Crossposted from Complete Streets.
New Analysis, Highlights Strongest Policies, Gives Advocates a New Tool
States and local governments in every quadrant of the nation are adopting strong complete streets policies, according to a new analysis by the National Complete Streets Coalition. The new report, “Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2010,” rates the strength of written policies that are designed to ensure that future transportation infrastructure investments provide safe options for everyone using the roadways. Rather than providing a single model policy, the report provides dozens of examples of strong policy language that is actually in use somewhere in the United States. It will serve as a resource to continue the expansion of the complete streets movement.
The report documents the tremendous growth in adoption of policies across the US. The number of policies came close to doubling in each of the last three years. Twenty-three states (and Puerto Rico and DC) and more than 200 smaller jurisdictions now have complete streets policies to ensure that future transportation investments provide safe options for everyone using our roadways.
“Recent polls show that voters’ top priority for infrastructure investments are safer streets for our communities and children,” notes Barbara McCann, National Complete Streets Coalition Executive Director. “Our report shows that this commitment is not only wide, but deep: community leaders and transportation practitioners are rolling up their sleeves and working together in small towns and big cities, in almost every state in the nation, to pass policies that will ensure that future transportation investments create complete streets.”
The report, “Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2010: A story of growing strength” rates more than 200 state and local written policies according to the established ten elements of ideal Complete Streets policies. Among the top scoring policies are state policies in the deep South and Midwest, county council approved policies in Florida and the Mountain West, and city ordinances and design guidance in the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Forty-seven states now have at least one complete streets policy, and suburban communities of fewer than 30,000 people make up the largest percentage of adopters by size and location.
The report will help communities seeking to adopt strong policies of their own find strong policies in their own region or state to use as a model for their efforts.
Top-Rated Policies:
- New Jersey Department of Transportation – Policy No. 703
- Louisiana Department of Transportation – Complete Streets Policy
- State of Minnesota – Statutes 174.75
- State of Connecticut – Public Act 09-154
- Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – Complete Streets Policy
- Bloomington/Monroe County, IN Metropolitan Planning Organization – Complete Streets Policy
- Hennepin County, MN – Complete Streets Policy
- Lee County, FL – Resolution No. 09-11-13
- Salt Lake County, UT – Ordinance No. 1672
- Crystal City, MO – Ordinance
- Roanoke, VA – Complete Streets Policy
- Missoula, MT – Resolution No. 7473
- Herculaneum, MO – Ordinance No. 33-2010
- New Haven, CT – Complete Streets Design Manual
- Tacoma, WA – Complete Streets Design Guidelines
The report also highlights policies that do a particularly good job covering individual policy elements. It can be downloaded here.
The National Complete Streets Coalition brings together public interest groups such as AARP, the American Public Transportation Association, and America Bikes, as well as practitioner organizations such as the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. Together, we are working for the adoption and effective implementation of Complete Streets policies at the local, state, and federal level.