Complete the Streets News
10/11/06
www.completestreets.org
This monthly newsletter issued by the National Complete Streets Coalition provides a roundup of news related to complete streets policies --- policies to ensure that the entire right of way is routinely designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Please pass it around!
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY PROGRESS
Chicago Adopts Complete Streets Policy
On October 10th the City of Chicago became the largest US city to adopt a comprehensive complete streets policy, which mandates that all users be accommodated in all transportation projects. The landmark policy is part of a broad initiative called Safe Streets for Chicago.
“This will save lives,” said Chicagoland Bicycle Federation Executive Director Rob Sadowsky. “We applaud Mayor Daley, Transportation Commissioner Cheri Heramb and the city of Chicago for this groundbreaking step toward restoring the health of Chicago’s streets.” CBF was instrumental in persuading the city to adopt the policy.
The policy reads:
“The safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, freight, and motor vehicle drivers shall be accommodated and balanced in all types of transportation and development projects and through all phases of a project so that even the most vulnerable – children, elderly and persons with disabilities – can travel safely within the public right of way.”
See CBF’s news release at: http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=1024_0_16_0_C. We expect more information from the city within the next few weeks. Watch “The Latest” column on the national complete streets webpage (http://www.completestreets.org), for more information.
Kirkland, Washington gets complete streets
The City of Kirkland outside of Seattle has passed Washington State's first complete streets ordinance. Cascade Bicycle Club brought the idea of an ordinance to the City Council at the beginning of the summer and their efforts culminated in a unanimous vote on October 3rd. Just prior to the vote, Council member Jessica Greenway said, “I think it is so cool that we are going to be the first ones in the state to do this, and I’m sure many other cities will follow.” The Seattle City Council voted in support of complete streets in August, but their action was a non-binding resolution, not an ordinance.
You can read all about Kirkland’s action and watch the vote at the Cascade Bicycle club web site: http://www.cascade.org/Advocacy/completestreets_local.cfm. You can see the final ordinance at http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/__shared/assets/10a_UnfinishedBusiness4606.pdf
Baltimore Area Business Group Pushes Complete Streets
The Greater Towson Committee (GTC), a group representing the civic interests primarily of large businesses, developers and real estate concerns, in this inner suburb of Baltimore, MD, is promoting the concept of complete streets. Committee member Mark Councilman serves on the Parking and Transportation Task Force, and says, “Towson's business community has long recognized the importance of a vibrant pedestrian friendly environment." From CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
LINK: http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=811&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1211995&om=1
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Complete Streets Workshop at Rail-Volution
The American Public Transportation Association and the joint FTA/FHWA Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Program are partnering with the National Complete Streets Coalition to sponsor a workshop on Monday, November 6 at the Rail-Volution conference in Chicago. This will be the first in a series of workshops to explore issues around complete streets implementation. “We’re extremely pleased to have FTA and APTA’s strong support in making sure complete streets planning works for transit,” says Barbara McCann, Coordinator of the National Complete Streets Coalition. The workshop will focus on incorporating transit vehicles and users into complete streets policies and planning. The workshop will begin with a roundtable of innovative complete streets practitioners, followed by open discussion with all attendees. If you find yourself at Rail-Volution this year, please join us for this interactive workshop!
Please contact Jennifer Hovis ( or 202.207.3355, ext. 15) with any questions about this workshop. Additional details on Rail-Volution are available athttp://www.railvolution.com.
Please welcome our newest staff!
The National Complete Streets Coalition is pleased to welcome Jennifer Hovis to our staff. Jennifer is on loan to us from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the federal government's Executive Potential Program. Shewill be with us full-time until mid-December, providing support on the Rail-Volution workshop and developing a series of fact sheets on the measurable benefits of complete streets. Feel free to contact Jennifer at any time - she can be reached at or 202.207.3355, ext. 15.
Thunderhead Alliance Hiring Complete Streets Campaign Coach
This fulltime executive coach will be focused entirely on assisting leaders of Thunderhead member organizations with their complete streets policy campaigns in the context of Thunderhead’s National Complete the Streets Campaign. Applicants must have proven, successful campaign experience and must thrive on fast paced strategy development, enjoy lots of travel and work well with the leaders of Thunderhead member organizations. Please find the job announcement here: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/jobs.htm.
