Why Should You Care?

Complete Streets policies aim to fix a fundamental problem: many of our streets are designed in a way that makes them dangerous or inconvenient for anyone not in a car. By advocating for Complete Streets, you're pushing for:

• Safer routes to school and work: Imagine your kids being able to safely walk or bike to school.
• Easier access to local businesses: More foot traffic and bike-friendly streets can boost your neighborhood's economy.
• A healthier community: Making it easier to walk and bike encourages physical activity.
• More transportation choices: Not everyone can or wants to drive. Complete Streets provide options.
• A more equitable neighborhood: Everyone deserves safe access to transportation, regardless of income or ability.

Guides & Tools

• Sample Action Plan with an Itemized To-Do List
• Marketing Plan a detailed to-do list aligned in phases with the action plan.
• Model Council Resolutions & Policies for establishing Complete Streets in your locality
• Guide to Building a Compelling Case
• The Policy Audit Template provides a structure for assessing the strength of existing policies
• Sample Letters to Council
• Marketing Assets Templates to easily modify for your local campaign
• Sample Op-Eds

Check out the Missouri Livable Streets Advocacy Manual for even more resources. Livable Streets is another phrase for Complete Streets. {.is-success}

How to Advocate for Complete Streets

This isn't just about asking nicely. It's about understanding the key elements of a strong Complete Streets policy and pushing your local government to adopt and implement them. Here's how to make a difference:

1. Understand the Core Principles

Effective Complete Streets policies aren't just vague promises. They have specific components that make them work. Here are the key things to look for (and demand!):

A Clear Vision

• What to look for: A strong policy starts with a statement explaining why the community needs Complete Streets. This vision should:

  • Commit to a "complete, connected transportation network" for all users.
  • Prioritize safety and accessibility.
  • Explicitly address the needs of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities).

• Actionable Step: Read your city's existing transportation plans and policies. Do they mention Complete Streets? Do they have a clear vision statement? If not, that's your starting point.

The vision of Complete Streets policies ensures a safe, equitable, and connected transportation network, prioritizing accessibility for all users, especially underserved populations. {.is-info}

Prioritizing Underserved Modes of Travel

• What to look for: The policy should specifically address historical inequities in transportation investment. This means:

  • Identifying transportation modes and areas that have been neglected
  • Prioritizing funding and projects in these areas.
  • Addressing specific needs, like areas with high crash rates or poor sidewalk coverage.

• Actionable Step: Research crash data in your city. Are there specific neighborhoods with disproportionately high rates of pedestrian or cyclist injuries? Use this data to advocate for targeted improvements.

Prioritizing underserved communities in Complete Streets policies ensures equitable access to safe and effective transportation for all. {.is-info}

Comprehensive Applicability (It Applies to Everything)

• What to look for: The policy should apply to all types of transportation projects and phases, including:

  • New road construction
  • Reconstruction or retrofitting of existing streets
  • Routine maintenance (like repaving)
  • Daily operations (like signal timing)

• Actionable Step: Find out about upcoming road projects in your area. Are Complete Streets principles being considered? Attend public meetings and ask questions.

Complete Streets policies should apply to all transportation projects to ensure every street is safe and accessible for all users. {.is-info}

Clear and Limited Exceptions

• What to look for: There might be rare cases where a Complete Streets approach isn't feasible. However, the policy should:

  • Clearly define the acceptable reasons for exceptions (e.g., pedestrians prohibited by law, excessively disproportionate cost).
  • Require a transparent approval process for exceptions, including high-level authorization and public disclosure.

• Actionable Step: If a project claims an exception, demand to see the justification and the approval process. Hold your local government accountable.

Exceptions to Complete Streets policies should be well-defined, justified with data, and require high-level approval to maintain integrity.{.is-info}

Interagency Coordination (Everyone Working Together)

• What to look for: The policy should require coordination between different agencies and departments, including:

  • City departments (transportation, planning, public works)
  • Regional agencies
  • State Departments of Transportation
  • Transit authorities
  • Private developers

• Actionable Step: If a project involves multiple agencies, find out how they are coordinating. Are they working together to ensure a consistent Complete Streets approach?

