Another Green Monday: Why I support a Complete Streets ordinance for Spokane (and why you should too!)

Futurewise has created a petition to ask the Spokane City Council to sign a Complete Streets Ordinance and your help is needed. An ordinance has been in the works for almost two years and the time is getting closer for when it will come up for a vote. This citizen push is needed so please forward to your friends and family.

Here is the link for the petition.

From Futurewise: Instituting a Complete Streets policy in the City of Spokane ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind — including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. In contrast, incomplete streets fail to serve pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and the disabled, and are challenging for the youngest and oldest members of our community. Complete Streets is about making our city and its services accessible to all citizens whether you own a car or not.

In the comments section, Futurewise wants to hear your thoughts on why we need a Complete Streets ordinance. Here is what I wrote:

Spokane has a tradition of having big holes to fill between our street standards and the Comprehensive Plan but now is the opportunity to close the gap. We need to make sure our streets offer connectivity for all users. hat’s what a Complete Streets ordinance will accomplish.

Critics talks about cost but it’s nothing compared to the financial burden of building new streets and then having to go back and put it in enhancements later. And remember, there is no singular design prescription for Complete Streets; each one is unique and responds to its community context.

There are so many benefits: Healthy citizens, less dependence on foreign oil, increase visibility for small businesses, safer routes to school, better walking options for seniors and the disabled, and, again, fewer repair costs for streets. We need better transit options since we live in one of the poorest areas in the state and transportation is the second largest household expense for Americans.

Also, there will be more matching funds for our streets, especially since the legislature passed HB 1071, that creates a Complete Streets Grant Program for cities that have passed an ordinance. Why miss out on this opportunity?

This is why I ask the Spokane City Council to pass the Complete Streets Ordinance as this road leads to a rewarding future.

Thank you.

Paul Dillon