Top 'complete streets' policies
The movement for "complete streets" — thoroughfares designed for a wide range of users including bicyclists, transit-riders, and people on foot — remained strong in 2012, according to a new report by Smart Growth America (SGA) and the National Complete Streets Coalition.
"In 2012, 125 communities adopted Complete Streets policies. These laws, resolutions, executive orders, policies and planning and design documents encourage and provide safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or how they travel," SGA said.
"In total, 488 Complete Streets policies are now in place nationwide, at all levels of government. Statewide policies are in place in 27 states as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Forty-two regional planning organizations, 38 counties and 379 municipalities in 48 states also have policies that allow everyone to safely use America’s roads. The policies passed in 2012 comprise more than one quarter of all policies in place today."
The report, which can be downloaded near the bottom of this article, evaluates complete streets policies and how such policies are written.
It's clear to Better! Cities & Towns that converting automobile-oriented thoroughfares to "complete streets" is a key strategy for revitalizing cities and towns, and repairing poorly performing suburbs.
The organization selected the top 10 municipal complete streets policies to "celebrate the communities that have done exceptional work in the past year." They are:
1, Indianapolis, IN
2, Hermosa Beach, CA
3, Huntington Park, CA
4, Ocean Shores, WA
5, Northfield, MN
6, Portland, ME
7, Oak Park, IL
8, Trenton, NJ
9, Clayton, MO
10, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
“The policies passed in 2012 are some of the strongest we’ve seen,” said Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “The communities included in this year’s analysis have done a stellar job drafting strong, comprehensive policies to create streets that work for everyone.”
Indianapolis, from the cover of the report
Download a pdf of the report here.
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