Title
INTRODUCTION TO COMPLETE STREETS
COUNCIL INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Improve transportation systems
Address quality of place issues
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders. Complete Streets make it easy for pedestrians to cross the street and walk to shopping and entertainment destinations, for bicyclists to safely reach their destination, and for public transit to run on time and their riders to reach bus stops safely.
Creating Complete Streets means changing our approach to constructing and utilizing our roadway corridors. By adopting Complete Streets policies, planners and engineers are directed to design and operate the right of way to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.
In 2011, the state legislature adopted the Complete Streets Act, encouraging local governments to adopt Complete Streets ordinances and directing the state Department of Transportation to develop a grant program to help local agencies pay for Complete Streets projects.
In October 2015, the Federal Highways Administration published proposed rule changes to relax certain design standards and allow flexibility to incorporate Complete Streets principles. Comments were received and published in May 2016; however, final design standard revisions have not yet been published.
In April 2015, the Safe Streets Act of 2015 was introduced in the federal House of Representatives with the goal “(t)o ensure the safety of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, as they travel on and across federally funded streets and highways.” This bill was referred to committee and has not yet been approved.
Locally, the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments has contracted with Cowlitz Co...
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