The Complete Streets Policy Framework represents the current best practices for creating a strong policy that can be implemented at any level of governance. It’s the go-to policy framework to guide any community who wants to develop their own policy to shape how their streets are planned, designed, built, and operated.
Last week, the National Complete Streets Coalition released The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2016, our annual review of the best Complete Streets policies of the last year. As of the end of 2016, more than 1,200 jurisdictions in the United States have made formal commitments to streets that are safe and convenient for everyone—no matter … Continued
As of the end of 2016, more than 1,000 jurisdictions in the United States have made formal commitments to streets that are safe and convenient for everyone—no matter their age, income, race, ethnicity, physical ability, or how they choose to travel—by passing a Complete Streets policy. Specifically, 13 communities led the nation in creating and adopting comprehensive Complete Streets policies last year.
As of the end of 2016, more than 1,000 jurisdictions in the United States have made formal commitments to streets that are safe and convenient for everyone—no matter their age, income, race, ethnicity, physical ability, or how they choose to travel—by passing a Complete Streets policy. More communities passed these policies in 2016 than ever … Continued
Memphis, TN is one of the communities Smart Growth America worked with as part of our free Complete Streets technical assistance initiative.
This month, Smart Growth America announced a limited number of free workshops to help local leaders and residents make their communities more livable, sustainable, and vibrant.
As part of this program, communities can apply for free Complete Streets technical assistance. Cities like Huntsville, AL and Memphis, TN have used this opportunity to bring national experts to their communities to lead Complete Streets workshops with the goal of developing and implementing Complete Streets policies.
Each year, the Coalition reviews the policies adopted to date and assesses how well they meet the ten elements of a Complete Streets policy. The report highlights exemplary policy language and provides leaders at all levels of government with ideas for how to create strong Complete Streets policies.
In 2013, more than 80 communities adopted Complete Streets policies. These laws, resolutions and planning and design documents encourage and provide for the safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or ethnicity, and no matter how they travel. Nationwide, a total of 610 jurisdictions now have Complete Streets policies in place. Today, 27 states as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have Complete Streets policies. Fifty-one regional planning organizations, 48 counties and 482 municipalities in 48 states also have adopted such policies.
This report documents the growth of that diverse movement and its strengths by analyzing the
more than 350 existing written policies adopted by states, regions, counties, and communities
before January 1, 2012. Policies that come closest to meeting the ‘ideal’ are highlighted. Used
in conjunction with the Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook, this report is also a useful tool
for communities looking to develop their own Complete Streets policy based on current best
practices. Many examples in this report come from policies adopted in 2011, in part because so
many strong examples were adopted last year.