Effective Complete Streets policies require collaboration between departments within a locality and local, state, and regional agencies to ensure consistency and effectiveness. {.is-info}

Context-Sensitive Design (Not One-Size-Fits-All)

• What to look for: The policy should recognize that different streets have different needs. A street in a downtown area will look different from a street in a residential neighborhood. The design should:

  • Respond to the community's character and land use.
  • Consider current and expected land use (e.g., school zones, retail districts).
  • Engage the community in the design process.

• Actionable Step: Attend community meetings about street design projects. Share your input and advocate for designs that meet the specific needs of your neighborhood.

Streets should be designed to match the unique needs of each community, balancing safety, accessibility, and local context. {.is-info}

Performance Measures (Tracking Progress)

• What to look for: The policy should include specific metrics to evaluate its effectiveness, such as:

  • Reductions in crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
  • Increases in walking, biking, and transit use.
  • Improvements in high-injury areas or underserved neighborhoods.
  • Regular reporting of data to the public.

• Actionable Step: Request data on these metrics from your local government. Hold them accountable for making progress.

Measuring progress with safety, accessibility, and equity metrics ensures Complete Streets policies achieve their intended impact. {.is-info}

STOP & ASSESS: Before going further, holistically assess your town or city on each of the metrics above using the Policy Audit Template. Understanding where you're already thriving and opportunities for improvement will help you in this process. You will need to tailor your messaging and the actual Complete Street policy based on the needs of your community. {.is-warning}

6. Learn from Other Communities

• Research successful Complete Streets policies: Look at examples from other cities and towns including our case studies below.
• Use resources from organizations like Smart Growth America's Complete Streets Guidelines

The Benefits: Why This Matters

Complete Streets aren't just about making streets look nicer. They have real, measurable benefits:

• Improved Safety: Fewer crashes and injuries for everyone.
• Better Public Health: Encouraging walking and biking leads to healthier lifestyles.
• Economic Growth: More vibrant and attractive streets can boost local businesses.
• Increased Accessibility and Equity: Providing safe options for people who can't or don't drive.
• Environmental Benefits: Reducing reliance on cars helps improve air quality and reduce emissions.

Addressing the Challenges

Implementing Complete Streets isn't always easy. Here are some common challenges and how to address them:

• Institutional Resistance: Push for leadership and training to change the mindset within transportation agencies.
• Funding Concerns: Advocate for prioritizing Complete Streets in the budget and highlight long-term cost savings.
• Staffing and Technical Capacity: Encourage partnerships with advocacy groups and consultants to provide expertise.
• Jurisdictional Issues: Push for interagency coordination and collaboration.
• Public Opposition: Educate the public about the benefits and engage in transparent decision-making.
• Outdated Policies: Reviewing and adapting outdated standards.

Best Practices: Making it Happen

• Establish a Strong Vision: Make sure the policy's goals are clear and prioritize underserved communities.
• Make Complete Streets the Default: Ensure it applies to all projects, not just special ones.
• Develop Clear Design Guidance: Provide engineers and planners with the tools they need.
• Set Up an Implementation Plan: Create a roadmap with specific steps, timelines, and accountability.
• Foster Leadership and Build a Coalition: Find champions and work with other advocates.
• Integrate with Other Plans: Align Complete Streets with other city initiatives.
• Ensure Clear Exceptions and Flexibility: Define exceptions narrowly and allow for context-sensitive design.
• Measure Progress and Communicate Results: Track data and share success stories.
• Leverage External Resources: Use resources from national organizations and learn from other communities.

Resources

This guide is based on information from:

• Complete streets - Wikipedia
• Complete Streets - Smart Growth America
• City Health - Efficacy of Complete Streets
• Smart Growth America - Milwaukee Complete Streets
• Planning.org - Benefits of Complete Streets
• Tri-State Transportation - Complete Streets Promote Good Health
• Missouri Complete Streets
• New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition

By understanding these principles and taking action, you can help make your community a safer, healthier, and more accessible place for everyone. Get involved, speak up, and demand Complete Streets!