Complete streets policies formalize a community’s intent to plan, design, and maintain streets so they are safe for all users of all ages and abilities. Policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design and construct the right-of-way to accommodate all anticipated users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, and freight vehicles. Some communities have paid special attention to other users, such as equestrians and those using golf carts.

Currently, few government agencies require roads to be complete transportation corridors. Many times, projects add automobile capacity and increase vehicle speeds, but do nothing to mitigate the negative effects this can have on those traveling by foot, bike, or public transportation.

Complete streets can be achieved through a variety of policies: ordinances and resolutions; rewrites of design manuals; inclusion in comprehensive plans; internal memos from directors of transportation agencies; and executive orders from elected officials, like Mayors or Governors.

• The State of California and the Cities of Seattle, WA and DeSoto, MO  passed legislation to require complete streets within their jurisdictions.
• City Councils in North Little Rock, AR and Columbus, OH adopted resolutions, setting a guiding principle for city staff to include all users in transportation projects.
• An executive order was issued by the Governor of Delaware, directing the Department of Transportation to accommodate all users on state projects.
• The Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the California Department of Transportation have created internal policies that guide staff in creating complete streets.
• Louisville/Jefferson County in Kentucky incorporated complete streets into its comprehensive plan, as did Scottsdale, AZ and Champaign, IL.
• The Massachusetts Department of Transportation undertook a major rewrite of its design manual (the Project Design and Development Guide), incorporating complete streets principles throughout - and won several national awards for their effort. Louisville/Jefferson County followed up its planning goals with a rewrite of their design manuals as well.

DOWNLOAD: Complete Streets Policy Analysis 2010 (.pdf)
DOWNLOAD: Complete Streets: Policy & Implementation brochure (.pdf)