Introduction to Complete Streets

Transcription

1 Introduction to Complete Streets 1

2 What are Complete Streets? Complete Streets are safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel for everyone, regardless of age or ability motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders. 2

3 Complete Streets Policies Over 230 jurisdictions have committed to a Complete Streets approach. As of 01/15/10 3

4 Types of Policy 4% 22% 14% Legislation/Ordinance (47) 2% Resolution (94) Tax Ordinance (3) 14% Internal Policy (31) Executive Order (4) Plan (30) 1% Design Manual (9) 43% As of 01/07/11 n=218 4

5 Where It s Happening 12% 12% State (24) MPO (24) County (24) 12% City (131) 64% As of 01/07/11 n=203 5

6 From Policy to Practice An effective policy should prompt the transportation agency to: restructure procedures, policies, and programs rewrite design manuals or standards offer training opportunities to planners and engineers create new performance measures 6

7 Complete Streets in New Hampshire Keene* City Policy Adopted 2011 UNH Institute on Disability - Transportation Solutions NH, public education & forums Concord* City Policy Adopted 2010 *Also a League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community 7

8 DOT Policy in North Carolina NC Complete Streets Policy: Making it easier for travelers to get where they need to go; Encouraging the use of alternative forms of transportation; Building more sustainable communities; Increasing connectivity between neighborhoods, streets, and transit systems; Improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. 8

9 Other State Examples CT - Quick Fix program for minor bicycle and pedestrian issues NY multi level advocacy inspired by child fatality VT State Legislature Adopted in 2011 OR & FL oldest 1971 & states have DOT policies or state legislation MA, RI have enacted legislation 9

10 Who wants Complete Streets? 55% of Americans would rather drive less & walk more. Nearly one-third of Americans don t drive: Americans over 65. Children under % of older Americans living in inhospitable neighborhoods say they would walk and bike more often if the built environment improved. 10

11 Getting Out of Traffic Most Americans feel providing more transportation options will reduce congestion, not building or expanding roads. Future of Transportation National Survey (2010)

12 Why Are Complete Streets Important? Allows for mode choice Includes all travelers Addresses social inequities Supports public health initiatives 12

13 Consistent with Federal Guidance 2000 FHWA Guidance: Bicycling and walking facilities will be incorporated into all transportation projects unless exceptional circumstances exist. 13

14 Incomplete Streets are Unsafe More than 40% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 and 2008 occurred where no crosswalk was available. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s Fatality Reporting System 14

15 Incomplete Streets Are Inadequate No sidewalks, dangerous crossings 15

16 Incomplete Streets Are Inaccessible 16

17 The built environment can have a positive impact on: public health the environment the economy

18 Transportation Planning Trends Complete Streets policies Safe Routes to Schools Interconnected transit and pathway networks Roadway design that favors lower speeds More public involvement Sustainability, Livability Source: FHWA

19 Trails are #1 Amenity

20 Economic Competitiveness Bicycle Path Construction & Jobs Bicycle Only Road Only 58 Projects Nationwide Santa Cruz, CA Baltimore, MD 11.4 jobs/million spent 7.8 jobs/million spent jobs/million spent 4.95 jobs/million spent Source: Political Economy Research Institute University of Massachusetts, Amherst, June 2011

21 What Can We Borrow from Other Countries? Better facilities for bicycling and walking. Urban design oriented to people, not cars. Source: FHWA

22 Source: Alliance for Biking & Walking

23 US Increase in Bicycle Commuting

24 Change In Travel Patterns Twenty years of consistent investment in a has lead to measurable results in Boulder, CO. Transit use is twice the national average. Walking commutes are 3 times the national average. Bicycle commutes are 18 times the national average. Platinum Bike Friendly City 2008 American Community Survey 24

25 Percent of Obesity Percent Walk, Bike,Transit Benefits: Health Obesity is lower in places where people use bicycles, public transportation, and their feet USA New Zealand Australia Canada Ireland France Finland Italy Obesity Spain Germany Sweden Austria Netherlands Switzerland Denmark Walk, Bike, Transit 10 0 Pucher, Walking and Cycling: Path to Improved Public Health, Fit City Conference, NYC, June

