Bright Spot: Complete Streets Policy

Photo by Robert Ruggiero on Unsplash

This bright spot was originally published in the 100 Million Healthier Lives Change Library and is brought to you through partnership with 100 Million Healthier Lives and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Overview

Detailed Description

The intent of this intervention is to redesign the built environment to support active transportation. Complete Streets policy focuses on changes to the physical environment that can lead to increased physical activity (walking and biking) by individuals and families. The intended population includes all users of the road, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicle operators.

*The Center for Training and Research Translation worked with Hawai'i Complete Streets to review the evidence in support of the intervention and develop detailed guidance on how to implement it in practice*

Outcomes

This policy lays the foundation for change in the way road systems are improved or developed. It has the potential to be an effective catalyst for change and to encourage development of environments that will be more supportive of physical activity.

Complete Streets:

Improve safety
Encourage walking and bicycling for health
Can lower transportation costs for families
Foster strong communities

Evidence

Emerging bright spot (emerging evidence)

Cost Details

For the latest cost details, please contact the National Complete Streets Coalition directly.

Key Steps for Implementation

Designate a lead person or agency to oversee implementation
Create broad based committees to oversee the process or make project-level decisions
Write a formal implementation plan
Require public annual reports that include Complete Streets progress
Conduct an inventory of documents that need to be changed to bring them in alignment with a Complete Streets approach
Build relationships between agencies and stakeholders such as public health, law enforcement, and businesses

Other Key Requirements

Build relationships between agencies and stakeholders such as public health, law enforcement, and businesses. Having a champion is invaluable; designate a lead person, agency, and/or committee that will move the process forward. Formal advisory committees can be an effective catalyst for achieving other implementation steps.

Policies, Laws and Regulations

State Department of Transportation adoption of Complete Streets standards.

Special Funding

Potential sources are State Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Park Service, Safe Routes to School program funds

Model legislation Computer Projector Handouts Chart paper

Training

Technical assistance from the National Complete Streets Coalition and/or a skilled consultant that can incorporate both public health and built environment principles. The National Complete Streets Coalition offers a workshop series for state and local agencies

Return on Investment Details

Legislators Public officials State and county level administration community members City planners Retail owners Major employers

Outcome Measures

Percentage of new state road construction with sidewalks at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new county road construction with sidewalks at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new state road construction with bike lanes at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new county road construction with bike lanes at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped state road construction with sidewalks and bike lanes at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped county road construction with sidewalks and bike lanes at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped state road construction with crosswalks with ADA crossing signals at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped county road construction with crosswalks with ADA crossing signals at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped state road construction with curb cuts at every crosswalk at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of new/redeveloped county road construction with curb cuts at every crosswalk at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of respondents reporting use of active transportation to work at baseline and follow-up
Percentage of respondents reporting children's use of active transportation to school at baseline and follow-up|Percentage of adults feeling "extremely safe" or "quite safe" when riding a bike or walking in neighborhood at baseline and follow-up

Process Measures

Number of counties adopting complete streets policies or total number of counties
Number of residents living within one mile of complete streets implementation on new or redeveloped state roads
Demographics of population residing within one mile of complete streets implementation on new or redeveloped state roads compared to demographics of general population
Number of residents living within one mile of complete streets implementation on new or redeveloped county roads
Demographics of population residing within one mile of complete streets implementation on new or redeveloped county roads compared to demographics of general population
Existence of task force and actions taken by task force
Existence of design standards and guidelines
Number of educational/networking workshops held|Percentage of redevelopment and new projects including complete streets design standards and guidelines compared to all redevelopment and new projects at baseline (pre-policy enactment) and follow-up
Percentage of state stakeholders (legislators, transportation officials, etc.) receiving the policy as positive
State official feedback on feasibility of policy
Perceived benefits of complete streets implementation at state level
Cost of complete streets implementation on state roads
Existence of task force and actions taken by task force
Existence of design standards and guidelines
Number of general plans including complete streets/total
Number of educational/networking workshops held
Number of redevelopment and new projects including complete streets design standards and guidelines at baseline (pre-policy enactment) and follow-up
Percentage of county stakeholders (transportation officials, implementation committee members, etc.) perceiving the policy as positive
County stakeholder feedback on feasibility of policy
Perceived benefits of complete streets implementation at county level
Cost of implementing complete streets on county roads