 |
 |
 |
 |
On May 21, Hopkins, Minnesota adopted a Complete Streets policy. Hopkins, a densely populated town in the Minneapolis area, will be home to 3 light rail stations in the next few years, Creating safe walking and bicycling connections to those stations are paramount for the city team. The policy draws from national and state best practices, includes specific exemptions and next steps for implementation. Read more >>
The Albany, New York City Council passed Complete Streets legislation on June 3. After two auto-pedestrian accidents in the last year, one of them fatal, community stakeholders and councilmembers want to improve safety for all citizens. “This is about considering all users of the road,” noted Alderwoman Leah Golby, who proposed the law. “It’s time for our code to reflect the way people live today.” The ordinance applies to “all street construction, reconstruction, resurfacing or repaving projects that are undertaken by the City and not covered under the New York State Complete Streets Law.” Read more >>
The Common Council of White Plains, New York adopted a Complete Streets resolution on June 3. The resolution directs the City’s Department of Public Works to “consider all modes of travel within its projects” and includes specific exceptions. Read more >>
The California Department of Transportation issued a status report on implementation of the agency’s 2009 Complete Streets policy. Of the items in its Implementation Action Plan, Caltrans has made significant progress or completed 70%, with just 20% not yet begun. Highlights from the last year include a revised Highway Design Manual, a new Main Streets Guide in final review, and the beginning of new training opportunities. Program silos, inconsistent training, and a lack of decisions on performance measures are noted as challenges.
Lee County, Florida continues with its Complete Streets implementation work, focusing recently on the Tice neighborhood. Working directly with residents, many County agencies and organizations held two days of bilingual walking audits, lively group discussions, and design workshops, gathering invaluable information about resident needs, concerns, and desires for their streets. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Planning Organization applied for a TIGER V grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help implement a portfolio of Complete Streets implementation projects.
Evansville, Indiana began construction on its first project under a Complete Streets policy. When completed in July 2014, Oak Hill Road between Pigeon Creek and Lake Drive will feature bicycle lanes, sidewalks, dedicated left-turn lanes, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and storm sewers.
The Regional Transportation Commission and the City of Las Vegas are beginning work on several projects that follow the region’s Complete Streets policy. First Street and Garces Avenue will be reconstructed over the next few months to include facilities such as wider sidewalks, improved landscaping, bike lanes, and street light upgrades.
Willow Avenue in Hoboken, New Jersey is up for a redesign that follows the city’s Complete Streets resolution. To be done in conjunction with a resurfacing project, the City proposes adding a median, bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, and back-in angled parking.
The Complete Streets Partnership in Malone, New York is discussing ways to implement the community’s 2012 Complete Streets policy, pointing to recent success in repainting Elm Street to create new street parking and better manage traffic.
Just four months old, Philadelphia‘s Complete Streets Design Handbook has already been applied to several development proposals, resulting in more accessible bus stops, new street trees, and wider sidewalks. The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities is also working to update and clarify the document to make it easier to use.
Last month, Memphis, Tennessee Mayor A.C. Wharton officially announced the Complete Streets executive order he issued in January and the city’s plans for a network of protected bike facilities — 15 miles in the next two years.
