Complete Streets represent a revolutionary approach to urban and rural street design, moving beyond the traditional car-centric model to create roadways that are safe and accessible for all users. But what does it truly mean to be “street smart” when it comes to our streets? It’s about understanding the diverse needs of our communities and designing infrastructure that reflects this comprehensive understanding. This isn’t just about paving roads; it’s about building vibrant, inclusive spaces that prioritize safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
The concept of Complete Streets is more than just a set of design features; it’s a fundamental process and approach to how we think about and build our transportation networks. It’s about being Street Smart Define-ing success not just by vehicle flow, but by how well our streets serve everyone.
Beyond Cars: Addressing the Deficiencies of Incomplete Streets
For too long, street design has been dominated by a single perspective – prioritizing vehicular traffic flow above all else. This narrow focus has resulted in incomplete streets that neglect the needs of a significant portion of the population. These streets, born from a process that overlooks diverse users and relies on outdated metrics of success, range from inconvenient to outright dangerous for anyone not traveling by car.
These “incomplete streets” are a clear example of a lack of “street smart” planning. They fail to acknowledge the reality of diverse transportation needs and create environments where safety is compromised for the sake of speed.
The Multifaceted Look of Complete Streets: Context is Key
While Complete Streets embody a consistent process and approach, there’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint. Each Complete Street design is unique, thoughtfully tailored to its specific community context. This is where the “street smart define” element truly shines – understanding the nuances of each location and responding with appropriate solutions.
A Complete Street might incorporate a variety of elements, such as dedicated sidewalks, protected bike lanes or wide shoulders, efficient bus lanes, comfortable and accessible public transit stops, frequent and safe crosswalks, median islands for pedestrian refuge, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions to shorten crossing distances, narrower vehicle travel lanes to reduce speeds, and even roundabouts to improve traffic flow and safety.
The needs of rural, suburban, and urban communities vary dramatically. A “street smart define” approach recognizes these differences, resulting in diverse streetscapes even when guided by the same Complete Streets principles.
The Urgent Need for Complete Streets: Addressing a Safety Crisis
The implementation of Complete Streets is not merely a matter of convenience or aesthetics; it’s a critical response to a growing public safety crisis. We are witnessing a disturbing surge in pedestrian fatalities, with the number of people struck and killed while walking reaching levels not seen in over three decades. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for a “street smart define” shift in our approach to street design.
Speed emerges as the primary culprit in these tragic fatalities. It’s not just about the occurrence of a collision, but the severity of its consequences. Speed is the most significant predictor of whether a crash results in serious injury or death. This is further compounded by the increasing size of vehicles on our roads, creating even more dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
One of the most effective strategies to combat speeding and enhance safety is to fundamentally rethink street design. A “street smart define” approach prioritizes safety above all else, particularly over maximizing vehicle speed. This requires a departure from traditional transportation planning that often defaults to prioritizing vehicle throughput.
Speed vs. Safety: A False Dichotomy in Street Design
The prioritization of speed over safety is often an unconscious bias embedded within transportation agencies. Rooted in practices from the interstate highway construction era and fueled by political pressure to alleviate congestion, the default approach to street design often places vehicle speed and throughput at the top of the priority list. Safety, while acknowledged as important, often takes a backseat.
This creates a false dichotomy where speed and safety are seen as mutually exclusive. However, a “street smart define” perspective recognizes that safety and efficient movement can coexist through thoughtful design.
The Growing Movement: Complete Streets Across the Nation
The Complete Streets movement is gaining significant momentum across the United States. Over 1,700 Complete Streets policies have been adopted nationwide, encompassing 35 state governments, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. This widespread adoption reflects a growing understanding of the “street smart define” principles of inclusive and safe street design.
However, the strength and effectiveness of these policies vary. The National Complete Streets Coalition plays a vital role in tracking and evaluating these policies, advocating for robust frameworks that ensure accountability and prioritize the needs of vulnerable road users.
From Policy to Practice: Transforming Communities with Complete Streets
Adopting a strong Complete Streets policy is a crucial first step, but it’s just the beginning of a transformative process. The ultimate goal is to reshape practices in street design, making the Complete Streets approach the standard, not the exception. These practices then shape the projects that are built, which collectively create a complete network that serves everyone, connecting communities safely and efficiently.
The story of Tucson, Arizona, exemplifies this transformation. By embracing a “street smart define” vision for their city, Tucson has committed to institutionalizing Complete Streets, aiming to create a safer and more mobile environment for all its residents. This commitment is a testament to the power of Complete Streets policies to drive real change and build more livable communities.
Complete Streets are not just about infrastructure; they are about creating a “street smart define” future where our streets are safe, accessible, and truly for everyone.
