Complete Streets Planning

About

A complete street is safe, and feels safe, for everyone using the street. FHWA and FTA seek to help Federal aid recipients plan, develop, and operate streets and networks that prioritize safety, comfort, and access to destinations for people who use the street network, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, micro-mobility users, freight delivery services, and motorists. The goal is to provide an equitable and safe transportation network for travelers of all ages and abilities, including those from marginalized communities facing historic disinvestment. Complete Streets legislation was signed in August of 2010 in the state of Michigan. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) defines Complete Streets standards or policies as “standards that ensure the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles.” The BIL requires MPOs to use at least 2.5% of their FHWA planning funds on Complete Streets planning as of January 5, 2023.

The current and previous complete streets planning activities conducted by GVMC can be found within the Unified Planning Work Program.

For more information on Complete Streets, please email or call Peter Kimball, Transportation Planner, at (616) 776 -7601.

Complete Streets Analysis and Data Viewer

GVMC has developed a Complete Streets map and analysis ranking all the arterials in the GVMC planning area. This map is intended to be a launching point where jurisdictions can look to start implementing complete streets. This initial ranking rated arterial segments based on availability of all modal facilities without taking the surrounding land use into consideration. Though a 7 is the highest score a segment can score using this ranking system, it might not indicate an “ideal” complete street configuration based on a context sensitive understanding of users and surroundings of the segment. The percentage of arterials for each of the previously described rankings can be seen in the chart below. To read more about the analysis, view the documentation here.

Demonstration Project Program

GVMC has started a pilot demonstration project program. Demonstration projects are short term, low cost, temporary roadway projects to pilot potential long-term design solutions to improve roadways for all users. Not only can members observe how the public interacts with the temporary changes to the facility, but they can also receive substantial feedback through several stages of public outreach conducted by GVMC throughout the project. The pilot projects are intended to improve complete streets infrastructure and provide members with data before making higher cost long term decisions.

Demonstration Projects have several benefits including:

· Tests aspects of a project’s design before making further investments

· Inspire action and build support for future permanent implementation

· Further public awareness of the concern and potential action

· Increase public engagement by inviting stakeholders to try improvements for active transportation

· Deepen understanding of active transportation needs in the community

· Encourage people to work together in new ways and strengthen relationships between government agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, and residents

· Gather data from real-world users and public spaces

Project Process

Complete Street Audit

Selected sites will go through a two-part process that aims to gather and process as much knowledge of a specific site as possible. GVMC develops an overview of the facility characteristics (ex. Crash data, Volumes, Near Misses) and provides these to a multidisciplinary team to conduct a Complete Street Audit. The team visits the project site to discuss potential and known issues from all roadway user types at the location as well as potential ways to address those issues. The audit is then documented and provided to the appropriate parties to help determine/ confirm the best possible demo project.

Demonstration Project

Following the completion of the complete street audit, the demonstration project will be installed for an agreed up on time with the facility owner. Data will be collected to develop a report on the reception and applicability of the demo project in a future permanent format. The full process can be seen in the following chart.