What is a Complete Street?

What is a Complete Street?What is a Complete Street?

A Complete Street is safe, comfortable A Complete Street is safe, comfortable and convenient for travel via and convenient for travel via

automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit.automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit.

Why do we need to Why do we need to Complete the Streets?Complete the Streets?

Americans want to Americans want to walk and bike morewalk and bike more

52%52% of Americans want to bike more of Americans want to bike more than they do now.than they do now.

America Bikes Poll

Americans want to Americans want to walk and bike morewalk and bike more

55%55% of Americans would prefer to of Americans would prefer to drive less and walk moredrive less and walk more

STPP Poll

About one-third of Americans About one-third of Americans do not drive:do not drive:

21% of Americans 21% of Americans over 65.over 65.

All children under All children under 16.16.

Many low income Many low income Americans cannot Americans cannot afford automobiles. afford automobiles.

Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:

No sidewalksNo sidewalks


Too narrow to share with bikesToo narrow to share with bikes


Too dangerous to cross on foot


Uninviting for bus riders


Inaccessible for wheelchair users

Streets are inadequateStreets are inadequate

No room for bikes or pedestriansNo room for bikes or pedestrians


No room for people


25% of walking trips take place on 25% of walking trips take place on roads without sidewalks or shouldersroads without sidewalks or shoulders

Bike lanes are available for only about Bike lanes are available for only about 5% of bike trips 5% of bike trips

Natl. Survey of Ped & Bicyclist Attitudes & Behaviors, 2003 BTS

Top pedestrian complaints are Top pedestrian complaints are incomplete streetsincomplete streets

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

too fewsidewalks

insensitivedrivers

poor surface

Percent of peds experiencing problem

NondisabledDisabled

2002 Natl. Transportation Availability & Use Survey

Top bicyclist complaints are Top bicyclist complaints are incomplete streetsincomplete streets

0

5

1015

20

25

3035

40

too fewbikeways

insensitivedrivers

traffic tooclose

Percent of cyclists experiencing problem

NondisabledDisabled

2002 Natl. Transportation Availability & Use Survey

Incomplete streets Incomplete streets are unsafe.are unsafe.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1% of federalfunding

10% of trips 13% offatalities

Pedestrians and bicyclists...

FMIS, NHTS, FARS federal databases

Incomplete streetsIncomplete streetsThis bridge provides the only access across the Fox River to Cary, Illinois. In 2000, 17-year-old Nate Oglesby died trying to cross it on his bicycle; two teens had died previously.

US 14, Cary IllinoisUS 14, Cary Illinois

Complete streetsComplete streets

Nate’s family won a wrongful death lawsuit and the community pressed the Illinois DOT to retrofit the bridge, at far greater cost than doing it right the first time.

US 14, Cary IllinoisUS 14, Cary Illinois

What is a Complete Streets What is a Complete Streets policy?policy?

A complete streets A complete streets policy ensures policy ensures that the entire that the entire right of way is right of way is

routinely routinely designed and designed and operated to operated to enable safe enable safe

access access

for all users.for all users.

Complete streets are in line Complete streets are in line with federal guidancewith federal guidance

2000 FHWA Guidance:2000 FHWA Guidance:

““Bicycling and walking facilities will Bicycling and walking facilities will be incorporated into all be incorporated into all transportation projects unless transportation projects unless exceptional circumstances exist.”exceptional circumstances exist.”

http://http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikewww.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/design.htmped/design.htm

Some Existing policiesSome Existing policies

StateState CountyCounty MPOMPO CityCity

Public:Public: legislation, legislation, ordinance, ordinance, resolutionresolution

OR, FL, OR, FL, RI, NC, RI, NC, SC, MASC, MA

DuPage, Il. DuPage, Il. SacramentoSacramento, CA , CA

San Diego San Diego CACA

Jackson, MIJackson, MI

Columbus, Columbus, OHOH

Bay Area, Bay Area, CACA

Columbia, Columbia, MOMO

Sacramento, Sacramento, CACA

SpartanburgSpartanburg, SC, SC

Internal:Internal:

