Complete Streets: Changing Policy 1 January 2013

What are Complete Streets? Complete Streets are streets for everyone, no matter who they are or how they travel. 2

What are Complete Streets? Safe Comfortable Convenient 3

What are Complete Streets? Safe Comfortable Convenient 4

Complete Streets policies 5 Ensure that the entire right-of-way is planned, designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to provide safe access for all users

Complete Streets means: 6 High-level policy direction Change the everyday decision-making processes and systems Incremental approach Long-term results

Complete Streets does not mean: 7 One ‘special’ street project A design prescription A mandate for immediate retrofit A silver bullet; other issues must be addressed: Land use (proximity, mixed-use) Environmental concerns Transportation Demand Management

Policy adoption accelerates 8 Smart Growth America (2012). Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2011

Policies adopted at all levels 9 By the end of 2011: States : 28* MPOs : 33 Counties : 31 Cities : 268 Total : 359 *Including Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia

Complete Streets is state law: 10 California Colorado Connecticut Florida Hawaii Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New York Oregon Puerto Rico Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin

All types of communities Small Towns & Rural: 18.7% Small Suburb: 33.8% Large City: 9.4% Midsize City: 9.4% Small City: 11.1% Large Suburb: 5.8% Midsize Suburb: 11.9% 11 Smart Growth America (2012). Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2011

Why adopt a policy? 12 To change practice, integrating the needs of all road users into everyday transportation planning and design practices.

Why adopt a policy? 13 To gradually create a complete network of streets that serve all users. 

Why adopt a policy? 14 To save money: in the long run, retrofit projects always cost more than getting it right the first time.

Why adopt a policy? 15 To provide innovative transportation planners with the political and community support for doing things differently.

Why adopt a policy? 16 To apply solutions across a community and address systematic inequities.

Why adopt a policy? 17 To create fast, low-cost, and high-impact changes In your community.

Goal: Successful Policies 1.Sets a vision. 2.Includes all users and all modes. 3.Applies to all phases of all applicable projects. 4.Specifies and limits exceptions, with management approval required. 5.Emphasizes connectivity. 6.Is understood by all agencies to cover all roads. 7.Uses the best and latest design standards and is flexible. 8.Complements the community’s context. 9.Sets performance standards. 10.Includes implementation steps. 18

Vision 19 What do you want from your streets? What will consistently rally support from the general public and the elected officials?

All users & modes 20 A clearly stated directive to include the needs of all people, regardless of how they travel, into the everyday transportation decision- making process.

All projects & phases 21 Integrate Complete Streets into planning, planning, design, construction of all projects: New construction Reconstruction Rehabilitation Repair Repaving Major maintenance Operations

Exceptions 22 Provides flexibility, but must not be exploited. Three common exceptions: Where user groups are prohibited When the cost is excessively disproportionate to need and use Documented absence of current AND future need Additional exceptions weaken Complete Streets objectives.

Network & connectivity 23 More than one or two “complete” streets Connected, integrated system that provides for all users Ensures gaps are filled

Other agencies 24 Many agencies have a stake in the funding, planning, and development of our streets. Create partnerships Communication between jurisdictions and agencies at all levels

Design guidance & flexibility 25 Use the best and latest design standards available Allow for flexible approaches to design

Context sensitivity 26 Design relates well to type of neighborhood and buildings

Performance measures 27 Systematic collection and reporting of data Ensures compliance with policy goals Enables informed decision-making Short and long term

Tool: Policy Workshops Bring together stakeholders and decision makers Encourage open dialogue about challenges and solutions Outside expert instructors lend credibility, offer national expertise Develop appropriate policy for your community Understand common implementation steps, develop work plan 28

Tool: Policy Workbook Detailed discussion of & questions to ask at each step in developing a policy Right type of policy Understanding current process All 10 elements of ideal policy Planning for implementation 29

Tool: Policy Workbook Use in tandem with Policy Analysis Work with other stakeholders to answer questions, write language Draw from best practices, develop best language for your community 30

Tool: Policy Analysis Look up your policy & policies in similar communities Find highly-rated policies to serve as models Rate policy as you write it Use to inspire implementation activities around different elements 31

From Policy to Practice Effective implementation means: Organizing implementation activities Restructuring procedures, policies, and programs Rewriting or updating design guidance Offering training opportunities to transportation staff, community leaders, and the general public Creating new performance measures 32

Results: Seattle, WA 33 Through 2011: = 159 pedestrian countdown signals added = 174 school zones with signage added = 198 blocks of sidewalks added or repaired = 237 miles of bike lanes/sharrows added or repaired = 4,098 new trees planted = 43,600 additional hours of transit service secured 2011 population: 620,778 Area: square miles

Results: Charlotte, NC 34 Through October 2012: = 12.4 miles of road conversions completed = 40 miles of signed bike routes added = 40 miles of greenways & off-street paths added = 75 miles of bike lanes added = 80+ sidewalk improvements made 2011 Population: 751,087 Area: square miles

Results: Minneapolis, MN population: 387,753 Area: 58.4 square miles Through 2010 = 0.4 miles of sidewalks and crosswalks added = 17.8 miles of bike routes with sharrows added = 36.3 miles of bike lanes added

Results: Columbia, MO population: 110,438 Area: 60.4 square miles Through October 2012 = 1 signalized pedestrian crossing added = 3 miles of sidewalks paved = 5 major intersection improvements = 32 miles of bike routes with sharrows added = 86 miles of bike lanes added = 550 bike racks added

37 Washington, D.C.

38 Washington, D.C.

For more information 39 Fact sheets, photos, hand outs Information on changing policy Policy tracking & examples Complete Streets blog & monthly newsletter Links to research & publications

National Complete Streets Coalition Steering Committee 40 Benefactor AARP America Bikes American Planning Association American Public Transportation Association Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota National Association of REALTORS Smart Growth America Platinum American Society of Landscape Architects SvR Design Company Bronze Active Living by Design Alliance for Biking & Walking Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Supporter America Walks Institute of Transportation Engineers League of American Bicyclists National Association of City Transportation Officials

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