26 Benefits: People with Disabilities 20% of Americans have a disability that limits their daily activities. Complete Streets feature curb cuts, high visibility crosswalks, and other designs for travelers with disabilities. Complete Streets reduce isolation and dependence. 26

27 Benefits: Older Adults By 2025, nearly 1/5 of Americans will be 65 or older. About ½ of all non-drivers over the age of 65 would like to get out more often. Complete streets policies help create streets that support older drivers and pedestrians through better design. Complete streets help older Americans stay active and involved in their communities

28 Benefits: Children More than 1/3 of our nation s children are overweight or obese. Limited physical activity contributes to the obesity epidemic among children. Streets that provide dedicated space for bicycling and walking help kids be physically active and gain independence

29 Benefits: Economic Competitiveness In most metro areas studied, every one-point increase in the 100-point Walk Score scale is associated with an increase in home value of $500 - $3,000. Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities 29

30 Benefits: Capacity 30

31 Benefits: Capacity 31

32 Livable Communities Livability means being able to take your kids to school, go to work, see a doctor, drop by the grocery or post office, go out to dinner and a movie, and play with your kids at the park all without having to get in your car. Ray LaHood, U.S. DOT, Secretary of Transportation 32

33 Sustainable Streets Many elements of street design, construction, and operation can achieve both Complete Streets that work for all travelers and green streets that improve environmental sustainability. 33

34 Safe Routes To Play A Child-Centered Transportation Initiative What if all children had the opportunity to safely bicycle, ski, skate, scoot, or walk to their play destinations?

35 Safe Routes To Play Objectives ACTIVE ACCESS GIS Level of Service Mapping Inventory of Existing Trails & Pathways Gap Analysis FUNDING MECHANISMS SRTP Active Transportation Blueprint SRTP Route Map SRTP Programming SRTP Facilitator Training PROMOTE AWARENESS Children As Commuters Built Environment Health Impacts Universal access to facilities & parks ACCEPTED PLANNING PRACTICE Active Transportation Community Trails Complete Streets Recreation Facility & Park Planning PARTNER- SHIPS IMBA SRTSNP Indiana Univ. CO Dept. of Health GreenPlay, LLC Design Concepts

36 Check the Complete Streets Atlas 36

37 Policy Development Guidance 37

38 National Complete Streets Coalition Steering Committee AARP Active Living by Design Alliance for Biking and Walking America Bikes America Walks American Council of the Blind American Planning Association American Public Transportation Association American Society of Landscape Architects Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals City of Boulder, Colorado HNTB Institute of Transportation Engineers League of American Bicyclists National Association of Area Agencies on Aging National Association of City Transportation Officials National Association of REALTORS National Center for Bicycling and Walking Ryan Snyder Associates Safe Routes to School National Partnership Smart Growth America SvR Design Company Transportation for America 38

39 National Complete Streets Coalition Partners Platinum HNTB Ryan Snyder Associates SvR Design Company Gold Designing Streets for People, LLC Silver Alta Planning + Design American Public Works Association Fehr & Peers MIG, Inc. VHB, Inc. Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc. Toole Design Group T.Y. Lin International Bronze Beckett & Raeder Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. Gresham, Smith, and Partners Kittelson & Associates, Inc. Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers M-E Companies Bicycle Solutions Broadreach Planning & Design Brown and Mitchell KTU + A Planning + Architecture Martin/Alexiou/Bryson North Country Healthy Heart Network, Inc. PedNet Coalition Qk4 Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Synergy, LLC Urban Engineers 39

40 Complete Streets Workshops Full-day, interactive, customized workshops with two nationallyknown instructors Engages planners, engineers, elected officials, community stakeholders, and other decision makers Three types of workshops: Laying the Foundation for Complete Streets Complete Streets Policy Development Complete Streets Policy Implementation For details, contact Linda Tracy at 40

41 For more information Fact sheets, photos, brochures Information on changing policy Policy tracking & examples Complete Streets blog and monthly newsletter Links to research & publications 41

42 I thought of that (the theory of relativity) while riding my bike. -ALBERT EINSTEIN 42

43 Thank You! Cindy Heath, CPRP Executive Director

44 Copyright & Use This presentation is licensed under a Creative Commons license permitting non-commercial use with attribution. Any of these conditions may be waived with permission. For-profit organizations wishing to use this presentation should contact us at bmccann@completestreets.org or For more information about this license, please visit: 44