Presentation by: Catherine Woodyard, MS: Mississippi Network Organizer for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership Melody Moody: Executive Director for Bike Walk Mississippi

 Outline for the presentation: ◦ Overview of the Mississippi Complete Streets Task Force and Coalition ◦ Possible places this presentation could be presented ◦ Introduction and background: What is Complete Streets? ◦ Why do we need Complete Streets? ◦ Example Policy ◦ What does a Complete Street look like? ◦ Costs of Complete Streets ◦ How will your city use a complete streets policy? ◦ How can you help?

 Members of the SRTS Mississippi Network & Bike Walk Mississippi have partnered together to form the Mississippi Complete Streets Task Force.  This group is open to any interested party and will primarily focus on: ◦ Educating citizens and municipalities statewide on the concept of Complete Streets and ◦ Mobilizing them to pursue Complete Streets policies in their local communities.

 Planning conferences  AARP  Rotary Club  Civitan  Kiwanis  Health Conferences  City Subcommittee Meetings  Chamber of Commerce  Colleges/Universities  Young Professional Organization Meetings  Neighborhood Association Meetings  Running and Bike Clubs  Other Community Meetings

 The streets of our cities and towns are an important part of the livability of our communities for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. ◦ Currently too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams.  Now, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets.  As part of the movement, states, cities and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone.

 Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.  Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all residents.

 Safety  Health  Service/ Access  Quality of Life  Economic Development/ Fiscal Responsibility  Rural Areas and Small towns

 Mississippi is #2 in the nation for vehicular deaths per capita.  Complete streets include design features that increase safety for all users and have been proven to decrease accident rates.

 Mississippi is #1 in the nation for obesity rates.  Complete streets give people the opportunity to walk or bike safely for recreation, exercise, and transportation.  Studies show that people living in neighborhoods with complete streets are more likely to have an active lifestyle and less likely to be obese.

 One-third of Americans do not drive.  Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are all at a disadvantage if they cannot use our roads safely.  Complete streets benefit everyone in our community, not just the people who drive.

 Most Americans would prefer to walk more and drive less and want to live in neighborhoods with sidewalks where walking is safe, convenient, and fun.  Complete streets also fosters strong communities

 Road construction costs are a significant part of government budgets. ◦ Complete streets ensure that our tax dollars benefit the most people in a cost effective way.  Complete streets will improve the economic vitality of our communities. ◦ Higher property/ home value in walkable neighborhoods ◦ Stores and restaurants in walkable parts of town pay higher rent and get higher revenues.

 Residents of small towns are more likely to be hurt or killed on the transportation system than those in urban areas.  Rural communities and small towns tend to have higher concentrations of older adults and low-income citizens, two populations that are less likely to own cars or drive. ◦ Access to jobs, groceries, healthcare, education, and other destinations is just as vital in rural communities as in suburban or urban areas.  Creating safe walking, bicycling, and public transportation options for rural residents builds a more livable, accessible community for people of all ages, abilities, and income levels.  Children who live in rural areas are at greater risk for obesity and related disease than children from other areas: children in rural areas are more likely to be overweight or obese than those in urban areas. ◦ Providing safe opportunities for walking and biking to and from school is a key strategy to keep kids active and healthy.

 “The City of _______ will plan for, design and construct all new transportation improvement projects to provide appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and persons of all abilities, while promoting safe operation for all users.”  “Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be established in new construction and reconstruction projects…unless…” Cyclists or pedestrians are prohibited from roads Cost is over --% of total cost Absence of present and future need City Council decrees it would be contrary to public benefit or safety

 Each Complete Street is unique and responds to community context. ◦ A complete street in a rural area will look quite different from one in an urban area, but both are designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the road.  A Complete Street may include: ◦ Sidewalks ◦ Bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders) ◦ Special bus lanes ◦ Comfortable and accessible public transportation stops ◦ Frequent and safe crossing opportunities ◦ Median islands ◦ Accessible pedestrian signals ◦ Curb extensions ◦ Narrower travel lanes ◦ Roundabouts

 New streets  Existing streets that need repairs  It does not mandate a retrofit of any street

 Complete streets are long-term investments in the overall health of communities who adopt policies.  Complete streets policies add little or no cost to road budget. ◦ Focus on solutions that save money and are cost effective. ◦ Adds value and increases access.  Costs for Developers: ◦ New 24’ residential street $185 per linear foot ◦ New 20’ residential street with 5’ sidewalk on both sides $182 ◦ 100’ sidewalk $1,400 ◦ Sidewalk is 1.1% of housing cost

 Striping $1/linear foot  Signs $250 each  Increased cost 1% or less

 Added a turn lane  Added two bike lanes  Improved safety

 Include sidewalks in more projects  Crosswalks  Pedestrian signal  Change timing on traffic light to allow more time for pedestrians/ cyclists

 Bulb outs  Bike lanes  “No” On-street parking  Tree canopy

 Include signs and sharrows on a shared driving and biking lane

 27% fewer crashes  Same or similar volume of cars  Speed and travel time about the same  Room for bike lanes, on-street parking

 Advocates who support complete streets ◦ Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities ◦ Safe Routes to School National Partnership ◦ Institute of Transportation Engineers ◦ American Heart Association ◦ International City/County Management Association ◦ National Center for Bicycling and Walking ◦ American Public Works Association ◦ AARP ◦ Campaign to End Obesity ◦ Easter Seals

 How to implement? ◦ Planning, Engineering, and Public Works need to work together. ◦ Rethink the process of road maintenance—focus on design. ◦ Adopt a design manual with complete streets methods. ◦ Provide training for planners and engineers in balancing the needs of diverse users.

"The big win for city government is that anything built to a walkable scale leases out for three to five times more money, with more tax revenue on less infrastructure.” --Dan Burden, Executive Director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute

◦ Tell your city officials that you want a complete streets policy in your city. ◦ Join the Complete Streets Education Taskforce  Receive materials and training for educating Mississippians about the need for more complete streets. ◦ Join and partner with the SRTS Mississippi Network  Join us for International Walk to School Day – Oct. 5, 2011 ◦ Join Bike Walk Mississippi ◦ Speak up for the needs of ALL users of the road! Pedestrians, children, the disabled, the disadvantaged, motorists, bicyclists and more!

 Tupelo and Hernando joined the growing number of communities establishing a healthier, safer future through complete streets.  On April 6, both cities adopted complete streets policies with strong support and their mayors.  Both Mayor Chip Johnson of Hernando and Mayor Reed of Tupelo see complete streets as an important piece in their efforts to provide more opportunities for physical activity and to encourage healthy living.  The policies adopted by these pioneering Mississippi cities will be a model for developing livable, attractive, and healthy communities throughout the state and across the country.

◦ Bike Walk Mississippi Melody Moody, ◦ Safe Routes to Schools Mississippi Network Catherine Woodyard, ◦ MDOT Safe Routes to Schools Program Cookie Leffler,

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