Upcoming Hill Briefing on Complete Streets — On June 20 at 2:30 pm ET, the National Complete Streets Coalition and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute invite you to join local, state and national experts at a Congressional briefing to discuss national and local trends in Complete Streets policies. The briefing’s panel will feature U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), Lynn Peterson, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation; Danny Pleasant, Transportation Director, City of Charlotte, North Carolina; Angela Vance, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP West Virginia; and Geoff Anderson, President and CEO, Smart Growth America. A live webcast will be available for those unable to attend in person. Read more on our blog >>
Coalition Offers Workshop for Design Professionals — During the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting in Boston, the National Complete Streets Coalition will debut its new half-day workshop “Complete Streets Design Implementation for Professionals.” Intended for engineers, planners, and others involved in transportation design, the workshop will review technical Complete Streets design implementation tools and provide participants with the foundation necessary to more routinely create Complete Streets networks. The workshop will take place on August 4 at 8:30 am and will be facilitated by John LaPlante, Director of Traffic Engineering at T.Y. Lin International. Steering Committee members ITE and the he Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals collaborated to create this new opportunity. Professional credits are available. A registration fee of $250 applies. Learn more >>
AARP Talks Complete Streets — In a blog post, Executive Vice President of the AARP State and National Group Nancy LeaMond describes why AARP has been a long-time supporter of Complete Streets: it’s part of what they call “Great Places for All Ages.” Complete Streets ensure “convenient, safe and reliable options” to get folks where they need and want to go, regardless of their age. LeaMond opened The Atlantic’s Generations Forum, which featured Steve Clemons, Washington Editor at Large at The Atlantic, and Richard Florida, co-founder and Editor-at-Large of The Atlantic Cities discussing how architects, urban planners, and city governments can support and respond to the growing number of older adults in communities across the country.
Widespread Support for Transit Investments — According to a recent poll by the American Public Transportation Association, a Coalition Steering Committee member, nearly 74 percent of Americans would like to see their tax dollars help create, improve, and expand public transit. “We are experiencing this surge in support because citizens can see, touch, and feel the economic impact of investing in public transportation,” said APTA Chair Flora Castillo. Also calling for more transit: the conservative Free Congress Foundation. The “broad array of social and economic benefits” of public transportation ensure cities are vibrant and well-functioning; and thus, essential to states’ and the nation’s economic well-being.
Complete Streets Featured in Momentum Magazine — An article in the latest issue of Momentum Magazine discusses the progress of the Complete Streets movement at the national and local level. Writer Ted Johnson highlights the ways Complete Streets meets the needs of communities, attracting business and providing desired transportation options, and how elected officials have begun to support the concept.
Coalition Workshops Help Houston, Virginia Beach, Asheville. South Texas — Our workshop instructors have had a busy few months, working with four very different communities to achieve each one’s Complete Streets goals: Virginia Beach in April; Houston in May; and in June, Asheville, North Carolina and the Texas communities of Alice and Raymondville. Our workshops program, featuring four interactive full-day options to build local capacity at every stage of the Complete Streets process. Learn more on our website >>
Thank You New and Renewing Partners — The Coalition thanks its renewing Bronze-level Partner, the Local Government Commission. A big thank you, too, to our new Individual Partners: Beth Akeson and Shaun Underkoffler, who joins on behalf of the York City Bureau of Health. Learn more about support the Coalition’s work by becoming a Partner today.
Demand for TIGER Program Is Demand for Safe Streets — With over 560 applications in is the last round, demand for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER funding program remains strong. TIGER, which emphasizes multimodal projects that improve safety and the economy, provided dozens of communities with the funding they need to plan, design, and built projects that are safe and convenient for all modes and users since 2009. And more communities want in on the action. The total requested amount for this round of TIGER was $9 billion, nearly 20 times the $474 million allocated to the program, showing a nationwide demand for federal transportation funding streams that award multimodal, innovative projects.
Rise in Suburban Poverty Calls for Transportation Options — Confronting Suburban Poverty in America, a new book published by the Brookings Institute and authored by Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube, investigates the staggering rise in suburban poverty. In the last decade, poverty rates in suburban America grew twice as fast as in cities, leaving many Americans without adequate transportation options. In many suburban communities, transit is limited, jobs and homes are far apart, and the street network is designed exclusively for automobiles. To meet the needs of all residents, suburban communities must find ways to improve transportation networks through policy change, including implementation of Complete Streets.
Raquel Nelson Update — Three years ago, Raquel Nelson made nationwide news when she was charged with vehicular homicide for crossing the street with her child. A jury found the Atlanta-area mom guilty for her son’s death because she chose to do what many of us would have done — cross the street from a bus stop directly across from our home, rather than walk with several small children and arms of shopping bags an additional two-thirds of mile to a signalized intersection. That homicide charge was dropped this week, along with a potential three years in jail. While too many roadways are still built and operated without consideration for those on foot, bicycle, or transit, there’s good news from Georgia. The state Department of Transportation adopted a Complete Streets policy and is working with the local pedestrian advocacy organization PEDS to identify solutions for crossing the many busy roads in the Atlanta region.
