Making Streets Complete

Smart Growth America, an advocate for people who want to live and work in great neighborhoods also promotes programs such as, the National Brownfields Coalition, Sustainable Communities Network and Transportation for America.

Organizations like the National Complete Streets Coalition (a Smart Growth America program) are popping up across the country in an effort to ensure the development of healthy communities.

Last year 130 communities in the U.S. passed Complete Streets policies, bringing the total number of policies in the country to 488. This comprises more than one quarter of all policies in place today; including 27 states have policies, as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The National Complete Streets Coalition has named communities with the top 2012 policies "based on their performance in a number of 'ideal elements,' including a clear vision; access for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit passengers, trucks, buses and automobiles; street connectivity; design, and measurable performance standards."

The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012 examines all Complete Streets policies that have been passed within the last year, and highlights some of the best. The report also shows the popularity the Complete Streets movement, as it has been on a national growth trend since 2005.

These ten cities have led the way in crafting comprehensive policy language:

Indianapolis, Indiana
Hermosa Beach, California
Huntington Park, California
Ocean Shores, Washington
Northfield, Minnesota
Portland, Maine
Oak Park, Illinois
Trenton, New Jersey
Clayton, Missouri
Rancho Cucamonga, California

"The policies passed in 2012 are some of the strongest we've seen," said Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. "The communities included in this year's analysis have done a stellar job drafting strong, comprehensive policies to create streets that work for everyone."

For more information about the Complete Streets Coalition or other Smart Growth America programs, please visit smartgrowthamerica.org.

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