Complete Streets’ Bills Introduced in Congress... A more integrated approach to the design of roadways, increasingly referred to as the “Complete Streets” movement, is gaining currency in the country. This design paradigm calls for a broader focus beyond vehicle traffic that encompasses the needs and safety of all users, including pedestrians, people with disabilities, bicyclists, riders of public transportation, motorists, and others. Legislation introduced in Congress in March would advance this approach by making it integral to street design. "The Complete Streets Act of 2009," as introduced in both the House and the Senate, requires state and local jurisdictions to adopt laws and policies applying “complete streets” principles to the design of new roadways. The introduced bills stipulate the scope, coverage, and content of policies and also authorize the Board to develop accessibility standards for new or altered streets covered by the act. The bills were referred to committees in each house. Further information on the status of the House bill (H.R. 1443) and Senate bill (S. 584) is available on the Library of Congress website at
http://thomas.loc.gov/. Information on the “complete streets” movement is available at
http://www.completestreets.org/.
