Comments on: Flashback: Obama Once Led Push for ‘Complete Streets’

By: Barbara McCann

Barbara McCann — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:25:03 +0000

Note that we'll be hosting a Congressional briefing this Friday, "Complete Streets: Integrating Safety and Livability into the Next Transportation Bill," at 10 AM in the Rayburn building. More info:

http://www.eesi.org/060509_streets

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:22:44 +0000

Thanks Chris from Sacramento. Much more informative than just calling the claim "tired and false." What you describe sounds perfectly reasonable.

By: Chris in Sacramento

Chris in Sacramento — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:49:41 +0000

The proposed federal complete streets legislation would provide state and metro agencies with significant discretion and includes explicit reference to the different applications of complete streets principles in urban, suburban or rural contexts.

For example, a rural highway such as the one referenced by Sen. Bond could likely be made "complete" with a shoulder* that accommodates bicyclng and emergency walking. It's very unlikely that a two-way, separated path-- which, indeed, would involve expensive ROW purchases, planning, design etc-- would either be mandated by the law or subseqent implementation guidance coming from the FHWA.
----

Shoulders on rural highways not only benefit bicyclists but also are a place where slow agricultural vehicles can go to be passed by faster vehicles and, of course, shoulders are very useful for disabled vehicles.

By: john

john — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:07:02 +0000

MoDOT has been a constant agent working against Complete Streets:
http://mobikefed.org/2009/05/modot-lobbying-comes-under-fire-modot.php

MoDOT has a long history of being against pedestrians, cyclists and safer traveling designs: http://mobikefed.org/2007/11/missouri-dumps-its-bike-leader.php

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:40:35 +0000

This post looks incomplete; I was expecting to see a rebuttal follow the comment by Kit Bond. Is the Senator wrong about what the amendment says, or is that right and you think there SHOULD be a bike lane from Leftover Shoes to Podunk Junction, or... what?

By: Chris in Sacramento

Chris in Sacramento — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:04:29 +0000

The House Transportation & Infrastructure is expected to soon release its draft transportation bill. We'll then see if the Matsui-Harkin complete streets language is included. If it is, it stands a really good chance of being part of the final package. If it's not, it's going to be an uphill battle to insert it. The National Complete Streets Coalition is doing a phenomenal job of coordinating this vital effort, and readers here may wish to toss them a nickel or two.