Complete streets activists call presentation - part 1

Complete Streets Activists Call 3.1.12http://sierraclub.org/transportation

The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

photos: Sierra Club

Transportation in the U.S.

• Since the 1950s, national transportation policy has almost exclusively focused on building roads.

• Transportation accounts for 70% of oil use in U.S. and 30% of greenhouse gas pollution.

• According to the Federal Highway Administration, 25% of U.S. roads and bridges are in disrepair.

• Only 54% of Americans have access to public transportation, according to the US Census Bureau.

• Each year, Americans spend 4.2 billion hours stuck in traffic.

Advancing Complete Advancing Complete Streets in Your CommunityStreets in Your Community

Stefanie SeskinStefanie SeskinNational Complete Streets CoalitionNational Complete Streets Coalition

March 1, 2012March 1, 2012

We know how to build rightWe know how to build right

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We know how to build rightWe know how to build right

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Yet too many roads still turn out like this:Yet too many roads still turn out like this:

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or this:or this:

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or this:or this:

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One Solution:One Solution:Complete Streets PoliciesComplete Streets Policies

Complete Streets PoliciesComplete Streets Policies

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A Complete Streets policy A Complete Streets policy ensures that the entire right ensures that the entire right of way is planned, designed, of way is planned, designed, and operated to provide safe and operated to provide safe access for all users.access for all users.

Communities Adopting PoliciesCommunities Adopting Policies

Policy Adoption Over TimePolicy Adoption Over Time

Total

New

Types of JurisdictionsTypes of Jurisdictions

through 2/22/12

Policies by TypePolicies by Type

through 2/22/12

Check the Complete Streets AtlasCheck the Complete Streets Atlas

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Policies are now built around providing Policies are now built around providing automobile access (privilege)automobile access (privilege)

Funding structure is set up for car-oriented roadsFunding structure is set up for car-oriented roads

Land owners and developers seeking automobile Land owners and developers seeking automobile access have the ear of decision makersaccess have the ear of decision makers

Why a policy approach?Why a policy approach?

Policies can be built around serving everyonePolicies can be built around serving everyone

Complete Streets changes the funding Complete Streets changes the funding structure to benefit all modesstructure to benefit all modes

Community leaders and public health Community leaders and public health advocates seeking Complete Streets can gain advocates seeking Complete Streets can gain the ear of decision makersthe ear of decision makers

Why a policy approach?Why a policy approach?

Transportation planners and engineers can Transportation planners and engineers can become our allies!become our allies!

Changing the tide means changing the Changing the tide means changing the cultureculture inside transportation agenciesinside transportation agencies

RelationshipsRelationships

State DOT

Federal funding

State programs

Projects selected

MPO

Formal plans

Policies & practices

Projects selected

Local Governments

Goals & Interests

Policies & practices

Projects proposed

Transportation Improvement

Program projects in the

region

Advocacy Groups

Change our cultural and practical Change our cultural and practical expectations.expectations.

Our RoleOur Role

• Don’t be stymied by Don’t be stymied by technical argumentstechnical arguments

• Bring them alongBring them along

1.1. Sets a Sets a visionvision..

2.2. Includes Includes all usersall users and and all modesall modes..

3.3. Applies to Applies to all phasesall phases of all applicable projects. of all applicable projects.

4.4. Specifies and limits Specifies and limits exceptionsexceptions, with , with management management approvalapproval required. required.

5.5. Emphasizes Emphasizes connectivityconnectivity..

6.6. Is understood by Is understood by all agenciesall agencies to cover all roads. to cover all roads.

7.7. Uses the Uses the best and latest best and latest design standards and design standards and is flexibleis flexible..

8.8. Complements the community’s Complements the community’s contextcontext..

9.9. Sets Sets performance standardsperformance standards..

10.10. Includes Includes implementationimplementation steps. steps.

Elements of a PolicyElements of a Policy

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Policy Development GuidancePolicy Development Guidance

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Policy Development Policy Development GuidanceGuidance

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Policy Development GuidancePolicy Development Guidance

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www.completestreets.org/www.completestreets.org/policyanalysispolicyanalysis

Assessing Policy StrengthAssessing Policy Strength

• 200+ policies adopted 200+ policies adopted through 2010through 2010

• Evaluated against Evaluated against ‘ideal’ policy language, ‘ideal’ policy language, scored 1-100scored 1-100

• Only analyzes Only analyzes written written language, not impact language, not impact

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Policy Analysis 2010Policy Analysis 2010

• Look up your policy & Look up your policy & policies in similar policies in similar communitiescommunities

• Understand how to best Understand how to best fulfill intent of each policy fulfill intent of each policy element, with exampleselement, with examples

