Complete Streets: The Road to Safer, Healthier, Livable ......Americans want complete streets From...
Transcript of Complete Streets: The Road to Safer, Healthier, Livable ......Americans want complete streets From...
Complete Streets: The
Road to Safer, Healthier,
Livable Communities
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Local Government Commission
WALKSacramento
California Department of Transportation
Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Complete Streets: What are
they and why should we care
Paul Zykofsky, AICP, Assoc. AIA
Local Government Commission
Complete Streets conference
Sacramento, CA
July 10, 2009
Local Government Commission
! Nonprofit membership organization based inSacramento, CA of local government officials –elected and staff
! Founded in 1979 to work on solar energy
! During 1980s expanded to work onenvironmental issues: pollution prevention,waste management, hazardous waste
! 1991: Started working on land use issues
The AhwahneePrinciples, 1991
! Revitalize existing parts ofour communities through infilldevelopment
! Plan complete and integratedcommunities with mix of uses! Within walking distance of one
another
! Within walking distance oftransit stops
! With a diversity of housing types
! With a center focus
On your marks, get set, go…
U.S. Population Growth andTransportation – 1970-2000
38%
142%
Population Growth Vehicle Miles Traveled
California Population Growth andTransportation – 1970-2000
70%
162%
Population Growth Vehicle Miles Traveled
Urban Population
UrbanizedLand
(millions)
(square miles)
100 200 300 400
15,000 30,000 45,000 60,000
Urban Population
UrbanizedLand
100 200 300 400
15,000 30,000 45,000 60,000
70
13,000
150
60,000
1950
1990
Source: National Geographic
Graphic courtesy Design Community & Environment
U.S. Population Growth, 1950-1990
! Land has been urbanized 2! times faster than theincrease in urban population
(millions)
(square miles)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 10, 2006
Projected Population Growth Rates inthe U.S. (2000-2030)
0% 30% 60% 90% 120%
Illinois
U.S. as a whole
California
Washington
Georgia
North Carolina
Idaho
Utah
Texas
Florida
Arizona
Nevada
Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau
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What is a Complete Street?
A Complete Street is safe, comfortable and convenient fortravel via automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit
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We know how to build correctly forall users
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Yet many roads are built like this
Recently completed IL 64 expansion with destinations on bothsides of the road. Can you spot the pedestrian?
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What is a Complete Streets policy?
A complete streets policyensures that the entireright of way is planned,designed and operatedto provide safe accessfor all users.
What is a Complete Streets policy?
A complete streets policyensures that the entireright of way is planned,designed and operatedto provide safe accessfor all users.
Complete streets policies provide for:! Pedestrians! Bicyclists! Transit! Motorists! Travelers of all
ages andabilities
US Access Board
Why have a complete streets policy?
!! To To changechange
practicepractice,,integrating theintegrating the
needs of allneeds of all
road usersroad users
into into everydayeveryday
transportationtransportation
planningplanning
practicespractices
Why have a complete streets policy?
! To graduallycreate a completenetwork of roadsthat serve allusers
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Why have a complete streets policy?
! To shifttransportationinvestmentsso they createbetter streetsnow
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Why have a complete streets policy?
! To savemoney:In the longrun, retrofitprojectsalwayscost morethangetting itright thefirst time
Who wants Complete Streets?
! What percentage of theU.S. population doesn’tdrive?
! About one-third:
! 21% of Americans over 65
! Children under 16
! Low income Americanscan’t afford to drive
! Transit is growing fasterthan population or driving
Americans want complete streets
From Active Transportation for America: the case for Increased federal investment in bicycling and walking. RTC 2008.
National transportation poll commissioned by Transportation for America, fielded by Harris Interactive from December 1–19, 2007.
