Advocating for Complete Streets

at the National, State and Local Level

PRESENTATION ROADMAP

1. National • issues, trends, considerations

2. State • Issues, statewide campaign

3. Local Advocacy for Complete Streets policies

National Advocacy for Complete Streets

Federal Transportation Bill • SAFTELU expired 777 days ago (Sept 30, 2009) • 8th extension! • Intended to be a 6 year plan for the nation’s transportation and infrastructure priorities • Major deficit in the budget to fund a new 6 year bill

• gas tax • cars are more efficient • people are driving less due to the economy

MAP 21 • A Two Year Bill currently in the Senate • Advocates are working to assure there is dedicated funding to support bicycle and pedestrian projects

• As this, or similar legislation, moves forward

ADVOCACY IS NEEDED!

Advocating for a Balanced Transportation System A network of interstates, highways, roads, railroads, public transportation, walkways and bikeways • Retain dedicated federal funding for the safety and consideration of people on foot or on bicycle

• Adopt a national complete streets policy

•Fill in the gaps. Beyond making new and refurbished roads safer for pedestrians, we need to create complete networks of sidewalks, bicycle paths and trails so that residents can travel safely throughout an area.

• Hold states accountable for creating communities that are safe for walking and biking

State Advocacy Eat Smart, Move More SC

– Save the Children – Campaign for Healthy Kids

– Fund advocacy and direct lobbying

3 Legislative Priorities Healthy Snacks in Schools Farm to School Complete Streets

Advocacy Efforts

Get Involved! Get to know your state legislators! Advocacy webinars, trainings….to

grow our advocacy network React and ACT! New for 2012….

Local Advocacy for Complete Streets I. City Government 101

II. Petition Your Government III. A Complete Streets Advocacy

Campaign

Cities and their power City Government Structure How City Councils Function

City Government 101

Cities and Towns

Municipal councils are local, legislative assemblies empowered to enact regulations, resolutions, and ordinances consistent with

the constitutions and general laws of the state and nation.

The Powers of a City All powers of a municipality reside in the

city council The city council is authorized to enact

ordinances, adopt resolutions and establish policies Preemption

City Council Rules & Procedures

A city council adopts a set of rules for how business should be conducted

These rules and procedures serve as a guide to council and citizens to provide a fair and open method for deliberation

Quorum

A majority of the council’s total membership constitutes a quorum

A quorum must be present for the council to transact official business

Meetings Regular – usually twice a month Special – at the request of the Mayor or majority

of the council – Emergency meetings or Public hearings

Executive sessions (also known as closed meetings or sessions)

Statutory requirements – form, introductions and adoption of ordinances and resolutions

Minutes – must be taken and are public record

Ordinances

• Permanent Law • Every proposed ordinance must be introduced by a council member in writing and in the form required for final adoption

• They require two separate readings at least 6 days apart

Resolutions

Expressions of the council’s opinion and have no force of law

Require only one reading

Advocacy: Petitioning Your

Government

The most important political office is that of the

private citizen. - Justice Louis Brandeis, Supreme

Court Justice

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is gaining public support for

a particular policy through the legislative process.

Advocacy is about speaking out and making a case for something important.

Advocacy is a multi-layered approach to advancing change.

Why Advocate?

Advocacy creates better public policy.

Citizens must communicate with their elected officials

Advocacy is a democratic tradition

Advocacy is an integral part of our democratic process.

Simply being able to tell our policymakers how to write and change laws is at the very heart of our democratic system!

Democracy is a team sport. It is not like going to a ballgame where you sit passively and decide if you like

the players and evaluate their abilities after watching the game. We are the players, we are the

team. - John Renesch, Futurist

Advocacy is Not Just for the Experts.

Professional advocates vs. ordinary citizens

Speaking from the heart! Training

– Who to call – When to call – What to say – How to say it

Policymakers need your expertise!

The people closest to the real problems and concerns of a community need to be heard!

Passion and perspective Make it “real”

A Complete Streets Campaign

YOU can build a Complete Streets Campaign that can

make enormous improvements to the

bicycle and pedestrian environment in your

community.

Complete Streets Campaign Identify Complete Streets Key Partners

and Leaders Define Campaign Goals Create a Campaign Message Develop a Complete Streets Campaign

Strategy and Timeline

1. Building a Coalition

Citizenship today requires individuals be knowledgeable of

public problems, but more importantly, have the capacity to act

together toward their solutions. - Suzanne Morse, Executive Director of

the Pew Partnership for Civic Change

Potential Coalition Partners Bicycle dealers, shops Disabilities

organizations Active living

organizations Alternative

transportation organizations

Anti-poverty organizations

Hospitals Schools

Community members who are cyclists

Seniors Youth Housing developers Colleges Law enforcement Churches Arts groups Environmental &

Conservation groups Smart Growth

organizations

Opponents

Build Your Grassroots Organizing Strength

Key Partners Create an email database

– Complete Streets Coalition members – FRIENDS…..etc!

City Council members need to hear public support of the policy!

2. Define Campaign Goals Key partners need to decide

“Pass a Complete Streets policy at the city level”

“Educate the community on the benefits of

Complete Streets”

“Establish a pilot project to build a sidewalk connecting the recreation dept to the school”

3. Create a Campaign Message

– A concise statement about your campaign’s purpose What you want to achieve Why you want to achieve it How you will achieve it The specific action you would like your

audience to take

SAMPLE MESSAGE

Streets should be safe for all users at all times. However, most major roads in our community are unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. For shorter distances, choosing to walk, bicycle or use transit should be as easy and convenient as choosing to drive. Passage of a Complete Streets policy in our community would promote these goals.

