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On April 22, Montevallo, Alabama (pop. 6,000) adopted a Complete Streets resolution. Over the past several years, city leaders and representatives from the University of Montevallo have worked together to create a vibrant community with transportation options, launching the state’s first bike share system. To ensure that progress continued, city leaders coalesced around a Complete Streets policy. Read more >>
Birmingham, Alabama broke ground last week on the Enon Ridge Multimodal Corridor and Civil Rights Complete Streets project, a key component of the city’s 33.6 mile “Roads to Recovery” initiative. Funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER program, “Roads to Recovery” is using a Complete Streets approach, as adopted by the city’s Planning Commission in 2011, to rebuild roads damaged by the devastating 2011 tornado.
A major project to accommodate bicycling on Route 1 through New Haven, Connecticut shows how the city and the Connecticut Department of Transportation are thinking beyond the basics in implementing their respective Complete Streets policies. When built in 2015, the project will feature what could be the state’s first cycle track.
Planning for population growth in Lee County, Florida means implementing Complete Streets now. “Complete streets form the basis for being able to achieve this mix of economy, community and environment,” says local planner Shellie Johnson. The city is also being smart with its investments by working to identify and prioritize the areas most dangerous to people walking and using a grant to bring in walkability consultants.
Dunwoody, Georgia resident Joe Seconder wrote to the DunwoodyPatch to praise the city’s efforts to implement its 2011 Complete Streets policy. With several great projects completed, and a few more in the works, Seconder points out that these newly designed streets will connect community destinations, encourage healthy active transportation, and improve safety.
Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, planned and designed under the city’s 2011 Complete Streets policy, will be reconstructed this summer to include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, curbs, and street lights.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the City of Las Vegas are putting their Complete Streets policies to work in evaluating Washington and Owens Avenue for opportunities to improve travel for people on foot, bicycle, and taking public transportation.
Calumet, Michigan has been able to move ahead with its implementation of Complete Streets through an innovative partnership with the nearby Michigan Technological University. A senior design class worked with the village to develop a plan for improving safety and access for walking and bicycling.
Point Pleasant, New Jersey will soon receive Complete Streets technical assistance from the state Department of Transportation, including surveying, planning, and engineering work. Point Pleasant adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2011.
The New York State Department of Transportation launched a web home for Complete Streets in the Empire State, with links and references to some existing planning, design, and funding tools and sources. The DOT is seeking feedback from municipal and county leaders to provide better assistance in implementing Complete Streets. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has several ideas, including updating design guidance and offering training.
Saratoga Springs, New York took a step forward in implementing its 2012 Complete Streets policy when Council approved a Complete Streets Checklist. “It gives some format to the Complete Streets program to make sure nothing is overlooked in the review of a project,” Mayor Scott Johnson said.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker spoke with Next City about implementing the city’s Complete Streets policy, fostering a strong public transportation network, and creating partnerships with private organizations. “We have moved quickly — and will continue to move, hopefully even more quickly, now that we have our policies fully in place — toward having every one of our streets a true complete street, that accommodates all modes of travel well and allows us to move throughout our city through whatever preferred mode someone has,” he stated.
Coalition Holds Annual Strategy Meeting — On May 9, the Coalition and invited Steering Committee members, Partners, and close allies gathered at AARP’s offices in Washington, DC to discuss the program’s plan for the coming year. Via a series of small group and large group activities, participants brainstormed dozens of potential ideas. A final plan will be brought to the Steering Committee in June. Thanks to everyone who attended!
Now Hiring: Complete Streets Fellow — The Complete Streets Fellow will support the work of the National Complete Streets Coalition, a diverse coalition of prominent national organizations working for the adoption of Complete Streets policies across the country. The Fellow will be an integral part of the Coalition’s work and of Smart Growth America. The position is based in Chicago. More details >>
More Coverage for Best Complete Streets Policies — Our annual analysis of Complete Streets policies, featuring the top 10 policies adopted in 2012, continues to see great coverage in national and local news. Articles in Governing and on Fast Company’s Co.Exist site discuss the movement’s growth and some benefits to adopting — and implementing — a policy.
AARP Launches New Blog — A new blog from AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI) will share information on a variety of public policies impacting aging adults, including how to better serve their housing and transportation needs. In a recent post, PPI’s leading Complete Streets expert, Jana Lynott, discussed the need for Complete Streets in the U.S., where older pedestrians are over-represented in traffic-related fatalities.
