the word that Complete Streets approaches to transportation projects can help people get where they need to go safely—and contribute to economic development. The June edition of the ITE Journal features an article based on our research. And, on July 9, ITE will host a webinar with Geoff Anderson, President and CEO of Smart Growth America, and Dean Ledbetter, Senior Planning Engineer at North Carolina Department of Transportation, about the safety benefits of Complete Streets. Register >>
Lessons from European Vision Zero success — Leah Shahum, director of the new Vision Zero Network in the states, brings us five key lessons from European cities that have already begun to see results from their Vision Zero efforts. Top takeaway? Focus on designing streets that encourage safe behavior and lower travel speeds. Read more >>
Plan4Health opportunity — The American Planning Association and the American Public Health Association announced a second funding opportunity for local chapters and affiliates to collaboratively create healthy places through policy, systems, and environmental changes. Letters of intent are due by July 1, and applications must be submitted by July 31. Read more >>
Federal policy update — Last week, the House of Representatives voted against an amendment that would have limited local jurisdictions’ abilities to create safe and convenient walking and bicycling routes to transit stops and stations. Rep. Price (D-NC) led the opposition, making the case for these facilities as vital to transit systems’ success and transportation safety. Please thank or share your concern with your Member of Congress for her or his vote on this amendment. Write today >>
Thanks Laura and Hanna —The Coalition said farewell to two of its staffers this month: Laura Searfoss, policy associate, and Hanna Kite, fellow. Laura joined the Coalition in 2012, and most recently led its efforts to research the safety, transportation, and economic outcomes of Complete Streets projects. Hanna helped write this very newsletter for the last few months and researched case studies for several projects. Thank you both for sharing your knowledge and passion with us!
So many resources on road diets! — The Federal Highway Administration released a number of useful documents and tools related to reconfiguring streets to improve safety and leverage other social, economic, and health benefits. Its Road Diet Desk Reference offers a quick overview of the process and typical outcomes of rightsizing existing public right-of-way, and a series of case studies illuminate the specific ways a dozen agencies across the country have implemented road diets (and the benefits they saw). The resources also include a comparison of approaches for safety evaluations, crash reduction factors, a brochure, and a recording of a recent presentation on road diets. Read more >>
Talking transit — In an hour-long video from the recent Congress for New Urbanism gathering, hear from transit experts Jarrett Walker and Mariia Zimmerman as they parse transit myths, address the urban design and transit interface, and challenge many underlying assumptions about transit infrastructure and possibilities. Watch >>
Incorporating equity in master plans — Advocacy Advance, a project of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League of American Bicyclists, scanned 38 master plans to understand how equity is being defined, established as a goal, and, in some cases, included in performance measures. While the resulting report doesn’t offer much about an inclusive process to define goals and measures, it does provide insight into how communities are looking at equity. Check it out >>
Walking College webinars — America Walks will host three free webinars in June and July on the “why” and “how” of walkable communities. The series kicks off on June 18th with a lesson on the psychosocial and ecological dimensions of walking with Walk2Connect’s Jonathan Stalls and Circulate San Diego’s Jim Stone. Subsequent webinars on designing and institutionalizing change will feature Dan Burden, Samantha Thomas, and Mark Fenton. Register >>
States move to restrict Complete Streets implementation — Despite the growing interest in Complete Streets policies and practices, several states are moving ahead with efforts to limit effective implementation. As reported last month, Wisconsin‘s Governor has proposed eliminating the state’s 2009 Complete Streets law despite the many co-benefits of safer streets. North Carolina‘s legislature is moving ahead with a law that will tie the hands of the state Department of Transportation and local governments by putting strict rules on when overbuilt roads may be redesigned to improve safety and provide for bicycle lanes. If you reside in one of these states, you should let your elected representatives know how important Complete Streets approaches are for your community–and how their actions may adversely impact local safety, health, and economic possibilities.
In Birmingham, AL, the City Commission voted 7 to 0 in support of a six-month trial for a right-sizing project. A one-mile section of West Maple Road will be restriped from four lanes to two travel lanes and a center turn lane, and tested for impacts on speeds and collisions. The Multi-Modal Transportation Board, which is responsible for reviewing street projects to see if they fulfill the city’s Complete Streets policy, recommended the trial run. Read more >>
Morgan Hill, CA‘s City Council unanimously agreed to continue a six-month test of buffered bicycle lanes and a two-lane configuration of a downtown thoroughfare. Ongoing evaluation of the pilot includes safety and volumes of all modes, changes to noise levels, and sales at businesses. Read more >>
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) aims to put a transit stop within 3 miles of every resident, but realized that wouldn’t be enough; they needed to make sure people had safe, easy, and efficient access to the transit system. Enter their new First Last Mile Strategic Plan & Planning Guidelines. The plan will help Metro, the County, municipalities, and community and private organizations coordinate efforts to improve the trip to and from transit. “The system is not just the trains, the bus. It’s more than that. It’s bicycles. It’s walking. It’s understanding the better interaction between land use and transit,” notes Diego Cardoso, an executive officer at Metro. Read more >>
Youth advocates in the San Gabriel Valley, CA are championing a Complete Streets policy to complement a regional bicycle plan now under consideration. Read more >>
An intersection in Chicago, IL now features polka-dotted curb extensions and new seating, thanks to the local business district. The project is intended to make the intersection safer and more inviting to customers. Read more >>
With approval from Ann Arbor, MI, the Reimagine Washtenaw Corridor Improvement Study now has support from all four jurisdictions and Washtenaw County. Reimagine Washtenaw lays out the long-term vision for redesigning the 5-mile corridor between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti according to Complete Streets ideas and to support future development and economic activity. Read more >>
Austin, TX is celebrating the anniversary of its Complete Streets ordinance with a press release about all the activities the city has undertaken so far—and how the coming year will be organized around the seven activities in US Secretary of Transportation Foxx’s Mayor’s Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets. Go Austin! Read more >>
Soap Lake, WA has a new Main Street, complete with new sidewalks, curb extensions, bike lanes, landscaping, and LED streetlights. Read more >>
New Complete Streets policies
Many thanks to our two Silver Partners for renewing their support for our work this month: HDR, Inc. and Sam Schwartz Engineering.
Interested in supporting the National Complete Streets Coalition and the many resources we provide? Join or renew as a Complete Streets Partner today!
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