Complete Streets Certification Program:

Incentivizing Complete Streets on Local Roads

L E G I S L A T I V E S U M M A R Y &

I M P L E M E N T A T I O N R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

N O V E M B E R , 2 0 1 4

Presentation Outline

1. Why the Complete Streets Certification Program?

2. Supporters

3. Summary of Legislation

4. Implementation Recommendations

5. Community Illustrations

Presenters

Maddie Ribble, Massachusetts Public Health Association

Wendy Landman, WalkBoston

Michelle Ciccolo, Town of Hudson

Julie Kelly, City of Fall River

Why the Complete Streets Certification Program?

1. Incorporate Complete Streets into Local Roadways with an Incentive Approach.

77% of Massachusetts roadways are locally-controlled, and state policies on complete streets do not directly apply to them. This program will provide an incentive for municipalities to incorporate complete streets into these roadways, including an incentive to allocate Chapter 90 funds toward projects that advance complete streets.

Why the Complete Streets Certification Program?

2. Small Awards Can Make a Big Impact.

Relatively small awards to municipalities can make a significant impact on planning, design, and infrastructure.

Planning and design support are critical to communities. For infrastructure, awards could add incrementally to Chapter 90 funds going toward a project in order to better incorporate complete streets, or could specifically support improvements like ramps, curb cuts, crosswalks, or bike lane striping that are relatively inexpensive.

Why the Complete Streets Certification Program?

3. Municipal Leaders Want To Advance Complete Streets.

Many municipal leaders see complete streets as an important contributor to quality of life in their communities, encouraging residents and visitors to shop locally, helping to attract and retain workplaces and employees, and increasing real estate values. However, all communities are hampered by limited resources to move this priority forward.

Why the Complete Streets Certification Program?

4. Tool to Advance Existing MassDOT Goals.

The program will help MassDOT achieve stated goals related to mode shift, greenhouse gas reduction, and healthy transportation.

5. Continue National Leadership.

The Program will continue MassDOT’s and Massachusetts’ national leadership in supporting healthy and active transportation.

Supported By State and Local Advocates

John Musante, Town Manager

Town of Amherst

Mary Pat Flynn, Chairman

County Commissioners

Barnstable County

Margot Fleischman, Chair On behalf of the Board of Selectmen Town of Bedford

Judith Booman, Chairman

Board of Selectmen

Town of Berlin

Michael Cahill, Mayor

City of Beverly

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor City of Boston

Bill Carpenter, Mayor City of Brockton

Ken Goldstein, Chair

On behalf of the Board of Selectman

Town of Brookline

David Maher, Mayor

City of Cambridge

Paul Cohen, Town Manager Town of Chelmsford

Ann Vandal, Acting Town Manager Town of Dracut

Carlo DeMaria, Mayor

City of Everett

William Flanagan, Mayor

City of Fall River

Lisa Wong, Mayor

City of Fitchburg

Mark Hawke, Mayor City of Gardner

Alex Morse, Mayor

City of Holyoke

Philip Lemnios, Town Manager

Town of Hull

Fred P. Lucy, III, Chair Board of Selectman Town of Hudson

Daniel Rivera, Mayor City of Lawrence

Supported By Municipal Leaders - 1

Dean Mazzarella, Mayor

City of Leominster

Deborah M. Mauger, Chairman

On behalf of the Board of Selectmen Town of Lexington

Keith Bergman

Town Administrator

Town of Littleton

Kevin Murphy, City Manager

City of Lowell

Gary Christenson, Mayor City of Malden

Robert Dolan, Mayor City of Melrose

Ira Singer, Town Administrator

Town of Middleton

Richard Alcombright, Mayor

City of North Adams

David Narkewicz, Mayor

City of Northampton

John Lebeaux

Town Administrator Town of Princeton

Thomas Koch, Mayor

City of Quincy

Daniel Rizzo, Mayor City of Revere

Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor

City of Salem

Joseph Curtatone, Mayor

City of Somerville

Domenic Sarno, Mayor

City of Springfield

Jodi Ross, Town Manager Town of Westford

Susan Kay, Mayor

Town of Weymouth

Morris Bergman

City Councilor

Anthony Economou

City Councilor

City of Worcester

Supported By Municipal Leaders - 2

Summary of Legislation

Authority: 2014 Transportation Bond Bill

Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2014

Section 2A, line item 6121-1318 – $50 million funding authorization

Section 9 – Creation of “Complete Streets Certification Program” as Mass General Laws, Chapter 90I

Funding Authorization

6121-1318 For the complete streets certification program established pursuant to chapter 90I of the General Laws to be disbursed in the form of grants to certified cities and towns for infrastructure and planning; provided, that not less than 33 per cent of the grants awarded shall be issued to cities and towns with a median household income below the average of the commonwealth $50,000,000

Chapter 90I – Complete Streets Program

“The department shall establish a complete streets certification program to encourage municipalities to regularly and routinely include complete streets design elements and infrastructure on locally-funded roads.”

“Complete streets” defined as streets that provide accommodations for users of all transportation modes including, but not limited to, walking, cycling, public transportation, automobiles and freight.

Requirements for a Community to be Certified

Local Policy. Adopt a complete streets policy – may be a by-law, ordinance or administrative policy.

Baseline Inventory. Coordinate with MassDOT to confirm baseline inventory of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations in order to identify priority projects.