• Find highly-rated policies Find highly-rated policies to serve as modelsto serve as models

• Be persistentBe persistent• Be a resourceBe a resource• Appeal to varied Appeal to varied

interestsinterests• Work with agency staffWork with agency staff• Get on relevant Get on relevant

committeescommittees• Help write the policyHelp write the policy

Advocacy BasicsAdvocacy Basics

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Do your homeworkDo your homework• Find out what policies already exist in your state & Find out what policies already exist in your state &

region – you can build on this!region – you can build on this!• National Complete Streets Coalition maintains database, National Complete Streets Coalition maintains database,

analyzes policies. Visit the Complete Streets Atlas!analyzes policies. Visit the Complete Streets Atlas!

• Find out how transportation decisions are made: Find out how transportation decisions are made: talk to planners, engineers, project mangers and talk to planners, engineers, project mangers and advocatesadvocates

• Policies, processes, and roles of involved agenciesPolicies, processes, and roles of involved agencies• Most important decision pointsMost important decision points• How many projects are in the pipeline and how much do How many projects are in the pipeline and how much do

they cost?they cost?

Where do you start?Where do you start?

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Decide where you want to focusDecide where you want to focus• City – can be easiest, most focusedCity – can be easiest, most focused• County – may control more roadsCounty – may control more roads• MPO – can influence federal spending, but has MPO – can influence federal spending, but has

less powerless power• State – usually more entrenched road-building State – usually more entrenched road-building

interests but controls significant fundinginterests but controls significant funding


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Find your best insider advocate(s)Find your best insider advocate(s)• City Council member, County Commissioner, City Council member, County Commissioner,

Mayor, local planner or engineerMayor, local planner or engineer

Make connections & build coalitionsMake connections & build coalitions• Community groups, advocacy groups, Community groups, advocacy groups,

neighborhood associations, Chamber of neighborhood associations, Chamber of Commerce, task forces, the DOT! Commerce, task forces, the DOT!


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National Steering CommitteeNational Steering Committee

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• ““You are not alone” You are not alone” OROR “Be a leader” “Be a leader”• Significant support from U.S. DOT; growing Significant support from U.S. DOT; growing

national movement and resourcesnational movement and resources• Focus on the topics that are most important Focus on the topics that are most important

to your community: Safety? Choices? to your community: Safety? Choices? Environment? Health? Quality of Life? Environment? Health? Quality of Life?

• Frame policy as changes to planning/design Frame policy as changes to planning/design processprocess

Complete Streets MessagesComplete Streets Messages

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• Improving roadways safety for everyoneImproving roadways safety for everyone• Providing choices where none/few currently Providing choices where none/few currently

existexist• Saving $$ for familiesSaving $$ for families• Fiscally responsible use of community fundsFiscally responsible use of community funds• Perfection not a requirementPerfection not a requirement• Every street is differentEvery street is different

Complete Streets MessagesComplete Streets Messages

• A design prescriptionA design prescription• A mandate for immediate retrofitA mandate for immediate retrofit• A silver bullet; other issues must be A silver bullet; other issues must be

addressed:addressed:• Land use (proximity, mixed-use)Land use (proximity, mixed-use)• Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns• Transportation Demand ManagementTransportation Demand Management

Complete Streets is NOT:Complete Streets is NOT:

……but a Complete Streets policy can help!but a Complete Streets policy can help!

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There is There is no singular design prescription no singular design prescription for for Complete Streets; each one is unique and Complete Streets; each one is unique and responds to its community context.responds to its community context.

Complete Streets Complete Streets does not does not mean that mean that everyevery street has sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit.street has sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit.

There is no magic formula.There is no magic formula.

What does a Complete Street look like?What does a Complete Street look like?

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The Many Types of Complete StreetsThe Many Types of Complete Streets

Rural route with a shared use pathRural route with a shared use path37


Rural route with a wide shoulderRural route with a wide shoulder38


Low traffic shared streetLow traffic shared street39


Residential skinny streetResidential skinny street40


Low-traffic residential streetLow-traffic residential street41


High visibility crossingsHigh visibility crossings42


Small town Main StreetSmall town Main Street43


Historic downtownHistoric downtown44


Urban neighborhood streetUrban neighborhood street45


Transit routesTransit routes46


Urban arterialsUrban arterials47

1.1. Need to provide for Need to provide for existing users.existing users.

2.2. Complete Streets is meant Complete Streets is meant to be achieved within to be achieved within existing existing budgetsbudgets

3.3. Build support for new Build support for new funding mechanismsfunding mechanisms

4.4. Add lasting Add lasting valuevalue – bang – bang for the buck!for the buck!

Discussing CostsDiscussing Costs

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• Complete streets is about using Complete streets is about using existing existing resources resources differently:differently:

• STP, Equity Bonus, CMAQ, TE, State, Bond STP, Equity Bonus, CMAQ, TE, State, Bond measures, gas tax, sales taxes, and now the measures, gas tax, sales taxes, and now the stimulus $... the usual suspectsstimulus $... the usual suspects

• While retrofit funding is important, it is not While retrofit funding is important, it is not necessary to get startednecessary to get started

• AdditionalAdditional funding is not needed funding is not needed

What about funding?What about funding?

