Complete Streets

Definition

Percent of local governments with complete streets policies

Why is it Important?

Complete streets promote safe access for people of all ages and abilities and for all modes of transportation. Many streets are designed primarily for the automobile at the expense of pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and the disabled. The Complete Streets framework increases safety for all users by incorporating their needs into the design and construction of streets. Complete streets provide more transportation options and make travel by a variety of modes more convenient and attractive. In the St. Louis region, the Great Streets Initiative uses the complete streets approach to trigger economic and social benefits for communities by creating interesting, lively and attractive streets that serve all modes of transportation. This indicator measures the percent of local governments (cities and counties) with complete streets policies, including laws, resolutions, executive orders, and planning and design documents.

How are we Doing?

The percent of local governments with complete streets policies increased from 3.4 percent in the baseline year 2010 to 10.8 percent in 2020. Though the complete streets approach has been around for over 40 years, it was not until 2008 that the first local governments in the St. Louis region – the cities of DeSoto and Ferguson - adopted complete streets policies. As of 2018, 22 local governments have adopted a complete streets policy. Most recently, the city of Florissant, MO adopted a complete streets policy in 2016. The city of Pagedale, MO and Glen Carbon, IL adopted policies in 2015, and St. Louis County adopted a complete streets policy in early 2014. Currently, 23.1 percent of St. Louis region residents live in a municipality with a complete streets policy, and 38.9 percent of residents live in a county with a complete streets policy. In addition, the state of Illinois adopted a complete streets policy in 2007 that requires consideration of bicycle and pedestrian facilities for state-involved road construction and reconstruction projects (Public Act 095-0665).

The Great Streets Initiative, launched in 2007, has completed design plans that use the complete streets approach for 14 communities in the St. Louis region.¹ The plans focus on stimulating sustainable economic activity by centering communities around interesting, lively, and attractive streets that serve all modes of transportation.

Geographic Level

St. Louis eight-county bi-state region, including Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties and the city of St. Louis in Missouri and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. View map.

Notes

¹ East-West Gateway. Great Streets Initiative, accessed on 22 February 2020 at https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/great-streets-initiative/

Data Sources

Smart Growth America and East-West Gateway Council of Governments