Federal ADA regulations aim to provide access to people of all abilities. As Complete Streets gains greater influence in street design, there is a clear opportunity to develop complimentary efforts to improve access to our transportation system, weaving ADA standards into CS policies and implementation that will benefit the entire community.
complete streets
Michigan DOT takes an innovative approach to complete streets
The Michigan Department of Transportation has embraced the concept of “walkability reviews” and has been funding them in communities across the state for the past 10 years. The most recent round of walkability reviews was conducted April 21-25 in six communities.
At a crossroads: Complete streets and functional classification
As the demand for more complete, multimodal streets increases, so does the push to alter the functional classification system to allow for greater local flexibility in roadway design. The functional classification system often restricts communities seeking flexibility in roadway design and can effectively hobble transit planners attempting to advance livability initiatives.
The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012 (Smart Growth America, 2013)
Communities across the country are making roads safer and more accessible for everyone who uses them, and more communities are using these strategies now than ever before. This guide from Smart Grown America, released today, examines all the Complete Streets policies passed in the last year and highlights some of the best. The analysis also revealed that the Complete Streets movement grew in 2012, continuing a national trend since 2005.
Complete Streets: Policy Analysis 2011 and Local Policy Workbook (Smart Growth America and National Complete Streets Coalition, 2012)
Smart Growth America has released a report that summarizes surveys of the more than 350 complete streets policies that have been approved by communities across the United States. Also available is the latest edition of the Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook, which is intended to assist transportation experts and local leaders with developing complete streets policies.
Why “forgiving roadways” are not the solution in urban areas
Roadway designers since the 1960’s have used the concept of “forgiving highways.” Due to its success in reducing fatal crashes on high speed access controlled roadways, engineers have been applying this methodology to urban streets in built up areas as well. However, this approach might actually make certain roads deadlier for motorists, as it encourages drivers to drive faster and less cautiously, and it has been shown to lessen pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Complete Streets: We Can Get There from Here (ITE, 2008)
This report explains the Complete Streets movement and assesses ways to make urban thoroughfares more pedestrian and bike friendly without compromising existing automobile travel. Download the full report here.
A small city tries to fund sidewalk improvements
Missoula, Montana—a city of roughly 70,000 people— for decades had a policy similar to many cities of allowing property owners to decide if they wanted a sidewalk, and pay for it themselves. This created city streets that resembled “broken teeth,” where properties with sidewalks were next door to properties without sidewalks.
Complete streets in New York State
New York State’s legislature passed a complete streets bill to require that planners consider bike and pedestrian friendly features when designing and building roads. Over the last ten years, 3000 pedestrians have died on New …