Safety & Convenience for All Users, in All Modes Barbara McCann NCSL December 3, 2013
Safety & Convenience for All Users?
Who was left out when this road was planned?
Takaaki Iwabu for Raleigh News Observer
A system out of balance Gaps in the travel network Too few options Too much traffic congestion
33,561 deaths in 2012 Traffic crashes leading cause of accidental death for ages 5-19. older adults overrepresented Peds/bikes overrepresented
An Equity Issue 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 49% low income 89% high income Neighborhoods with Sidewalks Gibbs, RWJF BTG Brief
Transit station not reaching its potential
The tremendous potential Of all trips: 39% are less than 3 miles 17% are less than 1 mile 47% are driven of these trips National Household Travel Survey (2009) 10
Who wants Options? 55% of Americans would rather drive less & walk more. Nearly one-third of Americans don t drive: 21% of Americans over 65. Children under 16. Many low income Americans do not have access to automobiles Transit use is growing faster than population or highway travel. 11
What are Complete Streets? Complete Streets are streets for everyone, no matter who they are or how they travel. 12
Projects Systems Policy
Projects Systems Policy
What is a Complete Streets policy? A complete streets policy ensures that the entire right of way is planned, designed & operated to provide safe access for all users.
Total number of Complete Streets policies Complete Streets Policy Adoption As of September 1, 2013 17
As of September 1, 2013 18
From policy to practice Creating multi-modal streets means: 1. Change Decision-Making 2. Address Design 3. Offer Training to all 4. Measure Success in New Ways 20
Make Decisions Inclusive Close the human gap
Understand the needs of all users
Shift Spending
Shift Spending
City of Nashville 62% of Capital Budget: $12.5 million for sidewalks $3 million for bikeways $10 million for public transportation
Normal Construction Cost Annual Variation 28 Shapard & Cole, TRB 2013 paper 13-3283
Cost Variation: Active Transportation Bike Lanes Sidewalks 12 11 Lanes 29 Shapard & Cole, TRB 2013 paper 13-3283
Spending Priorities? 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Portion of ped/bike deaths compared to spending 16.0% bike/ped deaths 0.4% HSIP spending on bike/ped safety 2007-2011
Sewer line replacement Residents wanted to reduce highway traffic & link to a trail network New configuration cost $2 million less than straight replacement Neighbors now want the same
Shift Space
Shift Space
Before After
Louisville Kentucky Bill Deatherage walks along Brownsboro Rd. before and after new sidewalk was installed.
Measure Results Measure outcomes to build support and learn what is working 38
Proven Counter Measures high-crash intersections/corridors Roundabouts Medians & Ped Crossing Islands (in urban & suburban areas) Ped Hybrid Beacons Road Diets Source: Federal Highway Administration Safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures 41
Measures: Indianapolis The City shall measure the success of this Complete Streets policy using, but not limited to, the following performance measures: Percentage of transit stops accessible via sidewalks and curb ramps (beginning in June 2014) Total miles of bike lanes Linear feet of new pedestrian accommodation Number of new curb ramps installed along city streets Crosswalk and intersection improvements Rate of crashes, injuries and fatalities by mode Rate of children walking or bicycling to school (beginning in June 2014) 42 42
Customer satisfaction surveys - DelDOT
The many types of Complete Streets 44
Busy multi-modal thoroughfares 45
Low traffic shared streets 46
Modern Roundabouts
Crossings at every bus stop
Rural roadways
Retail Main Streets
Safer access to stores
Completing Our Streets: The Transition to Safe and Inclusive Transportation Networks by Barbara McCann barbara@bmccann.net @csbarb Facebook www.completingourstreets Use discount code 4STREETS to save 25%!