Identify Your Target Audience

Who has the power to make the change you need to achieve your goal?

Council members, the mayor, city manager, transportation director, community leaders, neighbors, the media…..

Potential Values/Concerns of - Community Members

Safety of children Traffic on their neighborhood streets – cut-

though, high speed traffic Keeping the character of their rural

neighborhood streets (not putting sidewalks in rustic neighborhoods)

High speed traffic, traffic congestion Safe places to walk along and cross major

arterials (sidewalks & crosswalks)

4. Develop a Complete Streets Campaign Strategy Tactics

An Action plan to move your campaign forward 1. Relationship building 2. Decision maker education 3. Media campaign 4. Public Hearings 5. Community outreach and education 6. Demonstration projects 7. Campaign materials – media kit, website, ppt,

prepared remarks, FAQs

Evaluate Message Continually

When it is obvious that goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust

the action steps. - Confucius, Chinese philosopher

Advocacy after the policy win Complete Streets:

Rachael Bronson, Palmetto Cycling Coalition

After the policy win

Does this happen overnight?

Work has only begun! Important to stay involved and

engaged—ensure implementation Complete Streets policy is only as

good as the implementation Advocating implementation crucial

with resolutions

After the policy win

Important components of the after the policy win: 1.Research 2.Relationship building 3.Education 4.Communication

After the policy win

RESEARCH After the Policy Win

Research

Do your homework! 1. Understand your policy 2. Learn the internal agency implementation

process 3. Identify key municipal departments

Then begin relationship building process

Understand your policy

Allows you to effectively advocate for implementation

Resolution or ordinance Strong vs. weak policy language

– Example: City of Columbia – Establishes clear procedures

City of Columbia

Internal Agency Process

Process to achieve implementation should be obvious in strongly worded policy

City of Columbia – Incorporate complete streets in

neighborhood master plan process – Department level procedure changes in all

city transportation projects – 12 month interdepartmental procedure plan

Internal Agency Process

Routine internal agency changes: 1.Restructuring of procedures to favor multi-modal planning 2.Rewriting or updating design manuals or guides 3.Workshops or training for staff 4.Institute performance measures/data collection on streets level of service

ID Municipal Departments

What municipal departments are involved in implementation?

Again, obvious in strongly worded policy

City of Columbia explicitly lists: – Department of Public Works – Planning and Development Services – Utilities and Engineering Department – Construction Management Department

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING After the Policy Win

Relationship building

Assess local political environment around complete streets – Stronger internal support – Or stronger support from the top?

Identify individuals to target Assess pitfalls and ways to avoid

these Build positive and lasting

relationships

Local Staff

Contact/outreach to Department staff referenced in policy

Familiarize them with your work/investment in Complete Streets

Ask staff about previous work on bike/ped project

Local Leadership

Assess votes of Council/leadership – Who voted in favor or against? – Arguments against policy?

Thank supporters for their vote Turn your opponents into supporters You will need their continued support

down the road

ID your champ

Whether a staff or leader, identify an internal champion

Champion internally educates and promotes complete streets

Staff vs. leader: – Staff knows all – Leader has ability to influence change – Either or both are effective champions

EDUCATION After the Policy Win

Educate!

After policy, crucial to continue to educate – Local leaders – Committees/commissions – City Staff – Advocates, community members, public – Other professionals

Advocates can facilitate this process

Educate!

Different ways to offer opportunities – Face-to-face meetings – Presentations to Council/Commissions – Formal trainings with local or national

facilitator – Webinar opportunities – Providing print materials

Varying topics (implementation, innovative bike/ped design, etc.)

Educate!

Many professional affiliations offer resources

– Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals

– Institute of Transportation Engineers – National Complete Streets Coalition – American Public Health Association – American Planning Association

Past SC Trainings

Workshops in 2009—Anderson, Rock Hill, Summerville and Conway

Half-day workshop at 2007 SCDOT bike/ped conference

2006 Complete Streets training to SCDOT staff

Workshops during National Bike month 2006—Charleston, Columbia and Spartanburg

Training & Education

Advocacy Manual Complete Streets Toolbook

Future training and educational opportunities supported through partnerships – Community Transformation Grant – Eat Smart More More SC – DHEC – AARP of SC

Offer more local assistance and one-on-one help

Training & Education

COMMUNICATIONS After the Policy Win

Talking about CS

Communication about complete streets is important – Ensures support and buy-in – Initiates dialogue – Establishes public familiarity

CS are relevant to public issues—it’s easy to find your spin

Know your facts

To be effective, make sure you know your facts to reach the public

Public Health: 65% South Carolinians are overweight

Public Safety: 12% traffic fatalities are bicycles/pedestrians

Social Equity:

Know your facts

Public Safety:

Assist Aging

Population:

Working with the Media

Letters to the editor/op-ed articles Written press releases, sent to

relevant media outlets What makes it newsworthy:

– Success story – Tragedy – Milestone

There will be barriers

Lack of interagency communication or resolve

Communication between SCDOT and local jurisdictions

Liability concerns Cost concerns Developers misconceptions Slow pace

Overcome barriers

Aim to find common ground, especially with opponents

If cost is concern, suggest ways complete streets save money

Stay positive and work together Focus on incremental, positive

changes

Partnerships

Most policies successful because driven by diverse partnership

Partnership must be maintained even after policy adoption

May take different form after policy win