Complete Streets Accessible Networks for an Age-Friendly World Jana Lynott, AICP Senior Strategic Policy Advisor AARP Public Policy Institute @JanaLynott
What are Complete Streets? AARP Bulletin Complete Streets are safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel for everyone, regardless of age or ability motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders
Streets Are Inadequate
Streets Are Inadequate
Streets Are Inadequate
Streets Are Inadequate
Streets Are Inadequate
Streets are Inadequate
Considerations When Designing for Older Adults Declining vision, esp. at night Decreased ability to hear sounds and detect where they come from Less strength to walk up hills and less endurance overall Reduced balanced, esp. on uneven or sloped surfaces Slowed reaction times to dangerous situations Slower walking speeds Increased fragility and frailty
Older road users are especially vulnerable 13% US Population 65+ 16% 20% Total Population Motor Vehicle Fatalities (driver + passenger) Pedestrian Fatalities Source: AARP Public Policy Institute Analysis of the 2011 FARS
Pedestrians average risk of death by vehicle speed in the US Average risk of severe injury or death increases with age 75% 90% The average risk of severe injury or death of a 70-year-old ped struck by a car traveling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30-year old ped struck at 35 mph Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, September 2011 10% 23 mph 25% 50% 32 42 50 58
Falls Fall-related deaths and hospitalizations are more than double those for motor vehicles injuries for the 65+ Falls cost the US over $80 million annually ($9,000+ per fall) in direct medical and long-term care costs. Falls account for 68% of hospitalizations for 65+ pop Almost half occur outside the home Sources: Centers for Disease Control AARP Public Policy Institute, In Brief, No. 56.
Older adults report inhospitable roads 40% say they do not have adequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods 47% say they cannot cross their main roads safely International Communications Research Poll for AARP, 1,000 adults age 50+, July 2008 Photo by Dan Burden, Walkable & Livable Communities Institute
Complete Streets Policies A complete streets policy ensures that the entire right of way is planned, designed, and operated to provide safe access for all users 16
The Growing Movement 600 522 551 500 Cumulative # of Policies 400 300 200 142 228 379 100 9 11 13 17 26 31 46 65 91 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Engaging Older Adults Hawaii Louisiana Puerto Rico New York Vermont Connecticut Michigan Indiana Texas
Elements of a Policy 1. Sets a vision. 2. Includes all modes. 3. Emphasizes connectivity. 4. Applies to all phases of all applicable projects. 5. Specifies and limits exceptions, with management approval required. 6. Uses latest design standards is flexible. 7. Is context-sensitive. 8. Sets performance standards. 9. Includes implementation steps. 19
Beyond the ADA Complete Streets = Universal Design for our public ROW
Design Solutions for Older Adults Design for each sidewalk zone Choose sidewalk and crosswalk materials wisely Be attentive to lighting Slow traffic speed in urban areas Put your roads on a diet Embrace roundabouts
Without zones: randomly arranged street furniture clutters sidewalk and complicates wayfinding Courtesy of Michael Ronkin
Design for Each Sidewalk Zone Image from LA County Living Streets Design Manual
Be attentive to materials Photo by Jana Lynott, Poor contrast sensitivity choice of stair materials at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul
Be attentive to lighting Photo by Jana Lynott
Before 26
After 27
Roundabouts Michigan Area Council of Governments http://www.macog.com/pdfs/mpo/d00rndabts.pdf 28
Performance Measures Additional measures: linear feet of sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes. # of new or reconstructed curb ramps, # of new or repainted crosswalks zebra style where cross higher speed roadways # of new street trees % completion of ped/bike network per plans Efficiency of transit vehicles on routes % transit stops with shelters % transit stops accessible via sidewalks and curb ramps Multimodal LOS Decrease in rate of crashes, injuries and fatalities by mode Mode shift Rate of children walking/biking to school VMT or SOV trip reduction
Questions? Contact Info: Jana Lynott jlynott@aarp.org @janalynott AARP Livable Communities Resources www.aarp.org/ppi/liv-com AARP Great Places Blog http://blog.aarp.org/category/great-places/