Procedures to Incorporate into Routine Road Work. Develop procedures to follow when conducting municipal road repairs, upgrades or expansion projects in order to incorporate complete streets elements.

Review Process for Private Development. Establish a review process for private development proposals in order to incorporate complete streets.

Mode Share Goal. Set a 5-year municipal mode shift goal.

Initial application and annual progress reports.

Advisory Committee

12 Persons to be appointed by Governor

3 from different RPAs; 2 from Gateway Communities

1 each from Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Department of Public Health

Mass Municipal Association

MassBike

WalkBoston

LivableStreets

Mass Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

MassDOT has signaled intent to use existing bodies to serve this purpose

Other

Legislative body of municipality must take vote to accept provisions of the program.

MassDOT shall adopt rules, regulations or guidelines for the administration and enforcement of this section including, but not limited to establishing applicant selection criteria, funding priority, application forms and procedures, grant distribution and other requirements.

MassDOT must file a legislative report annually by April 1st.

Implementation Recommendations

Programmatic Recommendations

The five criteria outlined in the legislation are broad

Guidance on how municipalities can meet each criteria should recognize the myriad community types in the state and provide the ability for all 351 cities and towns to be eligible for this program

Programmatic Recommendations

Criterion 1: The Complete Streets Policy

Resolution, policy, by-law or ordinance adopted by the local legislative body

Expresses the municipality’s commitment to implementation while also providing for clear and accountable exceptions

The final guidelines should be flexible enough to allow cities and towns already doing good work but without a policy to easily become eligible

e.g. Cambridge’s Vehicle Trip Reduction and Parking Demand Management ordinances, when taken together, could meet the necessary requirements

Programmatic Recommendations

Criterion 2: Coordination with MassDOT

Intended to coordinate efforts ongoing at the state level to identify all bicycle and pedestrian facilities in all municipalities

Cities and towns have the local knowledge of what is already in place and what missing connections are important to address

This coordination should include at least one in-person meeting and continued correspondence to ensure all parties are working toward the same goals and not at cross purposes

Programmatic Recommendations

Criterion 3: Incorporation of Policy in Routine Road Work

Critical for the continued success of this program

Municipalities should identify all appropriate times for Complete Streets to be considered part of a project including but not limited to:

Full reconstruction

New construction

Resurfacing

Striping

Utility work

Routine maintenance work

Programmatic Recommendations

Criterion 4: Review Process for Private Development

Important to not create new gaps in the network if large private developments come into a municipality

Existing regulations (e.g. site plan review or subdivision regulations) may provide the necessary opportunity to ensure private developments align with the Complete Streets policy and include the necessary infrastructure elements

Programmatic Recommendations

Criterion 5: Municipal Mode Share Goal

Meant to complement MassDOT’s mode shift goal, but never intended to capture all trips taken by every resident

Municipalities could identify key intersections or corridors at which they will implement Complete Streets and collect data before and after the intervention

Measurable data and statistics are important, but collecting that data should not be so onerous that smaller municipalities cannot meet this criterion

Programmatic Recommendations

Funding Structure and Uses

The goal of this program was always to have funding be made available for both planning work and actual construction

Even if fully funded, the program would not have enough money available to implement Complete Streets fully

The funding is meant to leverage local spending and supplement it when possible

33% of the funding must be awarded to municipalities with a median household income below the Commonwealth’s average, but that should not be considered the upper limit for funding directed to those municipalities

Community Illustrations

New Crosswalk in front of Cottell Height on Pleasant Street, Fall River

Municipalities Are Ready

Littleton, Plymouth, Everett, Salem and many others have passed Complete Streets policies.

Holyoke is on track for its City Council to vote on a Complete Streets ordinance.

Worcester’s DPW is working to draft a policy.

Fitchburg’s DPW has adopted a Complete Streets Resolution Administrative policy.

Springfield and Fall River have completed Complete Streets plans, but need funding for design and implementation.

Municipalities Are Ready

Springfield is putting the finishing touches on a city-wide Complete Streets/Walking and Bicycling Plan but needs funding for design and implementation.

Lawrence recently completed the Spicket River Greenway and will begin work on an urban rail trail.

New Bedford has been working to update its street network to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians, including updated crossings and restriping, but it has limited funding available for this work.

Quincy has undertaken numerous planning efforts and exercises but does not have the funding available to begin implementing its vision.

New Crosswalks on Alden Street, Fall River

Tucker Street/Stafford Road, Fall River

New Crosswalks on Pleasant Street/ Quarry Street, Fall River

Resources

National Complete Streets Coalition

www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets

Policy Atlas: www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/changing-policy/complete-streets-atlas

American Planning Association

www.planning.org/research/streets/

US Department of Transportation

www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/guidance/design_guidance/design_nonmotor/highway/index.cfm

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

www.mapc.org/sites/default/files/MAPC%20Complete%20Streets%20summary.pdf

Thank you!

Maddie Ribble, Massachusetts Public Health Association mribble@mphaweb.org, 857-263-7072, x111

Nick Downing, Metropolitan Area Planning Council ndowning@mapc.org, 617-451-2770, x711

Wendy Landman, WalkBoston wlandman@walkboston.org, 617-367-9285

Michelle Ciccolo, Town of Hudson mciccolo@townofhudson.org, 978-562-2989

Julianne Kelly, Mass in Motion, City of Fall River jkelly@fallriverma.org, 508-324-2405