Complete Streets Policy and Practice presented by Leslie Phemister, Nancy Wagner and Kasey Holloway Active Transportation Alliance 1
Learning Objectives Understand the connection between public health and transportation and the benefits of active transportation Identify the unique challenges that communities face and strategies for addressing them Learn the difference between Complete Streets and the traditional approach to building roads Understand some of the tools and concepts that go into roadway planning and design 2
What does transportation have to do with public health? Adults should get 150 min/week Every trip is an opportunity for physical activity Built environment influences our choices
Quick Facts from APHA Active transportation is as effective as structured workouts Teenagers watch less TV and are less likely to smoke Better mental health in men Lower risk of breast cancer 4
Transportation and physical inactivity The more time a person spends in a car, the more likely he or she is to be overweight. Conversely, higher rates of walking and bicycling are associated with lower rates of obesity. Policy Link, Prevention Institute, Convergence Partnership: The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America 5
Driving is part of a sedentary lifestyle SOURCE: Walking, Cycling and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America and Australia - Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2008 6
More time in a car: Higher probability of obesity Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars Lawrence D. Frank, PhD, Martin A. Andresen, MA, Thomas L. Schmid, PhD
More walking: Less obesity Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars Lawrence D. Frank, PhD, Martin A. Andresen, MA, Thomas L. Schmid, PhD
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Elements of an Ideal Complete Streets Approach 1. Includes a vision for the transportation system 2. Specifies users of all ages, abilities, and modes 3. Encourages a connected network 4. Specifies all agencies and all roads in that network 5. Applies to all projects in all phases 6. Provides for specific exceptions 7. References design criteria 8. Acknowledges context sensitivity 9. Sets measurable performance standards 10. Addresses its own implementation 10
Why do people want Complete Streets? Safety Economic Health Social Fun! 11
Benefits: Complete Streets increase safety for everyone on the road Reduce vehicle speeds Decrease deaths Reduce severity of injury in crashes Raise driver awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists on the road
Benefits: Complete Streets make economic sense Complete Streets help individuals save money Complete Streets benefit housing markets Complete Streets help local businesses Schools
Benefits: Complete Streets improve people s health Complete Streets help people get more frequent activity and reduce the risks associated with obesity.
Benefits: Complete Streets are environmentally friendly Complete Streets provide an alternative to driving. Residents are 65% more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Cities with more bike lanes per square mile have higher levels of bicycle commuting.
Benefits: Complete Streets help youth stay active More students walk to school and to parks. Reduce traffic congestion around schools.
Benefits: Complete Streets allow older adults to age in place Seniors who don t drive make 65% fewer trips to visit family, friends, or go to church. Complete Streets provide transportation options so seniors can maintain independence.
Benefits: Complete Streets better serve people with disabilities The principles of Complete Streets embrace accessibility for all people, including people with disabilities.
Barriers to active transportation Facilities: Lack of sidewalks, crossings, and bikeways Traffic Safety: Speeding cars, frequent crashes Inconvenience: Environment built for cars, and nothing else 19
Barriers to active transportation Distance Barrier Distance Barrier Walkable distance Walkable distance 20
The traditional approach to roadway design 21
The traditional approach to roadway design 22
Barriers: Nowhere to safely walk Image credit:www.completestreets.org 23
Barriers: Inaccessible bus stops Image Credit: www.completestreets.org 24
Complete Streets Solution Image Credit: www.completestreets.org 25
Barriers: Nowhere to safely bike
Complete Streets Solution Traditional bike lane Barrier protected bike lane
Barriers: Faded crosswalks What the pedestrian sees What the driver sees
Complete Streets Solution
Barriers: Long crossings over wide intersections
Barriers: Lack accessible curb ramps
Complete Streets... can be safely crossed and traveled upon and alongside by all users of the roadway, regardless of their age, ability or travel mode. 32
Complete Streets... can be safely crossed and traveled upon and alongside by all users of the roadway, regardless of their age, ability or travel mode. A Complete Streets policy is a commitment by a jurisdiction to accommodate all of these road users in all of their future roadway projects whenever possible. 33
Why Adopt A Policy? Policies are comprehensive: all roads, not individual projects Policies are constant: outlast political climate Policies add control: control over road decisions 34
Who impacts the way our roads are built? ELECTED OFFICIALS PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS 35
Who impacts? Planning ELECTED OFFICIALS PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING PROJECTS 36
Engineering ELECTED OFFICIALS Who impacts the way our roads are built? PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING ENGINEER- ING PROJECTS 37
Public Safety ELECTED OFFICIALS Who impacts the way our roads are built? PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING PROJECTS ENGINEER- ING 38
Other Jurisdictions ELECTED OFFICIALS Who impacts the way our roads are built? PUBLIC WORKS COUNTY STATE OTHER JURISDICTIONS PROJECTS 39
Consultants ELECTED OFFICIALS Who impacts the way our roads are built? PUBLIC WORKS COUNTY STATE OTHER JURISDICTIONS PROJECTS CONSULTANTS 40
Developers Who impacts the way our roads are built? ELECTED OFFICIALS COUNTY STATE OTHER JURISDICTIONS PUBLIC WORKS DEVELOPERS CONSULTANTS PROJECTS 41
Systems Change ELECTED OFFICIALS COMPLETE STREETS COUNTY STATE PUBLIC WORKS OTHER JURISDICTIONS DEVELOPERS CONSULTANTS PROJECTS 42
Your Complete Streets Policy! WHEREAS, transportation, quality of life, and economic development are connected through context sensitive transportation solutions; WHEREAS, a Complete Street is defined as one that provides safe and convenient access for all users of the road; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Village Council that the Village hereby adopts a Complete Streets Policy. 43
Example: Local Road in Blue Island 44
Example: IDOT Road in Blue Island 45
Example: IDOT Road in Des Plaines 46
Example: County Road in South Holland 47
Resources National Complete Streets Coalition workbook: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs/resources/cspolicyworkbook.pdf Complete Streets Fundamentals: www.completestreets.org/completestreets-fundamentals Active Trans Complete Streets Policy: http://atpolicy.org/complete-streetspolicy Active Trans Design Manual: http://www.atpolicy.org/design https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ynha9jjpdnsag9/complete%20streets%20sta rting%20point%20active%20transportation%20alliance%202014.pdf?dl=0 CMAP Complete Streets Handbook: http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/programs-and-resources/local-ordinancestoolkits/complete-streets 48
Contact Information Active Transportation Alliance 9 W. Hubbard St, Suite 402 Chicago, IL 60654 Leslie Phemister Outreach Manager South and Southwest Suburbs leslie@activetrans.org Nancy Wagner Outreach Manager North and Northwest Suburbs nancy@activetrans.org Kasey Holloway Project Manager kasey@activetrans.org 49
Thank you and Questions! 50