Lawrence Complete Streets is a campaign to educate citizens about the benefits of enacting policies that consistently create safe transportation networks for all users.
You might ask yourself why are complete streets important? Well, the main reason is that streets are important to the health and productivity of Lawrence, KS. They serve young and old, motorists, bicyclists, walkers, wheelchair users, bus riders and businesses. Efficient, safe and accessible transportation supports our economy and our individual health.
“Complete streets” are road networks that are consistently designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, wheeled-device users, transit riders and motorists of all ages and abilities are able to move safely along and across a complete street.
Complete streets:
- Connect people with popular destinations cost effectively
- Help keep people healthy by supporting daily physical activity
- Improve safety and accessibility for all ages, including children and seniors
- Give businesses many safe routes for shoppers and employees
- Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on motor vehicles
- Conserve energy and improve air quality
- Encourage walking and biking to work, school and activities
- Make Lawrence more inviting to retirees with active lifestyles
- What do complete streets look like?
While there is no set formula for a complete street, common features include:
- Sidewalks with curb cuts
- Bike lanes
- Wide shoulders
- Plenty of crossing opportunities
- Bus shelters and crossings
- Raised crosswalks
- Traffic signs
- Elements that buffer, beautify and improve drainage
- Landscape that provides safety and invites community activity
- How are complete streets achieved?
Complete streets can be achieved through a variety of policies: state laws, local ordinances. local resolutions, inclusion in comprehensive plans, rewrites of design manuals, inclusion in comprehensive plans, and agency policies or internal memos from directors of transportation agencies.
Regardless of the format, the best complete streets policies apply to all road projects and require high-level approval of any exceptions. The best complete streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind, including drivers, public transportation vehicles users, pedestrians, and bicyclists as well as older people, children, and people with disabilities. (More on the elements of a good complete streets policy can be found at http://www.completestreets.org/changing-policy/policy-elements/).
The Lawrence Complete Streets committee is working closely with the Lawrence/Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which establishes goals, objectives and policies governing transportation planning in the region. The MPO is currently developing a complete streets policy that is expected to be available for public consideration later in 2011. The goal of the Lawrence Complete Streets committee is to educate the public about complete streets in general and about this specific complete streets policy proposal once it is available for public consideration.
Portions adapted with permission from the National Complete Streets Coalition.
