SSC2011_Barbara McCann PPT

Transportation Policy for an Aging Country

Barbara McCannSept. 27, 2011

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Poor pedestrian infrastructure

Subpar public transportation options

Poll: 47% of older adults cannot cross the road closest to their home safely

Policy Analysis: Complete Streets Policies need to do more to address needs of older travelers

Survey: 2/3rds of planners/engineers have not begun planning for age wave

Experts: Three planning & design principles for older road users

2009: Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America

• Slow Down– Allow drivers and pedestrians

enough time to prepare for and execute changes

Planning & Design Principles for Older Adults

• Make it Easy– Make the physical layout of

the system easy to maneuver for drivers and pedestrians

• Enjoy the View – Make it easy for drivers and

pedestrians to notice, read, understand, and respond to visual cues

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Rockville Pike Pre-policy

Rockville Pike post-Complete Streets policy

What is a Complete Streets policy?

A complete streets policy ensures that the entire right of way is planned, designed & operated to provide safe access for all users.

Complete Streets policies ensure existing funds are used differently: every project creates better streets: now.

New York Complete

Streets Week Safety Audit

NY Complete Streets Week Safety Audits

April 26, 2010

To achieve a cleaner, greener transportation system the transportation plans of New York state should consider the needs of all users of our roadways including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation riders, motorists and citizens of all ages and abilities, including children, the elderly and the disabled…

New York Complete Streets Law

To achieve a cleaner, greener transportation system the transportation plans of New York state should consider the needs of all users of our roadways including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation riders, motorists and citizens of all ages and abilities, including children, the elderly and the disabled…


Therefore, it shall be the policy of the state to consider people of all ages and abilities and all appropriate forms of transportation when planning roadway projects.


• Requires inclusion CS elements in construction, reconstruction, rehab (excludes maintenance, & resurfacing)

• Exceptions: no users, disproportionate costs, lack of need, safety

• Report required in two years with full stakeholder involvement


• Hawaii• Louisiana• Puerto Rico• New York• Vermont• Connecticut• Michigan

Complete Streets and AARP

Policy adoption accelerates

Complete Streets Policies


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US Localities with Policies: 254State level policies: 27

As of 01/15/10

Policy Analysis 2010

• Over 200 policies analyzed• Rankings organized by

jurisdiction and policy type• Weighted scores on a scale

of 1 (low) to 100 (high) • Importance of elements is

weighted

Where It’s Happening

22As of 05/18/11 n=249

10%

10%

11%

69%

State (25)

MPO (25)

County (27)

City (172)

All Sizes of Communities

Large City; 12%

Midsize City; 9%

Small City; 18%

Large Suburb; 5%Midsize Suburb; 10%

Small Suburb; 28%

Town; 11%

Rural; 7%

Types of Policy

24n=266As of 05/18/11

19%

44%

1%

11%

2%

12%

4%

8%

Legislation/Ordinance (50)

Resolution (118)

Tax Ordinance (3)

Internal Policy (29)

Executive Order (4)

Plan (31)

Design Guidelines (11)

Policy Adopted by Elected Board (20)

Some Overall Best Policies:


1971-2008 2009 20100%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

38%

71% 75%

% that cover age:

Complete Streets policies

2

49

128

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Policies that cover:

age onlyabilities onlybothno mention

"Our population is maturing. Fuel costs are unstable and rising. Residents are demanding more opportunities for biking and walking. Many businesses are seeking walkable and transit-friendly environments attractive to young professionals,"

MORPC, Columbus, Ohio

"Successful communities today and in the future are addressing these trends through the principles of Complete Streets and Lifelong Communities at the same time as they are rebuilding their infrastructure. Rebuilding communities with these principles in mind makes them attractive to the young, the old, families, singles, and current and new residents and employers.“ - Chester Jourdan, Executive Director, MORPC

MORPC, Columbus, Ohio

Columbus Ohio MPO (MORPC)

Project Checklist

An effective policy should prompt the transportation agency to:

•restructure procedures, policies, and programs•offer training opportunities to planners and engineers•rewrite design manuals or standards•create new performance measures

From Policy to Practice

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Implementation Assessment

• New survey tool in beta testing:– For use in interviews– For self-administration

• Eventually we’ll rank communities by their Complete Streets Actions

¿Qué son Calles Completas?

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Calles completas son seguras, cómodas y convenientes en que viajar para todos, no importa la edad o habilidad – conductores, peatones, ciclistas y usuarios de transporte público.

AARPActive Living by DesignAlliance for Biking and WalkingAmerica BikesAmerica WalksAmerican Council of the BlindAmerican Planning AssociationAmerican Public Transportation

AssociationAmerican Society of Landscape

ArchitectsAssociation of Pedestrian and Bicycle

ProfessionalsCity of Boulder, Colorado

Institute of Transportation EngineersLeague of American BicyclistsNational Association of Area Agencies on

AgingNational Association of City

Transportation OfficialsNational Association of REALTORSRyan Snyder AssociatesSafe Routes to School National

PartnershipSmart Growth AmericaSvR Design Company

National Complete Streets Coalition

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Steering Committee

National Complete Streets Coalition

Platinum– SvR Design Company– Parsons Corporation– Ryan Snyder Associates– SRAM Corporation

Gold– Designing Streets for People

Partners

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Silver– Alta Planning + Design– Fehr & Peers– Freese & Nichols, Inc.– Gresham, Smith, and Partners– Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson– Kimley-Horn and Associates– Local Initiatives Support Coalition– MIG, Inc.– Toole Design Group– TY Lin International– Whitman, Requardt & Associates

For more information

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• Fact sheets, photos, brochures• Information on changing

policy• Policy tracking & examples• Complete Streets blog and

monthly newsletter• Links to research &

publications

www.completestreets.org

An award-winning policy

Policies and Regulations category:

Charlotte Urban Street Design Guidelines

BeforeAfter

The road diet

East Boulevard, Charlotte NC

Charlotte is transforming:

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Technology

SSC2011_Barbara McCann PPT