A Complete Street is a road that is designed to be safe for drivers; bicyclists; transit vehicles and users; and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The Complete Streets concept focuses not just on individual roads but on changing the decision-making and design process so that all users are routinely considered during the planning, designing, building and operating of all road ways. It is about policy and institutional change.
On June 11, 2009, Gabe Rousseau, Ph.D., Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, FHWA Office of Natural and Human Environment, Barbara McCann, Executive Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition and principal of McCann Consulting, and Michael Ronkin, Owner, Designing Streets for Pedestrians and Bicyclists LLC provided an overview of FHWA's perspective on Complete Streets; including a discussion on the importance of pedestrian and bicycle issues, and what federal programs and policies are available to support communities in their Complete Streets efforts.
The webinar detailed the design and implementation strategies of Complete Streets and how they relate to Context Sensitive Solutions initiatives. The presenters also reviewed the accelerating adoption of complete streets policies and laws across the country.
Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of the public rights-of-ways present unique challenges to accessibility for which specific guidance is considered essential. The Board is developing new guidelines for public rights-of-way that will address various issues, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain. The new guidelines will cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb ramps, street furnishings, pedestrian signals, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way. The Board had developed a draft set of guidelines based on recommendations from an advisory committee it had chartered.
"Share the Road" information revised in Idaho's Driver Manual
BOISE - The new Idaho Driver's Manual will include improved information about bicyclists and motorists safely sharing the highway when it is released later this summer, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced. Enhancement of the "Share the Road" chapter in the Idaho Driver's Manual is the result of collaboration among state Sen. Elliot Werk, statewide bicycle advocates and ITD. "Significant effort was placed in garnering input from bicycling advocates from around the state," said ITD's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Mark McNeese. "We appreciated the contribution from these individuals and the manual will be greatly improved because of their commitment to improving safety on Idaho's roadways."
In a recent visit, AARP's strategic policy adviser praised Hawaii for its age-friendly street access. A "complete street" is defined as "safe, comfortable and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle and transit, regardless of age and ability". Gov. Lingle signed a bill into law this year requiring state and county transportation departments to accommodate all users of public highways and streets in terms of access and mobility. The state transportation director will form a task force to review design standards for highway users, make recommendations and establish policy to integrate plans into transportation projects. According to AARP's adviser "relative to all other states in the country, Hawaii is slightly ahead of the game" because of the new law and planning and processes under way for an updated statewide transportation policy plan, revised bicycle master plan and pedestrian plan.
On June 11, 2009, ContextSensitiveSolutions.org and the Federal Highway Administration hosted a Complete Streets and Context Sensitive Solutions webinar.
Gabe Rousseau, Ph.D., Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, FHWA Office of Natural and Human Environment, Barbara McCann, Executive Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition and principal of McCann Consulting, and Michael Ronkin, Owner, Designing Streets for Pedestrians and Bicyclists LLC provided an overview of FHWA's perspective on Complete Streets; including a discussion on the importance of pedestrian and bicycle issues, and what federal programs and policies are available to support communities in their Complete Streets efforts. The webinar detailed the design and implementation strategies of Complete Streets and how they relate to Context Sensitive Solutions initiatives. The presenters also reviewed the accelerating adoption of complete streets policies and laws across the country.
FHWA's Bike/Pedestrian Program Page (opens in a new window)
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program of the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Human and Natural Environment promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation use, safety, and accessibility.
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Pedestrian Bicycle Information Center (opens in a new window)
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is a national clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, access, and mobility for pedestrians (including transit users) and bicyclists. The PBIC serves anyone interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement, and the health community.
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PBIC Image Library (opens in a new window)
Need images? The PBIC Image Library is a searchable collection of free, high quality images relating to walking and bicycling.
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Safe Routes to School (opens in a new window)
Safe Routes to School programs enable community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone.
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Transportation Enhancements (opens in a new window)
At the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC), we can help you learn how to use TE funds to revitalize the transportation experience in your community.
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Finding Local Contacts (opens in a new window)
State Ped/Bike Coordinators are responsible for planning and administering statewide pedestrian and bicycle programs. View our state by state listing of coordinator contact info.