Homebuyers Look for Transportation Options — Forbes reported on a recent rise in real estate agents who highlight the amenities for those traveling on two wheels to sell homes. In Washington, DC, agents are taking their clients out via bike, pointing out the street improvements such as bike lanes and paths and the regional bikeshare system that make cycling safer and easier than ever before. Agents in Boulder, Colorado report that many prospective buyers prefer bicycling to potential new homes and experiencing the healthy lifestyle options that Boulder provides.
Residents in Mobile, Alabama are calling on the state Department of Transportation to include faciliites for walking and bicycling safely across the I-10 Mobile River Bridge, which is proposed for construction. Supporters cite several examples of successful paths for non-motorized users along major bridges, including the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina and the Woodrow Wilson bridge in the Washington, D.C. region. Sign the online petition >>
Carlsbad, California was recognized by the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association for its Livable Streets Assessment, which helps city officials determine how best to provide safe streets for all users. Additionally, via the assessment, the city will be able to study other communities’ progress in implementing Complete Streets and adapt those methods for local use. Carlsbad is a leader in the region, having also been recognized by the San Diego Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers for its transportation work.
Fairfield, Connecticut is looking to Complete Streets to make walking, bicycling, catching a train safer and more convenient.
The Rapid, the transit provider for Grand Rapids, Michigan, is using peer-to-peer mentoring to educate the community’s aging population about their transportation options beyond the car, including vanpooling, fixed route transit, and others.
Joplin, Missouri is working the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redevelop 20th Street into one that is more pleasant and safe for walking and bicycling and able to better manage stormwater.
Reno, Nevada‘s Regional Transportation Commission is seeking citizen input to measure performance of several projects completed with a Complete Streets approach. Respondents are asked about satisfaction with transportation options, retail services, crime, and property values.
State lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a bill to allow communities to designate some low-traffic residential streets with a speed limit of 15 or 20 miles per hour. As Tri-State Transportation Campaign points out, allowing slower speeds is a key strategy for creating Complete Streets in rural and exurban roads, where sidewalks aren’t always warranted. The state Department of Transportation adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2009.
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Bloomberg administration has put forth a resiliency plan for New York City that includes transportation strategies to improve bus and commuter rail capacity, add new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and expand the bikeshare system. In the days following Sandy, record numbers of residents bicycled, walked, and depended on temporary transit services via buses and ferries to get around.
According to an article in Grist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania‘s new Mayor, Bill Peduto, will bring along an administration ready to implement Complete Streets, undertake an update to zoning code, and support transit-oriented development.
Houston, Texas mayor pro tem Ed Gonzalez, a member of Smart Growth America’s Local Leaders Council, is working for Complete Streets in the country’s fourth largest city. In a recent video, Gonzalez calls on the city to be mindful of all users and support an interconnected community. Gonzalez has championed Complete Streets in the city council. In April, he wrote an Op-Ed in the Houston Chronicle in which he called on the public to “think of common-sense ideas to improve mobility in each of our neighborhoods.”
Lynchburg, Virginia is working on a “Better Streets Policy” that will encompass efforts to provide safe facilities for all modes and users and a need to create more sustainable streets, with features such as natural stormwater management.
Incomplete Streets Death: Debbie Craven — Debbie Craven, 48, was killed after being hit by a car on Derry Road in Litchfield, New Hampshire on May 31. At the time she was hit, Craven was crossing Derry Road, a two-lane road that connects Craven’s home to commercial areas. In the surrounding area, Derry Road lacks basic pedestrian accommodation such as crosswalks, creating dangerous and fatal scenarios for residents.
