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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 [email protected], 857-263-7072, x111
Nick Downing, Metropolitan Area Planning Council [email protected], 617-451-2770, x711
Wendy Landman, WalkBoston [email protected], 617-367-9285
Michelle Ciccolo, Town of Hudson [email protected], 978-562-2989
Julianne Kelly, Mass in Motion, City of Fall River [email protected], 508-324-2405