The U.S. Department of Transportation will now pursue the full inclusion of pedestrians and bicyclists in transportation projects. In a blog post, DOT Secretary Ray Lahood said, “This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.” According to the National Complete Streets Coalition:
The statement details what agencies large and small can and should do to integrate non-motorized modes into future projects:
- Consider walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes;
- Ensure convenient choices for people of all ages and abilities;
- Go beyond minimum design standards;
- Integrate bicycle and pedestrian accommodation on new, rehabilitated, and limited-access bridges;
- Collect data on walking and biking trips;
- Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling and track them over time;
- Maintain sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are maintained, especially during snowy weather; and
- Improve non-motorized facilities during maintenance projects.
This is more than welcome news. This country has come a long way since freeways were built right through great urban parks and neighborhoods.
Incidentally, Congress has also been presented with a resolution to create a National Streetscaping Week to highlight the “myriad of benefits of streetscaping, including: creating local green jobs; helping reduce energy costs for consumers; managing stormwater; reducing air pollution by sequestering harmful carbon emissions, creating safer streets and neighborhoods through traffic calming designs, and a host of other benefits.”
A federal government devoted to creating quality places: what is going on?
Filed under: planning, transportation | Tagged: federal policy
Wow, this is great news. Should be interesting to see how the states react.
[...] For more on this from <Ray Lahood’s Blog Post>. For more on this from <City Parks Blog “Complete Streets Now Federal DOT Policy” Article>. [...]