Workshop: Complete Streets Design Implementation for Professionals — Offered in conjunction with the upcoming Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting in Boston, this half-day workshop will will review technical Complete Streets design implementation tools and provide participants with the foundation necessary to more routinely create Complete Streets networks. Professional credits are available. A registration fee of $250 applies. Learn more and register >>
Conference: ITS America Complete Streets Symposium — On July 25 and 26, join ITS America, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Chicago Transit Authority for a Complete Streets Symposium. Participants will learn firsthand about the latest developments in Complete Street technology, ITS solutions, and public space applications. Learn more and register online >>
Resource: Find It, Fund It — A new tool from Advocacy Advance makes it wasy to identify the federal transportation progam(s) that could be used to pay for many types of walking and bicycling facilities, projects, and programs. The tool also provides helpful information about each type of funding source, including what it is, how much funding is available, and who to approach for more information.
Report: Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an update of its 2001 report Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions Between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, reflecting the growing amount of research on the relationship between the built environment and the quality of air, water, land resources, habitat, and human health. Evident in the findings is that smart growth strategies, including transit-oriented development, Complete Streets, sustainable building practices, can positively influence our natural and human environments.
Guide: Public Participation Tools — The Local Government Commission has issued a free guidebook that identifies public participation tools to plan and build healthier communities. The guide is based in national best practices and includes tools such as community visioning, facilitated meetings, participatory budgeting, health impact assessments, and more.
Report: Pedaling Towards Equity — The League of American Bicyclists and the Sierra Club released a report exploring the changing demographics of bicycle ridership, the effect of safe cycling infrastructure on ridership, and the economic impact of transportation and health inequality. According to The New Majority: Pedaling Towards Equity, ridership rates among women, young people, and people of color have risen dramatically over the last decade — emphasizing the needs of Complete Streets for all users, regardless of their gender, racial or ethnic background, or economic status.
Report: Housing, Transportation and Community Preferences — A recent survey conducted by The Urban Land Institute and Belden Russonello Strategists LLC shows that broad and diverse groups of citizens prefer compact, mixed-use neighborhoods and over half of all adults would trade a big house for a shorter commute. These preferences, including those for walkable and transit-friendly neighborhoods, support the call for Complete Streets in communities across the country.
Discussion Board: Livable Communities — The Federal Highway Administration launched an online discussion board for peer-to-peer sharing and talk about a variety of elements related to creating more livable communities: providing transportation choices, encouraging access to jobs and affordable housing, promoting safer streets, and more. Participation is open to all and represents a range of related fields, including transportation, land use, housing, environment, and economic development.
Webinar: Accommodating Walking and Biking at Interchanges — On Tuesday June 25 at 2 pm ET, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center will broadcast a webinar on the soon-to-be-released Institute of Transportation Engineers Recommended Practice on Accommodating Pedestrians and Bicyclists at Interchanges. Speakers include Matthew Ridgway, Meghan Mitman, and Mariana Parreiras, of Complete Streets Partner firm Fehr & Peers. Register online >>
Report: How to Increase Bicycling for Daily Travel — Recognizing a gap between the number of bicycle trips made in the United States and number of trips made under two miles, Active Living Research released a new report on strategies to increase the number of trips made by bicycle. A comprehensive package of infrastructure, programs, and policies — such as Complete Streets — is likely to have the greatest effect.
Article: Complete Streets and Urban Design — In the Winter 2013 issue of Urban Design, Coalition founder Barbara McCann outlines the political and cultural facets of the Complete Streets movement. McCann emphasizes the need for better, more comprehensive planning as a key to successfully implementing Complete Streets.
“We care about everybody, not just high speed cars. We care about pedestrians. We care about people who have challenges with mobility.”
— Albany, New York Common Council member Leah Golby
“Much of what’s proposed is not any more expensive than maintaining status quo. In some cases, it’s just a matter of painting the stripes in different locations.”
— Birmingham, Michigan City Manager Robert Bruner
“[Complete Streets] doesn’t mean you need bike lanes and sidewalks on every street. It just means that you need to make it so people walking and biking are safe on that street.”
— Canandaigua, New York Councilmember Bill Taylor
“Designing streets with only cars in mind leaves the connection between how we move and how we live unrealized…We have to embrace our public space differently and look for opportunities to enhance them for all people that want to use them.”
— Carlsbad, California Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |