Complete Streets » News & Links

News and Links

Federal Transportation News Sources

In addition to our blog and monthly newsletter, check out these sources for up-to-the-minute federal transportation news:

The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 (STAA)

The House Transportation bill, The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 (STAA) (.pdf) was released in June 2009 by Representatives Oberstar (MN), Mica (FL), DeFazio (OR), and Duncan (TN) and was then passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Complete streets, termed “comprehensive street design policies and principles,” can be found in two places in the draft House bill: first, it directs the new Office of Livability to take steps to encourage States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to adopt complete streets policies; and second, it revises federal code to require new projects receiving federal aid be consistent with “comprehensive street design policies and principles,” which must take into account the needs of all users of the transportation corridor.

We appreciate the potentially profound impact of this reform and are grateful for the leadership of Chairman Oberstar in including Complete Streets in the new bill. We look forward to working with him to strengthen the provisions in the Office of Livability by referring to language in the Complete Streets Act of 2009 (S 584/HR 1443). Specifically, we propose addition of the clear list of the elements that make a complete streets policy successful, including acceptable exceptions to the requirement. This list of elements was derived from the experiences of cities and states that are already working to implement complete streets, and would be a valuable addition to the authorization bill.

In addition to continuing to work with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on STAA, we will continue to grow co-sponsorship for HR 1443 and S 584. The Complete Streets Act would require state and regional policy adoption, a process that fits the needs of the community and ensures more buy-in from agency and elected officials.

Take action! Ask your Senators and Representative to sign on to the Complete Streets Act of 2009. If they’ve already done so, you can thank them for their support of complete streets.

SAFETEA-LU extended through December 2010, Senate begins drafting its transportation bill

After the series of short extensions following its expiration in September, SAFETEA-LU was extended once more through the end of 2010. The HIRE Act, passed in March, included an extension of the last transportation authorization through December, and allows projects to move forward with the assurance that they will be funded through the end of the year. In the Senate, the Environment & Public Works Committee is prepared to move ahead with writing a transportation bill, for which Chairwoman Barbara Boxer hopes to use T&I Chairman Oberstar’s STAA as a framework. The Committee held four hearings in March in preparation for writing their own transportation bill, and while innovative programs and funding tools were discussed, a lack of consensus on a new, sustainable source of revenue continues to hamper any broader efforts to move a new bill forward.

Press Coverage of the Complete Streets Act of 2009

Representative Matsui Press Release
Read the release by Matsui, who believes complete streets can help address many of the interwoven challenges we face today.

Senator Harkin Press Release
Read the original sponsor’s statement on how complete streets is a “win-win for us all.”

Environmental Defense Fund Press Release
The EDF focuses on how complete streets are safe and less expensive transportation options that decrease congestion.

Barbara McCann, Executive Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, guest posts on The Infrastructurist, tying the bills to recent stimulus package.

Transportation For America discusses what the new bills could mean for communities across the country.

Streetsblog features the new bills now in introduced in both houses.

WDEF News 12 in Chattanooga reported on the introduction of the Complete Streets Act of 2009, speaking with Phil Pugliese of Outdoor Chattanooga and APBP, a Coalition Steering Committee member.

Jonathan A. Schein wrote about the federal bills in The Huffington Post on March 17: “There are so many economic and climate rationales behind Complete Street policies that it’s obvious that swift passage of The Complete Streets Act would greatly benefit our nation’s general health.”

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News picked up the complete streets story on March 18!

Talking Points Memo wrote about our federal bills as important markers for the upcoming transportation authorization bill.

GOOD Magazine writes about supporting the Complete Streets Act of 2009 as a way to help.

Quotes on Introduction of the Complete Streets Act of 2009 (.pdf): Check out what else people have been saying about the federal bills, HR 1444 and S 584.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (.pdf) spoke about his complete streets executive order during the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearings on S. 1733, Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

Andy Clarke (.pdf), President of the League of American Bicyclists, and Chris Zimmerman, Arlington County VA Board Member, underscored the need for complete streets policies at a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming hearing.

Les Sterman, Executive Director of East-West Gateway Council of Governments, submitted testimony in support of complete streets (.pdf) to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

AARP Advocate Janine Bauer, Esq. wrote a letter to the editor of her local paper, the Daily Journal, to commend her congressman, Albio Sires, on his support of the Complete Streets Act of 2009.