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The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (opens in a new window)
SAFEATEA-LU Section 1807 established the NTPP. This program is providing 25 million dollars each to four communities--Columbia, MO; Marin County, CA; Minneapolis Area, MN; Sheboygan County, WI--to demonstrate how improved walking and bicycling networks can increase rates of walking and bicycling.
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Best Practices Manual on Complete Streets (opens in a new window)
The American Planning Association and the National Complete Streets Coalition have launched a research project on complete streets. The effort is intended to transform community planning, urban design, and engineering street design practices to better meet the needs of all forms of vehicular and non-vehicular transportation — cars, transit, pedestrians, (including pedestrians with disabilities), and bicyclists.
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AARP – Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America
America needs streets designed to be safe and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle and transit regardless of age or ability. As the nation ages, Complete Streets planning presents an opportunity to increase the safety and availability of older adults' travel options.
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Complete Streets: We Can Get There from Here
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.
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Retrofitting Urban Arterials Into Complete Streets
This paper will explore ways to make urban thoroughfares more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and respectful of the surrounding community, while not unduly compromising motor vehicle travel.
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Relationship of Lane Width to Safety for Urban and Suburban Arterials
This research investigates the relationship between lane width and safety for roadway segments and intersection approaches on urban and suburban arterials. The research found no general indication that the use of lanes narrower than 3.6 m (12 ft) on urban and suburban arterials increases crash frequencies. This finding suggests that geometric design policies should provide substantial flexibility for use of lane widths narrower than 3.6 m (12 ft). Inconsistent results were found which suggested increased crash frequencies with narrower lanes in three specific design situations.
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PBIC Case Study Compendium
This PBIC Case Study Compendium contains a collection of brief, original case studies developed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). The case studies, or success stories, cover pedestrian and bicycle projects and programs from across the US and abroad, including engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, planning, health promotion, and comprehensive safety initiatives. They are intended to provide ideas and spur thinking about potential activities communities can undertake to further support bicycling and walking.
Constructing, Maintaining and Financing Sidewalks in New Jersey NJ
This research has been undertaken to explore how sidewalks in New Jersey are constructed, maintained, reconstructed and financed. Sidewalks are a complicated issue due to multiple jurisdictions (local, county, and state), ambiguous responsibility for construction, reconstruction and maintenance, and contested liability. The research methodology included interviews with New Jersey planners and engineers at the state and local levels, a review of state and national guidelines, consultation with national professionals regarding practices outside New Jersey, and a legal analysis of sidewalk-related caselaw.
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9th Avenue Bicycle Facility & Complete Street Redesign
NYCDOT's 9th Avenue bike lane facility solved the tricky issue of how to design intersections of the protected bike path and cross-streets, to ensure that cyclists and motorists could see each other and left-turning vehicles did not endanger cyclists who were continuing straight ahead. NYCDOT addressed these issues by providing special signals for cyclists and left-turn bays for drivers with a separate signal phase, allowing them to cross the path when cyclists are stopped.
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Massachusetts Highway Department - Project Development & Design Guide
Transportation and quality of life in our Commonwealth communities are inextricably linked. This connection is largely influenced by the role that highways, streets, and sidewalks play in our lives. Excellent transportation is critical to a healthy and vibrant Commonwealth. One of the priorities of the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) is the development and maintenance of a comprehensive and effective multimodal transportation network.
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Charlotte DOT Urban Street Design Guidelines
The Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG) are intended to create "complete" streets--streets that provide capacity and mobility for motorists, while also being safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, cyclists, and neighborhood residents.
The USDG include information about why this new approach to planning and designing streets is necessary, how the guidelines should be applied, and how specific design features should be used for different types of streets.
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Complete Streets in Minnesota (opens in a new window)
Mn/DOT and its partners are beginning a study to find out the benefits, cost and feasibility of establishing a complete streets policy in Minnesota.
"The car is no longer the king in Boston." With these words, in fall 2009, Mayor Thomas M. Menino ushered in a new era of street design in the City of Boston.
The new Complete Streets approach puts pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users on equal footing with motor-vehicle drivers. The initiative aims to improve the quality of life in Boston by creating streets that are both great public spaces and sustainable transportation networks. It embraces innovation to address climate change and promote healthy living. The objective is to ensure Boston's streets are Multimodal, Green, and Smart.