Policy, Policy, plans, plans, manualsmanuals

TN, CA, TN, CA, KY, VA, KY, VA, PA, MAPA, MA

Cleveland, Cleveland, OHOH

Bay Area, Bay Area, CACA

Knoxville, Knoxville, TNTN

Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast, FLFL

Austin, TXAustin, TX

Chicago, Chicago, Charlotte, Charlotte, NC Boulder, NC Boulder, COCO

Santa Santa BarbaraBarbara

San DiegoSan Diego

Ft. Collins, Ft. Collins, COCO

W. Palm W. Palm Beach, FLBeach, FL

The best complete streets The best complete streets policies:policies:

Apply to all phases of all projectsApply to all phases of all projects Direct use of the latest and best Direct use of the latest and best

design standardsdesign standards Allow flexibility in balancing user Allow flexibility in balancing user

needsneeds Specify any exceptions & require Specify any exceptions & require

high-level approval of themhigh-level approval of them

Completing the Streets: Completing the Streets: State ActionState Action

Oregon state law: Oregon state law: ““footpaths and bicycle trails… shall footpaths and bicycle trails… shall

be provided wherever a highway, be provided wherever a highway, road or street is being constructed, road or street is being constructed, reconstructed, or relocated.” reconstructed, or relocated.”

minimum of 1% of state minimum of 1% of state transportation funds go to bicycling transportation funds go to bicycling and walking.and walking.

Massachusetts Project Massachusetts Project Development & Design GuideDevelopment & Design Guide

““A guiding principle of the Guidebook is that A guiding principle of the Guidebook is that the roadway system of the Commonwealth the roadway system of the Commonwealth should safely accommodate all users of should safely accommodate all users of the public right-of-way, including: the public right-of-way, including: – pedestrians, pedestrians, – people requiring mobility aids…people requiring mobility aids…– Bicyclists,Bicyclists,– drivers and passengers of transit vehicles, drivers and passengers of transit vehicles, – trucks, trucks, – automobiles and motorcycles.”automobiles and motorcycles.”

Completing the Streets: Completing the Streets: Local ActionLocal Action

““The safety and convenience of all users The safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system including of the transportation system including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, freight, and motor vehicle drivers shall freight, and motor vehicle drivers shall be accommodated and BALANCED in be accommodated and BALANCED in all transportation and development all transportation and development projects and through all phases of a projects and through all phases of a project project

SO THAT…SO THAT…


SO THAT even the most vulnerable- SO THAT even the most vulnerable- children, elderly, and persons children, elderly, and persons with disabilities- can travel safely with disabilities- can travel safely within the public right-of-way” within the public right-of-way”

-City of Chicago -City of Chicago Complete Streets Complete Streets PolicyPolicy


Boulder, Colorado Boulder, Colorado is building all is building all

arterials as multi-arterials as multi-modal corridors for modal corridors for auto, pedestrian, auto, pedestrian,

bicycle, and bicycle, and transit.transit.

Charlotte NC Street Design Charlotte NC Street Design StandardsStandards

Urban Street Design Urban Street Design Standards:Standards:

A six-step process A six-step process for considering and for considering and balancing the balancing the needs of all users.needs of all users.

1. Define LandUse Context

6. DescribeTradeoffsand Select

Cross-Section

2. DefineTransportation

Context

3. IdentifyDeficiencies

4. DescribeFuture Objectives

5. DefineStreet Typeand Initial

Cross-Section

Exi

stin

g an

d F

utu

reC

ond

itio

ns

Goa

ls a

nd

Ob

ject

ives

Dec

isio

n-M

akin

g

Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington

Implementation: Implementation: From Policy to PracticeFrom Policy to Practice

An effective policy should prompt the An effective policy should prompt the following changes:following changes:

restructured proceduresrestructured procedures re-written design manualsre-written design manuals re-trained planners and engineersre-trained planners and engineers re-tooled measures to track re-tooled measures to track

outcomesoutcomes

The many types The many types of Complete Streetsof Complete Streets







Isn’t it expensive?Isn’t it expensive?

““By fully considering the needs of all By fully considering the needs of all non-motorized travelers non-motorized travelers (pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons (pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons with disabilities) early in the life of a with disabilities) early in the life of a project, the costs associated with project, the costs associated with including facilities for these travelers including facilities for these travelers are minimized.” are minimized.”

