Complete Streets: Model Legislation for States and Municipalities

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Too many streets lack safe places for pedestrians and cyclists. In too many places, traveling by car is the only way to get around, even when the destination is nearby.

Complete Streets is an approach to transportation planning and policy that considers the needs of all roadway users.

The Federal Highway Administration recently made Complete Streets its “default approach” to funding and designing most federally funded road projects. In addition to providing new and

expanded funding programs for safer streets, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) contains a set-aside for state and

metropolitan planning organization funds that can be used for the adoption of Complete Streets policies, standards and plans. Several other federal transportation programs have the

flexibility to fund projects advancing the Complete Streets approach.

AARP has long supported the implementation of meaningful Complete Streets policies at the federal, state and local levels.

Political support for Complete Streets is on the rise. Over the past decade, Complete Streets policies adopted by state and local governments jumped from 763 to more than 1,700.

Unfortunately, many of these policies are resolutions that don’t have the authority or relative permanence of law; fewer than 300 were enacted as laws or ordinances.

The new AARP publication Complete Streets: Model Legislation for States and Municipalities features solutions for speeding up the Complete Streets implementation process, applies the

Complete Streets approach to transportation funding and emphasizes the importance of equity in Complete Streets decision-making. The guide includes tools for project selection criteria, and

for measuring and reporting performance.

The free, downloadable publication can empower planners, government officials, local leaders, community volunteers and interested residents to advocate for and establish effective Complete

Streets legislation.

Find More Articles About Complete Streets: Livability Library: Transportation

Page published: July 2024

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