chapter 2: policy guidance and implementation State of the Practice
A G UIDE TO COMPLETE STREET S
Types of Policy and Legislation Across the United States, policies have been adopted through a variety of approaches, including legislation, resolutions, tax ordinances, internal policies, executive orders and updates to plans, manuals and design standards. Complete Streets policies can be adopted through any of these means, however an ordinance is the most enforceable approach. Some communities, however, prefer to adopt a resolution or incorporate Complete Streets language into a plan prior to adopting an ordinance. The chart below illustrates the breakdown of types of Complete Streets policies that exist throughout the country.
Complete Streets Policies Take Many Forms
5%
16%
21%
Legislation/Ordinance Resolution
2%
Tax Ordinance
Internal Policy 18%
Executive Order 36% 2%
Plan Design Manual
Source: (National Complete Streets Coalition 2010)
In the United States, policies have been adopted at the state, county, regional and city levels. At the regional level, they are commonly adopted by the regional metropolitan planning organization (MPO). As of 2010, 179 jurisdictions of all sizes have adopted a Complete Streets policy or have made a commitment to do so. The Complete Streets movement
has grown significantly in the past couple of years, with 50 jurisdictions adopting policies in 2010 (to date) and 47 in 2009. Places that made an early commitment to Complete Streets are beginning to experience the positive effects. For instance, Boulder, Colorado has experienced tremendous growth in rates of bicycling (rising from 10.6 percent of work trips in 1990 to 20.5 percent in 2006), walking and transit use as a product of their approach to Complete Streets (Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center n.d.). Eleven jurisdictions in Washington state have adopted Complete Streets policies. These jurisdictions range in size from Washington’s largest city (Seattle) to smaller cities throughout the state, as well as a county-wide policy in Pierce County. Several other communities are in the process of or are considering adopting Complete Streets policies for their jurisdictions, including Spokane, the state’s second-largest city. The table below (Washington state Complete Streets Policies) categorizes each Washington state jurisdiction’s policy and quotes the language used to mandate Complete Streets implementation.
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