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Roads 37%
Public Transportation 41%
Bike/walk 27%
Roads 79%
Public Transportation 20%
Bike/walk 1%
New National Poll
! 47% of older Americans say it is unsafe to
cross a major street near their home
! 54% of older Americans living in
inhospitable neighborhoods say they’d walk
and ride more often if things improved
! 56% express strong support for adoption of
complete streets policies
Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America,AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI), 2009
Benefits: Older Americans
! 21% of Americansover 65 do not drive
! More than 50% of non-drivers stay at homeon a given daybecause they lacktransportation options
Benefits: Health
!! Americans moveAmericans move……without movingwithout moving
!! 60% of adults are at60% of adults are atrisk for diseasesrisk for diseasesassociated withassociated withinactivity:inactivity:
!! ObesityObesity
!! DiabetesDiabetes
!! High blood pressureHigh blood pressure
!! Other chronicOther chronicdiseasesdiseases
Benefits: Physical activity
!! Residents are more likely to walkResidents are more likely to walkin a neighborhood with sidewalksin a neighborhood with sidewalks
!! Cities with more bike lanes haveCities with more bike lanes havehigher levels of bicyclinghigher levels of bicycling
!! 1/3 of regular transit users meet1/3 of regular transit users meetminimum daily physical activityminimum daily physical activityrequirement during theirrequirement during theircommutecommute
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Benefits: Safety
! Sidewalks reducepedestrian crashrisk by 88%
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Benefits: Safety
! Intersectionsdesigned forpedestrians canreduce pedestrianrisk by 28%
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Benefits: People with disabilities
! Improved mobility fordisabled people andreduced need forexpensiveparatransit service
Benefits: Better use of transit funds
A year of paratransitservice for a dailycommuter:$38,500
Making a transit stopaccessible:$7,000-$58,000
Source: Maryland Transit Administration
Benefits: The environment
! Feweremissions
! Less noisepollution
! Less wear andtear on ourroads
! Less need towiden roads
Benefits: Reduced traffic
! Trips in metroareas:
! 50% — less thanthree miles
! 28% — less thanone mile:
! 65% of tripsunder one mileare now taken byautomobile
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Benefits: Economic activity
! Well designedmulti-modalstreets increasehome values andhelp revitalizecommercial areas
Benefits: Your wallet
! Transportation is the2nd largest expensefor most Americanhouseholds, andcosts are rising
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! Complete streets letpeople leave theircars at home
Complete Streets policies changeintersection design
Complete Streets policies changeintersection design
Complete Streets policies changebicycling
Complete Streets policies changebicycling
Complete Streets policies change transit
Complete Streets policies change transit
Complete Streets policies changeaccessibility
Complete Streets policies changeaccessibility
Complete Streets policies and trails
!! Streets provide accessStreets provide accessto trailsto trails
!! Complete streets andComplete streets andtrails can form atrails can form acomprehensive non-comprehensive non-motorized networkmotorized network
!! Complete Streets takeComplete Streets takepressure offpressure offovercrowded trailsovercrowded trails
Complete Streets is NOT:
! A design prescription
! A mandate for immediate retrofit
! A silver bullet; other initiatives must beaddressed:
! Land use
! Environmental concerns
! VMT reduction
(but complete streets will help!)
What does a complete street look like?
There is no magic formulaThere is no magic formula
The many types of Complete Streets
Safe Routes to SchoolSafe Routes to School
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The many types of Complete Streets
Shoulder bikeways on rural roadsShoulder bikeways on rural roads
The many types of Complete Streets
Busy multi-modal thoroughfaresBusy multi-modal thoroughfares
The many types of Complete Streets
Transit routesTransit routes
The many types of Complete Streets
Suburban thoroughfaresSuburban thoroughfares
The many types of Complete Streets
Residential skinny streetsResidential skinny streets
The many types of Complete Streets
Low traffic streetsLow traffic streets
The many types of Complete Streets
Historic Main StreetHistoric Main Street
What do the design guides tells us?
The AASHTO “Green Book” states:
“Sidewalks are integral parts of city streets”
Not added to streets Not added to streets —— part of the streetpart of the street
AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation OfficialsGreen Book: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets
What do the design guides tells us?
The AASHTO “Green Book” states:
“Shoulders are desirable on <…> urban arterials”
Bicycle Lanes: shoulders reserved for bicycle use
AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation OfficialsGreen Book: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets
What’s the difference with ContextSensitive Solutions?Bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users are
more than “context”
Illustration: AARP
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Complete Streets
! Are sensitive to the community
! Serve adjacent land uses
! Serve all who potentially will use the street
Complete Streets Resources
! Fact Sheets
! Monthly policy news
! Policy examples
! New Complete StreetsImplementationWorkshops
! Coming: Best PracticesManual
! Join the Coalition!
www.completestreets.org
Complete Streets Coalition Workshops
! Three types of Interactivesessions:
! Introduction to CompleteStreets
! Policy Development
! Policy Implementation
! Led by two leading policyand engineering experts Administered by Assoc. of Pedestrian &
Pedestrian Professionals
For more information:
www.completestreets.org
Illustration: AARP Bulletin