Complete Streets Legislation is Introduced
Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa has introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2008. According to the Senator’s web site, “To reduce accidents, legislation will create ‘Complete Streets’ to keep motorists, transit vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians safe.”
Making our streets bike and pedestrian friendly is a win-win for us all. It not only promotes healthier lifestyles, it lowers the amount of traffic congestion that many people deal with every day.
So, what would this bill do for the Detroit area? It would require M-DOT and SEMCOG to adopt policies ensuring “that the safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system shall be accommodated.” That means all new road construction and reconstruction should include bicycle facilities unless very specific justifications can be documented.
Some U.S. cities and states already have Complete Streets policies. In Michigan, only the City of Jackson has done so.
What can you do to help? Make a quick call to Senators Levin (202.224.6221) and Stabenow (202.224.4822) to let them know you support Senator Harkin’s Complete Streets Act of 2008. If no one answers, just leave a message of support, your name, and address.
Senator Harkin’s proposal has been endorsed by:
- AARP
- America Bikes
- America Walks
- American Council of the Blind
- American Planning Association
- American Public Transportation Association
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
- League of America Bicyclists
- National Center for Bicycling and Walking
- Safe Routes to School National Partnership
- Smart Growth America
- Surface Transportation Policy Partnership
- Thunderhead Alliance
- Rails to Trails Conservancy
For further information on Complete Streets, visit www.completestreets.org.
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Tags: complete streets, legislation, MDOT, SEMCOG
May 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Complete Streets Bill Now in Both House and Senate
http://www.bikesbelong.org/node/619186
August 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Senator Stabenow provided the following response on August 13, 2008:
Thank you . . .
. . for contacting me regarding your support for the Complete Streets Act of 2008. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me.
As you may know, this legislation was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin on March 3, 2008. Currently, this bill is pending before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, of which I am not a member. I will keep your position on this bill in mind as it moves through the legislative process.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
March 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
[…] at the National Bike Summit, Complete Streets legislation was re-introduced. The same bill was introduced in the Senate in 2008 but died in […]