In September 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) adopted a Complete Streets policy to help make streets safer for everyone in the state. This new plan created in partnership with Smart Growth America is designed to help turn that policy into on-the-ground changes.

On December 7, 2015, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) released its Complete Streets Implementation Plan, an ambitious and comprehensive commitment to change the way roads are designed and built in Florida to make them safer for all types of travelers, while also promoting economic development and enhancing quality of life. FDOT developed the plan in partnership with Smart Growth America and our program the National Complete Streets Coalition over a period of nine months through our Multimodal Development and Delivery technical assistance process.

The Complete Streets Implementation Plan proposes a two-year schedule, and establishes milestones and a process for monitoring progress to keep the initiative on track. It also outlines a five-part framework and process to ensure FDOT addresses the needs of all users:

1. Revising guidance, standards, manuals, policies, and other documents
2. Updating decision-making processes
3. Modifying approaches for measuring performance
4. Managing internal and external communications and collaboration during implementation
5. Providing ongoing education and training

Passing a Complete Streets policy is the first step in making streets that are safer by design, and creating an implementation plan like this is the single best way to make those policies a reality. Smart Growth America looks forward to continuing our work with FDOT, and helping other communities around the country develop and implement Complete Streets policies.