Introduction to Complete Streets in Wisconsin 1

What are Complete Streets?What are Complete Streets? 2 Complete Streets are safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel for everyone, regardless of age or ability – motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders.

Nearly one-third of Americans don’t drive: Children under 16 Children under 16 21% of Americans over 65 21% of Americans over 65 Many low-income Americans Many low-income Americans 66% of Americans want more transportation options so they have the freedom to choose how to get where they need to go. 73% currently feel they have no choice but to drive as much as they do Who wants Complete Streets?Who wants Complete Streets? 3 Sources: 2008 National Household Travel Survey; Future of Transportation National Survey (2010)

Incomplete Streets are UnsafeIncomplete Streets are Unsafe 4 More than 40% of pedestrian deaths in 2007 and 2008 occurred where no crosswalk was available. Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Reporting System

Incomplete Streets are UnsafeIncomplete Streets are Unsafe 5

We know how to build rightWe know how to build right 6

Yet too many roads still turn out like this:Yet too many roads still turn out like this: 7

The tremendous potentialThe tremendous potential 8 Of all trips: 50% are under 3 miles 50% are under 3 miles 28% are 1 mile or less 28% are 1 mile or less 72% of trips 1 mile or less are driven 72% of trips 1 mile or less are driven Source: 2008 National Household Travel Survey Walking is the second most common form of travel, representing 10.9% of all trips.

Complete Streets Can Benefit CommunitiesComplete Streets Can Benefit Communities 9 Increase capacity Improve safety Better health Economic growth Lower emissions Reduce costs Smarter growth Provide choices

Benefits: HealthBenefits: Health 10 States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have, on average, the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Source: 2010 Benchmarking Report

Benefits: HealthBenefits: Health 11 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently named adoption of Complete Streets policies as a recommended strategy to prevent obesity.

More than 1/3 of our nation’s children are overweight or obese. Limited physical activity contributes to the obesity epidemic among children. Streets that provide dedicated space for bicycling and walking help kids be physically active. Benefits: ChildrenBenefits: Children 12 Source: F as in Fat 2009, Trust for America’s Health

Benefits: ChildrenBenefits: Children Complete Streets Policies support and strengthen Safe Routes to School programs, which enable community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. Source: National Center for Safe Routes to School

20% of Americans have a disability that limits their daily activities. Complete Streets feature curb cuts, high visibility crosswalks, and other designs for travelers with disabilities. Benefits: People with DisabilitiesBenefits: People with Disabilities 14 Source: U.S Census 2000

By 2025, nearly 1/5 of Americans will be 65 or older. About half of all non-drivers over the age of 65 would like to get out more often. Complete streets policies help create streets that support older drivers and pedestrians through better design. Benefits: Older AdultsBenefits: Older Adults 15

Connect transit to work, to shops, to schools, to homes through appropriate planning and design for transit users. Create smooth, predictable transit trips by planning and designing for transit vehicles. Benefits: TransitBenefits: Transit 16

Complete Streets give people more control over their expenses, replacing expensive car travel with cheaper options like walking, riding bikes, and taking public transportation. Benefits: Lower CostsBenefits: Lower Costs 17

Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity 18

Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity 19

Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity 20

Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity 21

Residents are 65% more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Change Travel PatternsChange Travel Patterns 22

Cities with more bike lanes per square mile have higher levels of bicycle commuting. Change Travel PatternsChange Travel Patterns 23

Complete Streets PoliciesComplete Streets Policies 24 A complete streets policy ensures that the entire right-of-way is planned, designed, and operated to provide safe access for all users.

Consistent with Federal GuidanceConsistent with Federal Guidance FHWA Guidance:2000 FHWA Guidance: “Bicycling and walking facilities will be incorporated into all transportation projects unless exceptional circumstances exist.”

1.Sets a vision. 2.Includes all modes. 3.Emphasizes connectivity. 4.Applies to all phases of all applicable projects. 5.Specifies and limits exceptions, with management approval required. 6.Uses latest design standards is flexible. 7.Is context-sensitive. 8.Sets performance standards. 9.Includes implementation steps. Elements of a PolicyElements of a Policy 26

An effective policy should prompt the transportation agency to: restructure procedures, policies, and programs restructure procedures, policies, and programs rewrite design manuals or standards rewrite design manuals or standards offer training opportunities to planners and engineers offer training opportunities to planners and engineers create new performance measures create new performance measures From Policy to PracticeFrom Policy to Practice 27

Why have a policy?Why have a policy? 28 To gradually create a complete network of roads that serve all users.

Why have a policy?Why have a policy? 29 To save money: in the long run, retrofit projects always cost more than getting it right the first time.

Before 30

After 31

Complete Streets PoliciesComplete Streets Policies 32 Over 200 communities have committed to a complete streets approach. As of 01/15/10

Where It’s Happening 33 As of 01/07/11 n=203

The Growing MovementThe Growing Movement 34 Number of Policies Adopted Year

Complete Streets in WisconsinComplete Streets in Wisconsin 35 Wisconsin is one of 24 states in the U.S. with Complete Streets Policies. The Wisconsin Complete Streets legislation is a huge step toward increasing our state's bicycle and pedestrian friendliness. It applies to the 11,820 miles of state highways and to local roads that receive funding through four state and federal programs.

Wisconsin’s Complete Streets PolicyWisconsin’s Complete Streets Policy 36 Text about WI’s policy...

The Importance of Local PoliciesThe Importance of Local Policies 37 Wisconsin’s statewide ordinance only applies to roads that receive state or federal funding. Municipal policies add Complete Streets requirements to more local roads, which is essential for improving bicycle and pedestrian conditions in Wisconsin communities. Local policies mean safer routes to schools, workplaces, and other destinations.

Policy Development GuidancePolicy Development Guidance 38

US DOT Gets Complete StreetsUS DOT Gets Complete Streets 39 “It turns out that a complete streets approach offers the perfect intersection of my twin guideposts: safety and livable communities.” -Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

WI Gets Complete StreetsWI Gets Complete Streets 40 Wisconsin law now requires complete streets with all reconstructed or repaved roads.

For more informationFor more information 41 Fact sheets, photos, brochures Fact sheets, photos, brochures Information on changing policy Information on changing policy Policy tracking & examples Policy tracking & examples Complete Streets blog and monthly newsletter Complete Streets blog and monthly newsletter Links to research & publications Links to research & publications National Complete Streets Coalition Special thanks to the National Complete Streets Coalition for sharing much of this content.