‘Complete Streets’ Legislation Introduced in House

May 23, 2011

by Leslie Wollack

Last week, Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) introduced the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 (H.R. 1780), a bill requiring that new street and transportation projects undertaken by state departments of transportation (DOT) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) be designed with “pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles” in mind.

The bill calls for consideration of the “safety and convenience” of all users in “all phases of project planning and development.”

Currently, 23 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and more than 2,000 regional and local communities have adopted some form of Complete Streets policies. Communities have adopted such policies to enhance public safety, lower transportation costs and promote walking, bicycling and public transit as sustainable alternatives.

This legislation would require that states and MPOs craft and adhere to a Complete Streets policy, under the guidance of the U.S. DOT, which would apply to all federally funded projects.

States or MPOs would need senior-level approval and documentation to receive an exemption. Existing roads, or projects for which planning is already well underway, would not be affected by the new standards.

The Complete Streets effort requires communities to plan roadways and transportation corridors to accommodate all potential uses and transportation modes and plan for the elderly, handicapped and children, in addition to public transit, cars and trucks.

Proponents of the bill are hoping to include Complete Streets as part of a comprehensive surface transportation authorization bill. At this time, NLC does not have policy on the legislation but will continue to monitor and report on its progress.

Details: Additional information from the Complete Streets Coalition may be found at http://www.completestreets.org.