Stantec and Coalition Work Presented to Edmonton — On May 13, city officials and residents in Edmonton, Alberta got an in-depth look at draft Complete Streets Guidelines, developed by city staff and Stantec, a Complete Streets Partner consulting firm. The National Complete Streets Coalition provided technical assistance in the development of the guidelines.
Thank You Renewing Partners! — The Coalition thanks NelsonNygaard and MMM Group for their continued support at the Silver and Bronze levels, respectively; and its newest Individual Partner, Cynthia Hoyle. Support the Coalition’s work by becoming a Partner today!
Walking and Aging — A recent Atlantic Cities article discusses the conflict between recommendations for older adults to walk regularly for mental and physical health and the fact that our streets are not designed to ensure they can do safely. Reporter Sarah Goodyear. Goodyear cites a neuroscientist who explains that moderate exercise — walking — could be the best preventative measure to maintain memory as our brains age. “Yet,” Goodyear goes on, “the streets of many American communities are designed in such a way that taking a simple walk can be a life-threatening proposition, especially for older people, who might move more slowly and have limited vision or other disabilities.”
Doctor Calls for Improved Roadway Design — Dr. Amy Schwartz, a primary care physician in West Haven, Connecticut, took to the pages of the Connecticut Post to urge decision-makers and transportation professionals to take action on roadway safety for those who are walking. She cites the fact that in 2010, traffic crashes killed 4,280 pedestrians and injured 70,000 more — and that, locally, Route 1 has been named her state’s most dangerous road for walking every year since 2008. “Fortunately,” she says, “our roads can be designed, or redesigned, with everyone’s safety in mind.” She presses for implementation of the state’s Complete Streets law and use of additional enforcement measures to improve safety.
Nominee for Secretary of Transportation Brings Significant Complete Streets Experience — Late last month, President Obama nominated Mayor Anthony Foxx of Charlotte, North Carolina, to be the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation. During his term as Mayor, he has overseen several initiatives to ensure Charlotte’s economic vibrancy and high quality of life, including expansion of light rail and the addition of a street car. He has also overseen the work of the city’s Department of Transportation, one of the country’s leaders in true implementation of Complete Streets planning and design. If approved by the Senate, Mayor Foxx will bring that knowledge and perspective to the top transportation position in the country.
A group of community leaders and stakeholders in Galesburg, Illinois, a city of 32,000 located two hours north of Springfield, discussed how Complete Streets could improve safety and health in the community by creating safe facilities for people, young and old, with and without disabilities, to travel by foot, bicycle, or vehicle. (Galesburg Register-Mail)
Residents and decision-makers in Jamestown, New York took initial steps toward Complete Streets by hosting local experts to talk about Complete Streets. Ten percent of residents in this community of 30,000 in western New York already walk or bicycle to work, but pedestrian and bicycle injuries are well above the national average. (Jamestown Post-Journal)
Houston is poised to make an official commitment to Complete Streets! Following several years of grassroots efforts, Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez unveiled his support in the Houston Chronicle, stating, “The time has come for the city of Houston to embrace a Complete Streets policy.”
Incomplete Streets Death: Edith Hamilton — Edith Hamilton, 44, died after a driver hit her on Main Street in Salem, New Hampshire on May 12. Hamilton was on her usual walking trip home from work. Without sidewalks and crosswalks, Main Street and other streets in the area do not safely accommodate pedestrians.
Manual: Pedestrian Safety — In response to the deaths of 270,000 pedestrians killed worldwide every year, the World Health Organization recently released Pedestrian Safety: a Road Safety Manual for Decision-Makers and Practitioners. The Manual aims to equip engineers, planners, police, and public health professionals with tools to assess and address pedestrian safety around the globe. The Manual includes effective strategies for reducing pedestrian deaths such as roadway engineering improvements (e.g., installing and/or upgrading crosswalks, sidewalks, and raised medians); slowing vehicle speeds by implementing traffic calming measures (e.g., speed humps); enforcing speeding, distracted driving, and pedestrian-right-of-way laws; creating pedestrian safety zones and streets designated for walking; and improving mass transit route design and access.
Report: Motor Vehicle Traffic-Related Pedestrian Deaths — Motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in the United State, resulting in 33,687 deaths in 2010 alone. Results from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control study of 2001-2010 National Vital Statistics System data indicate that older adults and minority populations had the highest death rates, indicating death rates could continue to rise as the population ages and diversifies. The CDC notes that addressing the risks that pedestrians of different ages, sexes, and races/ethnicities face in various settings requires a multifaceted approach and suggests referring to the new pedestrian safety manual issued by the World Health Organization for effective strategies.