Transportation Professionals Choose Complete Streets
Michael Ronkin, who represents the APBP on the Complete Streets Steering Committee, reports that at recent FHWA training class on pedestrian safety in IthacaNew York, 26 of the 28 professionals in attendance ranked ‘complete streets’ as their number-one policy priority. This was for an exercise in which class participants are asked to propose, choose and rank policy changes needed to make streets safer for pedestrians. The class included DOT employees, workers from city public works departments, consultants, planners, and even a police officer.
COMPLETE STREETS NEWS
Incomplete streets for transit riders in Massachusetts cause headaches
The town of Dedham, nine miles southeast of central Boston has learned its lesson when it comes to providing pedestrian access to transit stations. The Jefferson at Dedham Station, a six hundred unit apartment complex across a busy, incomplete street from the commuter rail stop, requires commuters to “chance a busy road to a hole in the chain-link fence along the track” if they want to avoid an out of the way bus ride or a parking lot fee. Luckily the town officials smartened up by requiring pedestrian access for an adjacent development project.
http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=5661&state=22&res=1280
New study shows bike lanes make roads safer for all users
The Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas observed motorist and cyclist behavior in a variety of road situations. Researchers found lined, dedicated bike lanes to be the safest option compared to unlined shoulders and riding on sidewalks. “Bike lanes reinforce the concept that bicyclists are supposed to behave like other vehicles, and make life safer for everyone involved as a result,” Ian Hallett, a CTR graduate research assistant stated.
http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/articles/200609181097/index.cfm
View the study here: www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_5157_1.pdf
Governor Corzine unveils $74 million Safety Initiative with complete streets components
New Jersey Governor, Jon Corzine announced a new five year, $74 million initiative to improve pedestrian safety throughout the state. The initiative is collaboration between the Department of Transportation, Department of Law and Public Safety, and the Motor Vehicle Commission. The initiative includes measures that will result in complete streets, including a Safe Routes to School initiative, a Safe Streets to Transit initiative, and a new program to include pedestrian safety improvements in state highway projects.
Read the full story here: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610010438
Judge Puts Brakes on New Bike Lanes
A San Francisco judge halted the construction of new bike lanes after citizen organization Coalition for Adequate Review or ‘CAR’ argued that the lanes were taking away needed street parking. Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition commented, "There are a lot of people who aren't bicycling now who probably would start to make some of their trips by bicycle if we made the streets safer, and we made it a more routine, reasonable thing to get around." The judge is currently considering the arguments from both sides.
Read the full story here: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=4579265
RESOURCES
How did we get to the point where roads are often built without sidewalks?
A new report from New Jersey, “Constructing, Maintaining, and Financing Sidewalks in New Jersey,” answers this and many other questions about sidewalk construction, maintenance and repair. This report is specific to New Jersey, but includes an excellent national overview, including a history lesson in how sidewalk construction became separated from road construction. It reviews current disability and federal transportation statutes that encourage sidewalk construction as an important part of the transportation network, as well as guidance issued by the FHWA and AASHTO. Read the entire report here:
http://tinyurl.com/p7z94
Accessible Sidewalks Videos from US Access Board
These short videos provide a quick and even entertaining introduction to issues disabled travelers face on the road. Information about getting the DVD can be found at http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/video/index.htm.
Complete Streets and Context-Sensitive Solutions: What’s the Difference?
Context Sensitive Solutions initiatives have traditionally emphasized non-transportation changes to improve the integration of the highway into the community. Framing bike/ped/bus/disabled access in this way constricts them as optional ‘amenities’ rather than as essential transportation modes; as one wag put it, “bicyclists and pedestrians are not context.” CSS has also emphasized stakeholder involvement in special planning processes, rather than routine inclusion of all modes in everyday transportation planning. That may be changing. Recent Context-Sensitive Solutions workshops have emphasized ‘mainstreaming’ the process. The movement for context sensitive solutions has been crucial in changing practices at transportation agencies and stands side by side with complete streets. To learn more about context-sensitive solutions, visit www.context-sensitivesolutions.org.
COMPLETE STREETS QUOTES
James Tasse, executive director of the Rutland Area Physical Activity Coalition (Vermont) writes on sidewalks and bike paths as indicators of a town’s health:
“These humble pieces of infrastructure designed for foot and bicycle travel may not seem very important but they are significant indicators of a community’s political, physical, and economic health…Good sidewalks and bike lanes suggest civic commitment to promoting health and alternatives to automobile travel.”
Read the entire piece here: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061008/NEWS/610080356/1017/FEATURES08
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