Complete Streets 2009 Annual Conference City Engineers Association of MN January 28, 2009
Is this a Complete Street?
Is this a Complete Street?
Is this a Complete Street?
What is a Complete Street? COMPLETE STREETS are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. 1 1 Taken from the National Complete Streets Coalition website
This is nothing new, designers and operators of the transportation system have been considering all users.
So what has changed? There is a national grassroots movement taking place to provide safe access to all transportation users on public streets. Pedestrian, bicycle and other needs are considered at the same time as the vehicular needs.
With rising energy prices, users are looking for options. ADA awareness is heightened. The public is looking for more opportunities to stay physically active.
In the previous legislative session, Senator Mike Jungbauer proposed a study to implement Complete Streets in Minnesota. A bill was passed requiring Mn/DOT to complete a study by December 2009.
Laws 2008, Chapter 350, Article 1, Section 94. Sec. 94. COMPLETE STREETS. The commissioner of transportation, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council and representatives of counties, statutory and home rule charter cities, and towns, shall study the benefits, feasibility, and cost of adopting a complete streets policy applicable to plans to construct, reconstruct, and relocate streets and roads that includes the following elements:
1. safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders 2. bicycle and pedestrian ways in urbanized areas except where bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited by law, where costs would be excessively disproportionate, and where there is no need for bicycle and pedestrian ways 3. paved shoulders on rural roads; 4. safe pedestrian travel, including for people with disabilities, on sidewalks and street crossings 5. utilization of the latest and best design standards; and 6. consistency of complete streets plan with community context.
The Commissioner shall report findings, conclusions, and recommendations to he senate Transportation Budget and Policy Division and the house of representatives Transportation Finance Division and Transportation and Transit Policy Subcommittee by December 5, 2009"
There is also legislative activity at the Federal level: S. 2686 The Complete Streets Act of 2008 The Complete Streets Act of 2008 would add a provision to Title 23 to 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.
H.R.5951 The Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2008 The Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2008 would 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.
According to Barbara McCann, who is writing a Best Scoping Practices Manual incorporating Complete Streets into Transportation Design: What it is An Ideal Policy that : Includes all modes Applies to new construction and reconstruction Will allow special and limited exceptions Uses Context Sensitive Design in conjunction with Complete Streets Uses latest design standards with flexibility Sets performance standards
What it is not Design prescription Mandate for immediate retrofit Silver bullet other initiatives need to be addressed such as land use, environmental concerns, VMT reduction
Mn/DOT s Complete Streets Study will determine benefits, costs and feasibility of implementing a Complete Streets Policy in Minnesota A Common Sense Approach
Events to date: September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 December 24, 2008 Co-chairs & Project Manager named by Mn/DOT Study Advisory Committee assembled per language in bill Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) identified Retained SRF to assist in bringing together input from Committee, TAP, literature search and public input from a Mn/DOT Complete Streets Website and write a report to the Commissioner Mn/DOT Complete Streets website live: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/completestreets/
Study Advisory Committee John Powell, Co-Chair City of Savage Tim Quinn, Co-Chair Mn/DOT Merry Daher Mn/DOT State Aid James Andrew Metropolitan Council Lee Amundson Willmar Area Transpotation Partnership James Gittemeier Duluth Metropolitan Planning Organization Steve Elkins Bloomington City Council Mary McComber Oak Park Heights
Study Advisory Committee, cont. Shelly Pederson Bloomington City Engr. Dennis Berg Anoka Co. Commissioner Gary Danielson Mn County Engineers Association Dan Greensweig Mn Association of Twps. Mike Schadauer Mn/DOT Transit Rick Kjonaas Mn/DOT State Aid Karen Nikolai Hennepin Co. Community Design Liaison Representative to be named from SE Minnesota
Technical Advisory Panel Scott Bradley Mn/DOT Context Sensitive Design Jim Rosenow Mn/DOT Geometrics Design Engr. Paul Stine Mn/DOT State Aid Standards. Engr. Patti Loken Mn/DOT State Aid Programs Engr. Tim Mitchell Mn/DOT Office of Transit Sue Groth Mn/DOT Traffic Engineer Lynnette Geschwind- Mn/DOT Affirmative Action Abigail McKenzie Transp. Planning Director Tim Anderson Federal Highway Administration
Technical Advisory Panel, cont. Mukhtar Thakur Mn/DOT State Design Engineer Scott McBride Mn/DOT Metro District Engineer Amr Jabr Mn/DOT Metro Operations & Maintenance Director Mike Robinson Mn/DOT Duluth District Engineer Marc Briese Woodbury Traffic Engineer Barb Thoman Transit for Livable Communities Michael Huber Urban Land Institute Irene Weis Mn/TAC Ron Biss Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee
Schedule: January 2009 January-May 2009 May-August 2009 September 2009 December 2009 Kick off meeting with the Committee and TAP Public Outreach (Including MCEA and CEAM conferences) Committee and TAP meetings, research Report Development Presentation to Commissioner Presentation to Legislature
The goal of the Study Advisory Committee is not to answer all the questions, or to develop policy; it shall study the benefits, feasibility, and cost of adopting a complete streets policy.
Questions?
For further information, please access the website or contact: Tim Quinn Resource Engineer Mn/DOT Metro District John Powell Public Works Director/City Engineer City of Savage