Mississippi cities consider ‘complete streets’

Roads designed for all users

Steve Hawley, Mar 03, 10.

Several cities in Mississippi are considering ‘complete streets’ proposals to allow pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users to safely share space with cars, according to the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger.

The Clarion-Ledger says: “Roads aren’t just for cars. They’re for cylists and pedestrians, people in wheelchairs and transit riders. But they’re seldom designed for these uses.” The complete streets policies, if adopted, would allow for all modes of transportation to safely share street space. According to 2008 data, Mississippi is the 11th-most dangerous state for pedestrians, with 1.70 fatalities per 100,000 population. The report indicates that poor street design is likely a contributing factor in many of the deaths.

Mississippi officials are also touting the potential health benefits of complete streets. Chip Johnson, mayor of Hernando, told the Clarion-Ledger, “The people of our town let us know they want a healthier community. With the Complete Streets ordinance, when we build a new street, we have to look at alternate forms of transportation, like sidewalks and bike paths. ... The idea is we ought to get more people hoofing it a little more. If you give people the opportunity [to walk], you will see more [pedestrians].”

Cities and states around the country have begun examining complete streets. The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently adopted a statewide complete streets policy, and Oregon and Delaware also have similar programs in place. The New Jersey Department of Transportation notes:

The benefits of Complete Streets are many and varied:
• Complete Streets improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children, older citizens, non-drivers and the mobility challenged as well as those that cannot afford a car or choose to live car free.
• Provide connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreation, retail centers and public facilities.
• Promote healthy lifestyles.
• Create more livable communities.
• Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on carbon fuels thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Complete Streets make fiscal sense by incorporating sidewalks, bike lanes, safe crossings and transit amenities into the initial design of a project, thus sparing the expense of retrofits later.

Federal lawmakers have also proposed nationwide complete streets legislation.