Introduction To Complete Streets

The Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan was created from an original and much larger list of suggested action items provided by a large cross section of department staff. The Implementation Action Plan projects are organized into seven categories: 1. Highest Focus Areas; 2. Guidance, Manuals, and Handbooks; 3. Policy and Plans; 4. Funding and Project Selection; 5. Raise Awareness; 6. Training; and 7. Research.

• Definition
• Background
• Why Now?
• Design Elements (Width, Block Length, Sidewalks, Bicycle Lanes)
• What Does it All Mean?

A white paper that presents a thorough discussion on Complete Streets.

This feature explains the complete streets movement and explores ways to make urban thoroughfares more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and respectful of the surrounding community while not unduly compromising motor vehicle travel. Techniques for designing an arterial street that an control traffic speeds and permit more comfortable and safe pedestrian and bicycle access are described.

The publication provides a resource for practitioners working in the challenging practice of urban thoroughfare design. The principles are based on the evolving practice of context sensitive solutions (CSS), which integrates CSS principles into existing processes to facilitate informed decision-making that considers the needs, interests and constraints within a project. The publication describes:

• The importance of integrating the principles of CSS in urban roadway improvement projects,
• How CSS principles can be used in the transportation planning and project development processes, and
• Specific guidance on thoroughfare cross-section and intersection design.

This report has been developed in response to widespread interest for improving both mobility choices and community character through a commitment to creating and enhancing walkable communities. This report is intended to facilitate the restoration of the complex multiple functions of urban streets. It provides guidance for the design of walkable urban thoroughfares in places that currently support the mode of walking and in places where the community desires to provide a more walkable thoroughfare, and the context to support them in the future.

Introduction to Safe Routes to School: the Health, Safety and Transportation Nexus, including: Overview, History of Safe Routes to School, The Decline of Walking and Bicycling, Health Risks, Safe Routes to School Programs are Part of the Solution, Elements of Safe Routes to School Programs, Take Action Now, Promising Examples and Community Success Stories

Incomplete streets cost families money and encourage oil consumption—Transportation is the second largest expense for American households, costing more than food, clothing, and health care. Even prior to the recent run-up in gasoline prices, Americans spent an average of 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, with the poorest fifth of families spending more than double that figure. Much of this household transportation expense is pumped directly into the gas tank. The United States uses 20 million barrels of oil per day and over 40% of American oil consumption goes to passenger cars.

Complete streets improve safety. A Federal Highways Administration safety review found that designing the street with pedestrians in mind- sidewalks, raised medians, better bus stop placement, traffic-calming measures, and treatments for disabled travelers-all improve pedestrian safety.

Incomplete streets lead to higher costs—Transportation is the second largest expense for American households, costing more than food, clothing, and health care. Even before the recent run-up in gasoline prices, Americans spent an average of 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, with the poorest fifth of families spending more than double that figure. The vast majority of this money, nearly 98%, is for the purchase, operation, and maintenance of automobiles. Drivers spent $186 billion on fuel last year, and without improvements to fuel economy, Americans will spend an estimated $260 billion in 2020 on gasoline.

What the Bill Does: The Complete Streets Act of 2008 (S. 2686), introduced by Senators Harkin (IA) and Carper (DE) and Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2008 (H.R. 5951) introduced by Rep. Matsui (CA) ensure that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road—motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

For typical U.S. cities with populations over 250,000, each additional mile of bike lanes per square mile is associated with a roughly one percent increase in the share of workers commuting by bicycle. Increasing the share of workers commuting by bicycle by one percentage point would double the average number of bicycle commuters in many cities. Rapid transit bus service that operates on streets improved to speed bus travel can increase ridership and shift trips from cars.

Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Complete streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind. They have been adopted by a few states (OR, VA, SC), and a number of regions and cities. Places that adopt complete streets policies are making sure that their streets and roads work for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as for older people, children, and people with disabilities.

The streets of our cities and towns ought to be for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. But too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams. These streets are unsafe for people on foot or bike and unpleasant for everybody. Schedule a workshop! To help communities successfully adopt complete streets policies, the National Complete Streets Coalition offers interactive, full-day workshops led by national experts on policy development.

Presentation provides a throrough introduction to complete streets

Presentation demonstrates what complete streets are and are not.

Complete Streets policies can end the project-by-project struggle for better facilities

Streets are key public spaces that often make up much of the land in a town or city. But across America, streets are frequently built for cars, with few features like sidewalks to make them safe and pleasant places to walk or bike. Conventional street design promotes traffic congestion, pollution, and collision injuries and discourages physical activity.

Presentation provides an overview of complete streets, examples of policies and actions in the Sacramento region and national level, simulations of streets and neighborhoods in Sacramento area

Snapshot of Complete Streets history and implementation

This document outlines an approach to designing streets that are more "complete" in the sense of accomplishing all of the goals associated with the dominant form of public space in urban societies — our streets. The purpose of this booklet is threefold:

1. To provide suggested street standards for use when designing new streets and developments and when planning for future transit corridors
2. To provide guidance when dealing with a constrained right-of-way
3. To illustrate local examples of streets that work or do not work for various user groups

For four decades, activists for greener, safer NYC streets have scrounged at the margins of this automobilized streetscape. A few feet of traffic lanes converted to bike lanes, the occasional sidewalk extended to relieve a dangerous intersection — all important changes, but all within the context of streets that serve cars, first and foremost. But what would our streets look like if they were redesigned, building-to-building, to first accommodate walkers, bicyclists, the disabled and surface transit? The days of living at the margins are over: the Complete Streets revolution has begun.

1. Ditch concurrency
2. Code form
3. Get network
4. Complete streets
5. High Speed Rail: Again? Local?