Pedestrian fatalities have seen a 75 percent spike since 2010. Communities need to take urgent action to slow cars, improve crossings, and create streets that prioritize safety over speed. Unfortunately, more and more are facing unnecessary barriers from state governments as they put questionable limits on the types of funding, street design changes, and other … Continued
In 2024, Smart Growth America brought the Complete Streets Leadership Academy to Maryland. The Town of Bel Air, the City of Hagerstown, and Howard County worked with Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and its State Highway Administration (SHA) to design and install quick-build demonstration projects in their communities. These temporary installations provided near-term safety improvements, … Continued
Senator Michael A. Jackson recently introduced a bill in the Maryland State Legislature that demonstrates a model for removing barriers to speed reduction at the state level. This kind of legislative action to improve road safety demonstrates much-needed leadership and puts the power of safer streets back into the hands of the community. Speed vs. … Continued
About the Culture and Community Network The Culture and Community Network is a technical assistance and peer learning program designed to help staff at MPOs, RTPOs, and state DOTs assess, design, and begin implementation of arts and culture strategies for community engagement within their agencies. Selected participants from across the country will form a cohort … Continued
What is the Culture and Community Network? The Culture and Community Network is a technical assistance and peer learning program designed to help staff at MPOs, RTPOs, and state DOTs assess, design, and begin implementation of arts and culture strategies for community engagement within their agencies. Participants will learn from national experts and each other … Continued
The state DOTs in California and North Carolina have found innovative ways to manage and maintain Complete Streets projects.
Whenever an agency plans to develop new community assets—whether it is a road, utility, or sidewalk—they must have systems such as funding and coordination for regular maintenance in place to preserve them in the long term. Having those systems in place and a concrete plan to coordinate with local agencies can preemptively address unique challenges related to Complete Streets projects.
Even with a strong commitment to Complete Streets principles, many state agencies and their local partners lack dedicated and consistent funding streams to add the necessary elements to existing road projects. Rural infrastructure can be particularly difficult to fund, costing more per capita, so adding new elements is often seen by state and local agencies as a burden. Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative worked with practitioners to illustrate how their peers have found ways to overcome these obstacles.
State DOTs in Massachusetts and Washington used new tools and strong communication to make the case for Complete Streets projects.
Gaining widespread support for Complete Streets projects can be a challenge. Agencies sometimes face resistance from within or they face opposition from local businesses and community members. Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative worked with practitioners to identify obstacles to making the case for Complete Streets and illustrate how their peers have found ways to overcome them.