Jeff Morales, Jeff Morales, former Director, CalTransformer Director, CalTrans

Benefits: for safetyBenefits: for safetyDesigning intersections for pedestrian Designing intersections for pedestrian

travel can reduce pedestrian risk by travel can reduce pedestrian risk by 28%28%

King/Ewing 2003King/Ewing 2003

[insert photo of median island]

Europe has more bike-ped Europe has more bike-ped traveltravel

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

US Germany Netherlands

Portion of all trips

WalkBike

Pucher, AJPH Sept 2003

……And far fewer deathsAnd far fewer deaths

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

US Germany Netherlands

Deaths per 100 million km travel

WalkBike

Pucher, AJPH Sept 2003

Portland Oregon 1990Portland Oregon 1990

Bike lanes encourage bike Bike lanes encourage bike commutingcommuting

0 - 2%

2 - 3%

3 - 5%

5 - 8%

8 - 10%

10+%

Bike Commute Mode Split

City of Portland

Dept. of Transportation

Black lines show 1990 bikeway network...

…Colors show 1990 mode splits

(by census tract)

Portland Oregon 2000Portland Oregon 2000

Bike lanes encourage bike Bike lanes encourage bike commutingcommuting

0 - 2%

2 - 3%

3 - 5%

5 - 8%

8 - 10%

10+%

Bike Commute Mode Split

City of Portland

Dept. of Transportation

Black lines show 2000 bikeway network...

…Colors show 2000 mode splits

(by census tract)

Benefits: for older Benefits: for older AmericansAmericans

50% of Americans 50% of Americans will be over 55 in will be over 55 in 20302030

More than half of More than half of older Americans older Americans walk regularly.walk regularly.

Photo: Michael Ronkin, ODOT

Benefits: for older Benefits: for older AmericansAmericans

21% of Americans 21% of Americans over 65 do not over 65 do not drivedrive

More than 50% of More than 50% of non-drivers stay at non-drivers stay at home on a given home on a given day because they day because they lack transportation lack transportation options.options.

Photo: Michael Ronkin, ODOT

Benefits: for encouragingBenefits: for encouraging healthy activity healthy activity

Walking and bicycling Walking and bicycling help prevent help prevent obesity, diabetes, obesity, diabetes, high blood high blood pressure, and colon pressure, and colon cancer. cancer.

Residents are Residents are 65%65% more likely to walk more likely to walk in a neighborhood in a neighborhood with sidewalks.with sidewalks.

Benefits: for people with Benefits: for people with disabilitiesdisabilities

20% of Americans 20% of Americans have a disability that have a disability that limits their daily limits their daily activities.activities.

Complete Streets Complete Streets have curb cuts and have curb cuts and other features for other features for disabled travelers.disabled travelers.

Complete Streets Complete Streets reduce isolation and reduce isolation and dependence. dependence.

Benefits: for reducing trafficBenefits: for reducing traffic

Of all trips taken in metro areas:Of all trips taken in metro areas:

50%50% are three miles or lessare three miles or less

28% 28% are one mile or lessare one mile or less

65%65% of trips under one mile of trips under one mile are now taken by automobileare now taken by automobile

2001 NHTS2001 NHTS

National Complete Streets National Complete Streets Coalition Steering CommitteeCoalition Steering Committee

AARPAARP America BikesAmerica Bikes America WalksAmerica Walks American Council of the American Council of the

BlindBlind American Planning American Planning

AssociationAssociation American Public American Public

Transportation AssociationTransportation Association American Society of American Society of

Landscape ArchitectsLandscape Architects APBPAPBP City of BoulderCity of Boulder Institute of Transportation Institute of Transportation

EngineersEngineers

League of American League of American BicyclistsBicyclists

McCann ConsultingMcCann Consulting NCBWNCBW National Parks National Parks

Conservation AssociationConservation Association Natural Resources Defense Natural Resources Defense

CouncilCouncil Paralyzed Veterans of Paralyzed Veterans of

AmericaAmerica Smart Growth AmericaSmart Growth America Surface Transportation Surface Transportation

Policy ProjectPolicy Project Thunderhead AllianceThunderhead Alliance

For More Information: For More Information: www.completestreets.orgwww.completestreets.org

Links to success Links to success stories & existing stories & existing policiespolicies

How-to ToolsHow-to Tools Resources: power-Resources: power-

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What is a Complete Street?