At our general membership meeting today, one of the information items that was discussed was the “Complete Streets” approach to designing transportation infrastructure. On May 15, 2012, the Sudbury District Health Unit organized a public session where the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation and the IBI Group presented the concept of Complete Streets. Two SCU members  attended and were impressed with the approach.

From the TCAT web site: “A Complete Streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire street network for road users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers.” Check out their web site for all kinds of info and resources at http://www.torontocat.ca/.

They’ve also helped develop a Canadian Complete Streets web site at http://completestreetsforcanada.ca/.

The cities of Calgary and Waterloo are the only cities in Canada who have to date officially adopted the policy. In late August, Kitchener councillors passed a motion to “Adopt what’s called a “complete streets” policy that requires roadways to be designed and built with the safety of all users in mind — pedestrians, cyclists, public transit and vehicles.” (http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/788975–kitchener-first-municipality-in-province-to-endorse-coroner-s-report-on-cycling).

Other Canadian cities are doing case studies, have adopted “approaches”, or have implemented the concepts on specific streets. http://completestreetsforcanada.ca/map

Complete Streets is also gaining momentum in the U.S. From the National Complete Streets Coalition web site (http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets): “September 20, 2012 marked a significant day for the Complete Streets movement: the day the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) adopted a Complete Streets policy.” A whole state!

Visit the referenced sites above to learn more about Complete Streets. It will definitely be one of the advocacy initiatives that we will be doing in the coming year.