Report: Trend Toward Fewer Car Trips Continues — A new report from U.S. PIRG shows that the number of miles driven in the U.S., heading into its eighth year of decline, is likely to continue decreasing. Even in the most conservative scenario, PIRG estimates future driving rates that are much lower than than recent government forecasts. The source for that change? At least in part, a growing preference among younger Americans for transit, walking, and bicycling over needing a private vehicle. This shift in driving calls for a shift in public policy and transportation investment. Read the full report and check out an infographic online.
Resource: Complete Streets and Liability — The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has developed three primers in response to concerns from local officials and employees about liability and Complete Streets. Each primer covers one state — Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York — and provides an overview of liability issues related to roadway planning and design and the benefits of using a Complete Streets approach.
Rankings: Bike Friendly States 2013 — The League of American Bicyclists announced the 2013 Bicycle Friendly State rankings this month, with Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, and Delaware leading the pack. The rankings are based on a multi-faceted questionnaire and data collected by staff five categories. Among the many necessary elements for a state to rank highly is a Complete Streets policy: nine of the top ten ranked states have statewide Complete Streets policies in place.
Report: Mobility and Transportation-Disadvantaged Communities — A December 2012 study looked at the driving data, trip frequency, mode choice, use of public transportation, and other measures from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey to evaluate mobility challenges for older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, and people in rural areas. Having access to reliable and nearby transportation, such as public transportation or a vehicle, was key among these groups in being able to make trips. The study concludes that many groups are unable to get out as much as they would like and that transit is key to mobility.
Resources: Economic Benefits of Walking and Bicycling — Several new or updated resources highlight the economic benefits of walking and biking. A recorded webinar from the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center focuses on the economic benefits of bicycling and walking, from infrastructure to tourism. In concert with the webinar, the League of American Bicyclists released an updated version of its Bicycling Means Business: The Economic Benefits for Bicycling Infrastructure, which includes information from economic impact studies and research on business districts and home values. The New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center recently published its own report, The Economic Impacts of Active Transportation in New Jersey, a study of 2011 data that found active transportation contributed an estimated $497.46 million to the state’s economy in 2011.
Webinar Series: NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide — The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) are offering a three-part webinar series on the Urban Bikeway Design Guide beginning May 29. Geared toward practitioners, the sessions will focus on intersection treatments, putting the right facility on the right street, and next-generation bikeway design, with examples drawn from NACTO cities. Additional information, including fees and registration instructions, are available online.
Webinar: Roundabout Design and Development Review — The Transportation Research Board will host Roundabout Design and Development Review to explore how to plan, design, and implement roundabouts. Panelists will discuss planning, implementation, analysis, and design issues for roundabouts as well as how to use roundabouts as a tool for community and economic development. The webinar will occur May 16 from 2:00-3:00pm ET. Register here >>
Webinar: Making the most of the Transportation Alternatives Program — The State Smart Transportation Initiative will host a webinar on changes to federal funding for walking and bicycling projects. “Making the Most of the Transportation Alternatives Program” will focus on ways Departments of Transportation and local partners can select, design, and deliver projects to improve infrastructure for people walking and bicycling. The webinar will be held on May 22 at 2:00 pm ET. Register online >>
Registration Open: APBP Professional Development Seminar — APBP will hold its Professional Development Seminar this September 9-12 in Boulder, Colorado. The many sessions organized under this year’s theme, Dollars and Sense: Economic, Health, and Social Benefits of Walking and Bicycling, will appeal to transportation professionals, public health workers, advocates, and other community leaders. Details and registration are online at www.apbppds.org
“We understand the conditions that lead to pedestrian deaths, and we have proven tools to prevent these tragedies. It’s time to put these tools to use. We must redesign Connecticut’s roads and enhance traffic enforcement to make our roads safe for everyone.”
— Dr. Amy Schwartz, primary care physician, New Haven, Connecticut
“A Complete Streets approach provides us an avenue to incrementally increase road safety for everyone through routine maintenance projects. Instead of simply repaving roads for certain users like they were designed before, we decided to view each project as an opportunity to improve safety for everyone, which simply creates a more vibrant place where people want to live.”
— Mayor Hollie Cost, Montevallo, Alabama
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