Complete Streets are streets designed, built and maintained to be safe, convenient and inviting for all users of the roadway, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, persons with disabilities, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transit, seniors and children.
Streets built for all users have multiple benefits, including increased safety, improved air quality through the reduction of auto traffic, improved health through increased physical activity and greater cost-effectiveness. Over 500 communities in the U.S. have committed to building complete streets, through the adoption of Complete Streets policies.
LOCAL COMPLETE STREETS RESOLUTIONS
All jurisdictions in Alameda County have adopted Complete Streets Resolutions. Among other things, these resolutions express the jurisdictions’ commitment to considering accommodation for all modes and all users as a part of all projects and all phases. These resolutions satisfy Alameda CTC requirements to receive Direct Local Distribution funds and MTC requirements to be eligible for the One Bay Area Grant program.
- List of Alameda County jurisdictions' adopted Complete Streets Policies
- Complete Streets policy development resources
STATE COMPLETE STREETS ACT REQUIREMENTS
The Complete Streets Act of 2008 (Assembly Bill 1358) requires that cities and counties, upon any substantive revision of the circulation element of the General Plan, must plan for a balanced, multimodal network that meets the needs of all users. The following resources may be helpful as local jurisdictions seek to satisfy this requirement.
- Best Practices for Incorporating Complete Streets in a Circulation Element (Alameda CTC White Paper)
- Complete Streets and the Circulation Element (Governor's Office of Planning and Research)
- Model General Plan Language on Complete Streets (ChangeLab Solutions)
MTC COMPLETE STREETS (ROUTINE ACCOMODATION) CHECKLIST
MTC Resolution 3765 requires that any project using funding administered by MTC consider the accommodations of bicyclists and pedestrians in planning, design and construction. Project sponsors are required to complete a Complete Streets Checklist when the project is submitted to MTC for funding.
IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCES
Alameda CTC has identified a number of best practice examples to assist jurisdictions in implementing their adopted complete streets. These include design guidance, project scoping/development checklists, work plans and more.
- List of Complete Streets Implementation resources
- Materials from July 2013 workshop on Complete Streets Implementation
CENTRAL COUNTY COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT
Alameda CTC funded and coordinated a technical assistance project for Central Alameda County jurisdictions. The project developed several tools to support local staff in applying their adopted complete streets policies to all projects.
- Central County Complete Streets Design Guidelines
- Central County Complete Streets Transportation Capital Project Checklist
- Central County Complete Streets Development Review Checklist
For more information, contact Chris G. Marks at 510.208.7453 or cmarks@alamedactc.org.
