What are Complete Streets?What are Complete Streets?

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

•Complete Streets are designed Complete Streets are designed based on their location and based on their location and users.users.

•Complete Streets do not look Complete Streets do not look the same in every the same in every circumstance. circumstance.

What are Complete Streets?What are Complete Streets?

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BeforeBefore

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AfterAfter

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BeforeBefore

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AfterAfter

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•Nearly 1/3 of Americans don’t drive:Nearly 1/3 of Americans don’t drive:

• 21% of Americans over 65.21% of Americans over 65.

• Children under 16.Children under 16.

• Many low income Americans do Many low income Americans do not have access to automobiles.not have access to automobiles.

•Transit use is growing faster than Transit use is growing faster than population or highway travel.population or highway travel.

•73% of Americans currently feel they 73% of Americans currently feel they have no choice but to drive as much have no choice but to drive as much as they do, andas they do, and

•66% want more choice in how to get 66% want more choice in how to get where they need to go.where they need to go.

Who wants Complete Streets?Who wants Complete Streets?

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The tremendous potentialThe tremendous potential

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Of all trips:Of all trips:• 50% are under 3 miles50% are under 3 miles• 28% are 1 mile or less28% are 1 mile or less• 72% of trips 1 mile or less 72% of trips 1 mile or less

are drivenare driven

2008 National Household Travel Survey

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People with disabilities People with disabilities (20%)(20%)

Older adultsOlder adults (20% by 2025) (20% by 2025)

ChildrenChildren (1/3+ overweight or obese) (1/3+ overweight or obese)

All of us!All of us!

Who BenefitsWho Benefits

Benefits: HealthBenefits: Health

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States with the lowest levels of States with the lowest levels of biking and walking have, on biking and walking have, on average, the highest rates of average, the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and high obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.blood pressure.

One third of regular transit One third of regular transit users meet the minimum daily users meet the minimum daily requirement for physical requirement for physical activity during their commute.activity during their commute.

•Americans spent 18 cents of Americans spent 18 cents of every dollar on transportationevery dollar on transportation

•The poorest 1/5 of families The poorest 1/5 of families spend more than double that spend more than double that figure.figure.

•Complete Streets give people Complete Streets give people more control over their more control over their expenses, replacing expensive expenses, replacing expensive car travel with cheaper options car travel with cheaper options like walking, riding bikes, and like walking, riding bikes, and taking public transportation.taking public transportation.

Benefits: Lower CostsBenefits: Lower Costs

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Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity

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Benefits: CapacityBenefits: Capacity

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Benefits: Economic VitalityBenefits: Economic Vitality

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$8 million $8 million public investmentpublic investment in in streetscape improvement 2003-2004streetscape improvement 2003-2004

$8 million in $8 million in private investmentprivate investment in in following 2 yearsfollowing 2 years

32 new business 32 new business establishmentsestablishments

$80,000 in sales tax $80,000 in sales tax annuallyannually

Washington, DC: Barracks Row/8th Street SE

Complete Streets PoliciesComplete Streets Policies

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

Twenty years of consistent investment in Complete Twenty years of consistent investment in Complete Streets has lead to measurable results in Boulder, CO.Streets has lead to measurable results in Boulder, CO.

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Transit use is Transit use is twicetwice the national the national average.average.

Walking commutes are Walking commutes are 3 times3 times the national average.the national average.

Bicycle commutes are Bicycle commutes are 18 times18 times the national average.the national average.

2008 American Community Survey

ResultsResults

Currently under consideration:Currently under consideration:

•NCDOT Complete Streets NCDOT Complete Streets Implementation GuidanceImplementation Guidance

•French Broad River Metropolitan French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Planning Organization (MPO) Complete Streets policy adoptionComplete Streets policy adoption

•City of Asheville Complete Streets City of Asheville Complete Streets policy adoptionpolicy adoption

•Bringing a Complete Streets Bringing a Complete Streets informational workshop to the areainformational workshop to the area

Bringing It HomeBringing It Home

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Currently under considerationCurrently under consideration

•NCDOT Complete Streets Implementation NCDOT Complete Streets Implementation GuidanceGuidance

•French Broad River Metropolitan Planning French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Complete Streets policy Organization (MPO) Complete Streets policy adoptionadoption

•City of Asheville Complete Streets policy City of Asheville Complete Streets policy adoptionadoption

•Bringing a Complete Streets informational Bringing a Complete Streets informational workshop to the areaworkshop to the area

•A test road conversion on (N) Charlotte A test road conversion on (N) Charlotte StreetStreet

Bringing It HomeBringing It Home

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For more informationFor more information

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• Fact sheets, photos, brochuresFact sheets, photos, brochures• Information on changing policyInformation on changing policy• Complete Streets blog and monthly newsletterComplete Streets blog and monthly newsletter

www.completestreets.orgwww.completestreets.org

Barb Mee (bmee@ashevillenc.gov)Barb Mee (bmee@ashevillenc.gov)• City pedestrian and bicycle programCity pedestrian and bicycle program• Complete Streets information and presentationsComplete Streets information and presentations• YMCA Pioneering Healthier Communities InitiativeYMCA Pioneering Healthier Communities Initiative