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1.1. Avoid costly retrofitsAvoid costly retrofits

2.2. Minimal additional fundingMinimal additional funding

3.3. Save money with better designSave money with better design

Does it cost more?Does it cost more?

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Simple, Low-Cost, High-ImpactSimple, Low-Cost, High-Impact

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Complete streets can save money.Complete streets can save money.•Narrower travel lanes require less land, less Narrower travel lanes require less land, less pavementpavement•Provide more options = reduce need for Provide more options = reduce need for widening some intersectionswidening some intersections•Do it right the first time, not when forced to Do it right the first time, not when forced to later – at a higher price later – at a higher price

Money-Saving SolutionsMoney-Saving Solutions

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• Needed to replace road after necessary Needed to replace road after necessary sewer worksewer work

• Priced at Priced at $6 million to replace road as is$6 million to replace road as is• Mn/DOT re-evaluated transportation needs Mn/DOT re-evaluated transportation needs

and found no need for wide roadwayand found no need for wide roadway• Reallocated road space for all users, Reallocated road space for all users, saved saved

$2 million$2 million

Richfield, MinnesotaRichfield, Minnesota

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Getting Out of TrafficGetting Out of Traffic

Most Americans feel providing more transportation options Most Americans feel providing more transportation options will reduce congestion, not building or expanding roads.will reduce congestion, not building or expanding roads.

Future of Transportation National Survey (2010)

A majority of Missourians A majority of Missourians support spending 25% of support spending 25% of transportation $ on biking transportation $ on biking and walking facilities,and walking facilities,even if that reduces the total even if that reduces the total number of projects.number of projects.

MissouriMissouri

55http://tinyurl.com/89xdwc6

In 2006, Seattle voters passed a nine-year, $365 In 2006, Seattle voters passed a nine-year, $365 million levy for transportation maintenance and million levy for transportation maintenance and improvements.improvements.

Goals include:Goals include:• Pave and repair Seattle streetsPave and repair Seattle streets• Improve Improve pedestrian and bicycle safetypedestrian and bicycle safety• Create Create safe routes to schoolssafe routes to schools• Increase Increase transittransit speed and reliability speed and reliability

Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington

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Mayor Karl Dean’s 2010-Mayor Karl Dean’s 2010-2011 transportation 2011 transportation budget:budget:$12.5 million dollars for $12.5 million dollars for sidewalkssidewalks$3 million for bikeways$3 million for bikeways$10 million for transit$10 million for transit= Almost 60% of local = Almost 60% of local transportation dollarstransportation dollars

Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee

Flickr.com user Keith Justin Gallagher 57

Streets Can Benefit CommunitiesStreets Can Benefit Communities

• Increase capacityIncrease capacity• Improve safetyImprove safety• Better healthBetter health• Economic growthEconomic growth• Lower emissionsLower emissions• Reduce costsReduce costs• Smarter growthSmarter growth• Provide choicesProvide choices• Improve transitImprove transit• EquityEquity

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Incomplete Streets are UnsafeIncomplete Streets are Unsafe

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More than 40% of More than 40% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 pedestrian deaths in 2007 and 2008 occurred where and 2008 occurred where no no crosswalk was availablecrosswalk was available..

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Reporting System

• Tool to reduce Tool to reduce incidence of obesity incidence of obesity and chronic diseaseand chronic disease

• ““Active Active Transportation” = Transportation” = part of everyday lifepart of everyday life

• Population-level Population-level solution, not solution, not individualindividual

Benefits: HealthBenefits: Health

20% of Americans have a 20% of Americans have a disability that limits their disability that limits their daily activities.daily activities.

Complete Streets feature Complete Streets feature curb cuts, high visibility curb cuts, high visibility crosswalks, and other crosswalks, and other designs for travelers with designs for travelers with disabilities.disabilities.

Complete Streets reduce Complete Streets reduce isolation and dependence.isolation and dependence.

Benefits: People with DisabilitiesBenefits: People with Disabilities

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By 2025, nearly 1/5 of By 2025, nearly 1/5 of Americans will be 65 or older.Americans will be 65 or older.

