Complete streets policies are keeping planners busy across the country. An annual report features the best of the best when it comes to transforming city streets for the safety and activity of all users.
Rachel Dovey reports on the release of Smart Growth America's "Best Complete Streets Policies 2016" [pdf] report.
The report grants a three-way tie at the top of the report's ranking, with three cities achieving a perfect policy score of 100: Brockton, Massachusetts; Missoula, Montana; and Wenatchee, Washington.
Here Dovey explains more about the methodology of the report:
To assess a city’s streets, the coalition looks at resolutions, internal policies adopted by leadership, statements codified by stakeholders and tax ordinances. It measures those policies on a number of merits, including vision, design, implementation steps and the consideration of “all users and modes,” among others.
For last year's report, Kelsey E. Thomas wrote about the quick growth of complete streets policies around the country. A decade ago there were only 32 such policies in place. By 2016, there were 1,232 policies in the U.S and Puerto Rico.
Planetizen featured the release of the 2014 report and covered the 2013 report as well.
Read the full story: Ranking Spotlights New Complete Streets Policies
Complete Streets Policies Still Seeking Equity
Though the quick expansion of complete streets policies is worth celebrating, minority and low-income communities are still being left behind, and killed at a disproportionate rate.
Celebrating the Best Complete Streets Policies of 2014
The nationwide trend of cities, counties, and regions adopting complete streets policies continued its momentum in 2014. A new report from the National Complete Streets Coalition surveys the field and decides which is the best of the best.
Safe Streets 'Champions' Announced
Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition announced a new initiative designed to help cities achieve the potential of a new approach to street design.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
One of Denver’s busiest corridors to gain BRT
The project will span 18 miles and contain 74 bus rapid transit stations.
275,000 bus trips are at stake on Seattle's ballot
If passed, the Seattle Transit Measure would trigger a 0.3% sales tax and raise an average of $138 million per year to maintain and expand Seattle’s bus services.
Texas may pay Israeli company billions to ease water woes
Texas awarded IDE Technologies the contract for its Harbor Island project, which is slated to become the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority