Complete Streets policies growing strong across the country- especially in Washington state
According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, a new report, Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2010: A story of growing strength, rates the strength of written policies. “It documents the tremendous growth in adoption of policies across the US, with the number of policies came close to doubling in each of the last three years," said Barbara McCann. "Twenty-three states (and Puerto Rico and DC) and more than 200 smaller jurisdictions now have Complete Streets policies to ensure that future transportation investments provide safe options for everyone using our roadways.”
Right here in Washington, active transportation advocates are excited over the passage of ESHB 1071 – creating a new Complete Streets Grant Program and account in the WSDOT's Highways and Local Programs Division. It is now being signed by Gov. Gregoire. The purpose of the Grant Program is to encourage local governments to ordinances to provide safe access to all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users.
McCann hopes this report will help "communities seeking to adopt compelling Complete Streets policies of their own better understand how to incorporate the elements of an ideal policy, using examples from their own region or state as models."
Among the top scoring policies are state laws and policies in the deep South and Midwest, county council-approved policies in Florida and the Mountain West, and city ordinances and design guidance in the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast.
Fifteen top-rated policies:
New Jersey Department of Transportation – Policy No. 703
Louisiana Department of Transportation – Complete Streets Policy
State of Minnesota – Statutes 174.75
State of Connecticut – Public Act 09-154
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – Complete Streets Policy
Bloomington/Monroe County, IN Metropolitan Planning Organization – Complete Streets Policy
Hennepin County, MN – Complete Streets Policy
Lee County, FL – Resolution No. 09-11-13
Salt Lake County, UT – Ordinance No. 1672
Crystal City, MO – Ordinance
Roanoke, VA – Complete Streets Policy
Missoula, MT – Resolution No. 7473
Herculaneum, MO – Ordinance No. 33-2010
New Haven, CT – Complete Streets Design Manual
Tacoma, WA – Complete Streets Design Guidelines