About ½ of all non-drivers over About ½ of all non-drivers over the age of 65 would like to get the age of 65 would like to get out more often.out more often.

Complete streets policies help Complete streets policies help create streets that support create streets that support older drivers and pedestrians older drivers and pedestrians through better design.through better design.

Complete streets help older Complete streets help older Americans stay active and Americans stay active and involved in their communities.involved in their communities.

Benefits: Older AdultsBenefits: Older Adults

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Americans spent 18 cents of Americans spent 18 cents of every dollar on transportationevery dollar on transportation

Working families in 17 of 28 Working families in 17 of 28 regions pay more for regions pay more for transportation than they do for transportation than they do for housing.housing.

Complete Streets give people Complete Streets give people more control over their more control over their expenses, replacing expensive expenses, replacing expensive car travel with cheaper options car travel with cheaper options like walking, riding bikes, and like walking, riding bikes, and taking public transportation.taking public transportation.

Benefits: Lower CostsBenefits: Lower Costs

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Enhance Economic CompetitivenessEnhance Economic Competitiveness

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$8 milllion $8 milllion public investmentpublic investment in in streetscape improvement 2003-2004streetscape improvement 2003-2004

$8 million in $8 million in private investmentprivate investment in in following 2 yearsfollowing 2 years

32 new business 32 new business establishmentsestablishments

$80,000 in sales tax $80,000 in sales tax annuallyannually

Washington, DC: Barracks Row/8th Street SE

• Complete streets Complete streets policies ‘pave the way’ policies ‘pave the way’ for future Smart for future Smart Growth developmentGrowth development

• They invest They invest traditional highway traditional highway funds in meeting funds in meeting basic Smart Growth basic Smart Growth principles.principles.

Benefits: Smarter GrowthBenefits: Smarter Growth

Residents are 65% Residents are 65% more likely to walk in more likely to walk in a neighborhood with a neighborhood with sidewalks.sidewalks.

Cities with more bike Cities with more bike lanes per square mile lanes per square mile have higher levels of have higher levels of bicycle commuting.bicycle commuting.

Change Travel PatternsChange Travel Patterns

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Transportation accounts for Transportation accounts for nearly 1/3nearly 1/3 of all greenhouse of all greenhouse gas emissions.gas emissions.

Switching from driving a car Switching from driving a car to walking or bicycling for to walking or bicycling for trips <1 mile could reduce trips <1 mile could reduce CO2 emissions by CO2 emissions by 12 to 22 12 to 22 million tons/yearmillion tons/year..

Lower Emissions, Cleaner AirLower Emissions, Cleaner Air

Rain gardens and bioswales Rain gardens and bioswales can be built into traffic can be built into traffic calming elements such as calming elements such as refuge islands and curb refuge islands and curb extensions.extensions.

Many complete streets Many complete streets solutions use less pavement solutions use less pavement – resulting in a lesser impact – resulting in a lesser impact on water quality and the on water quality and the natural environment than natural environment than auto-oriented streets.auto-oriented streets.

Sustainable StreetsSustainable Streets

Quality of LifeQuality of Life

Walkable communities = Walkable communities = happier communitieshappier communities

Residents of walkable Residents of walkable communities:communities:

• are more likely to be socially are more likely to be socially engaged and trustingengaged and trusting

• report being in good health report being in good health and happy more oftenand happy more often

Shannon H. Rogers, et al. Examining Walkability and Social Capital as Indicators of Quality of Life at the Municipal and Neighborhood Scales. (2010)

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Full-day, interactive, customized workshops with two nationally-Full-day, interactive, customized workshops with two nationally-known instructorsknown instructors

Engages planners, engineers, elected officials, community Engages planners, engineers, elected officials, community stakeholders, and other decision makersstakeholders, and other decision makers

Three types of workshops: Three types of workshops: •Laying the Foundation for Complete StreetsLaying the Foundation for Complete Streets•Complete Streets Policy DevelopmentComplete Streets Policy Development•Complete Streets Policy ImplementationComplete Streets Policy Implementation

Complete Streets WorkshopsComplete Streets Workshops

70For details, contact Linda Tracy at [email protected]

For more informationFor more information

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• Fact sheets, photos, Fact sheets, photos, brochuresbrochures

• Information on changing Information on changing policypolicy

• Policy tracking & examplesPolicy tracking & examples• Complete Streets blog and Complete Streets blog and

monthly newslettermonthly newsletter• Links to research & Links to research &

publicationspublications

www.completestreets.orgwww.completestreets.org

[email protected]@completestreets.orgorg

Technology

Complete streets activists call presentation - part 1