complete streets

05/02/23

Mark G. Goode, III, P.E.Associate and Manager of the Traffic & Transportation Group

05/02/231/19/2011

DEFINITION: COMPLETE STREETS “Complete Streets” is the popular term used for an approach to

roadway designed within a designated area. A street is “complete” when pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and

public transportation users are accommodated to comfortably and safely move along and across the full length and width (ie, “complete”) street.

Proponents claim that Complete Streets also create a sense of place and improve social interaction, while generally improving property adjacent land values.

Fourteen states, six counties, 10 regional governments and 52 cities have complete streets policies, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition.

1/19/2011

DEFINITION: COMPLETE STREETS “Complete Streets” is the popular term used for an approach to

roadway designed within a designated area. A street is “complete” when pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and

public transportation users are accommodated to comfortably and safely move along and across the full length and width (ie, “complete”) street.

Proponents claim that Complete Streets also create a sense of place and improve social interaction, while generally improving property adjacent land values.

Fourteen states, six counties, 10 regional governments and 52 cities have complete streets policies, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition.

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The crucial factor we are searching for is the suitable speed that the planning and design team should target for a particular section of roadway. New Urbanism, Context Sensitive Solutions and Complete Streets are the disciplines that developers, residents, City staff and stakeholders are demanding in their new projects. DOTs are looking closely at ways to reduce the severity and frequency of accidents. The goal is to reduce the speed differential among automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and trucks.

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Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, RP-036A, (ITE 2010)

A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (AASHTO 2004a)

Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities (AASHTO 1999)

Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (AASHTO 1999) Highway Safety Design and Operations Guide (AASHTO 1997) Roadside Design Guide (AASHTO 2002) Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive

Approach, Web Briefing; John Daisa & John Norquist; 5/24/2010

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New Urbanism Traffic Calming Walkable Urban Thoroughfares Sustainable Transportation Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Complete Streets Road Diet

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Accommodating pedestrians, bicycles, transit, freight and motor-vehicles within a fine-grained urban circulation network

Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, p.4.

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Providing a compact and mixed-use environment of urban buildings, public spaces and landscapes that support walking directly through the built environment


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Achieving system-wide transportation capacity using a high level of multimodal connectivity, serving walkable communities with appropriately spaced and properly sized components rather than by increasing the vehicular capacity of individual thoroughfares

Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, p. 4-5.

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Creating a supportive relationship between thoroughfares and context by designing thoroughfares that will change as the surroundings vary in urban character


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A mix of land uses in close proximity to one another

A mix of density, including relatively compact developments (both residential and commercial)

Building entries that front directly onto the sidewalk (w/o parking between the buildings and the public ROW)

Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, p. 5.

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Building, landscape and thoroughfare design that is pedestrian-scale

Thoroughfares designed to serve the activities generated by the adjacent context in terms of the mobility, safety, access and place-making functions of the public ROW


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A highly connected, multimodal circulation network, usually with a fine “grain” created by relatively small blocks providing safe, continuous and balanced multimodal facilities


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Pedestrian Places Vehicle Intolerant Pedestrian Supportive Vehicle Tolerant Pedestrian Tolerant Vehicle Supportive Pedestrian Intolerant Vehicle Places

Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, p. 5. Adapted from a system for describing “degrees of walkability” for street environments, Charlier Associates.

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CSS involve stakeholders in considering a transportation facility in its entire social, environmental and aesthetic context

Under Complete Streets, basic accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users and disabled travelers are necessities rather than optional items


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Public and Stakeholder Involvement Adjacent Property Owners & Developers The Neighborhoods & HOAs City Departments (e.g., Traffic, Planning,

Public Works, Storm Water Management, Law Enforcement, EMS, Economic Development)

Bicyclists, ADA and other users Transit Utilities


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Vision and Goals Definition of Needs Development of Alternatives Alternatives Evaluation Development of a Transportation Plan Transportation Improvement Plan Project Development and Implementation Operation and Maintenance


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Design Vehicle (Bus, WB50, WB67) Vehicle performance Driver performance Traffic characteristics Capacity and vehicular Level of Service

(LOS) Access controls and management Pedestrians and bicycles Safety


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Target Speed (Design encourages posted speed)

Location (Urban Context Zones) Suburban General Urban Urban Center Urban Core

Design Vehicle and Control Vehicle38Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive

Approach, p. 108

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Functional Classification Principal Arterial Minor Arterial Collector Local

Thoroughfare Types Boulevard Avenue Street


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17,800 vpd

35 mph

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35 mph 17,800 vpd

11,000 vpd

2,500 vpd

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13,000 vpd

30 mph

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30 mph

16,000 vpd

11,300 vpd

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30 mph

19,500 vpd 8,600

vpd

27,500 vpd

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Appropriate Speed (25-35 mph) vs. Higher Speeds

Narrower lanes (10’) vs. wider lanes Capacity & LOS balanced against all users Minimal curb offsets 0’vs. 2’-3’ On-street parking (parallel or angle) Bike lanes (5’) Speed Management Techniques

Source: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, pp. 107-114.

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Active Measures Roundabouts Road diets Lateral shifts or narrowing Smaller curb-return radii On-street parking Speed humps, speed tables, speed platforms Narrowed travel lanes Raised crosswalks Speed actuated traffic signals


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Passive Measures Synchronized signals Radar trailers/speed feedback signs Visually narrowing road using pavement markers Visually enclosing street with buildings, landscaping and

street trees Speed enforcement corridors Flashing beacons on intersection approaches Speed limit markings on pavement Mountable cobblestone medians or flush concrete bands Shared lanes (bicycle) using signs and pavement

markings


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85th percentile speed Based on reasonable driver expectations Setting signal timing for moderate

progressive speeds Using narrower lanes that cause motorists to

naturally slow their speeds Using physical measures such as curb

extensions and medians to narrow the traveled way


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Using design elements such as on-street parking to create side friction

Minimal or no horizontal offset between the inside travel lane and median curbs

Eliminating super elevation Eliminating shoulders in urban applications,

except bicycle lanes Smaller curb-return radii at intersections and

elimination of high speed channelized right-turns


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Paving materials with texture detectable by drivers as notification of possible presence of pedestrians

Proper use of speed limit, warning, advisory signs and other appropriate devices to gradually transition speeds when approaching and traveling through a walkable area


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CSS for the urban environment involves creating a safe roadway environment in which the driver is encouraged by the roadway’s features and surrounding area to operate at lower speeds


05/02/23

The crucial factor we are searching for in creating the Complete Street is the suitable speed that the planning and design team should target for a particular section of roadway. The goal is to reduce the speed differential among automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and trucks.

05/02/23

05/02/23

Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, RP-036A, (ITE 2010)

A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (AASHTO 2004a)

Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities (AASHTO 1999)

Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (AASHTO 1999) Highway Safety Design and Operations Guide (AASHTO 1997) Roadside Design Guide (AASHTO 2002) Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive

Approach, Web Briefing; John Daisa & John Norquist; 5/24/2010

complete streets

Documents