Committee hearing for Complete Streets bill in Missouri House Tuesday

"Complete Streets"--a bill to give MoDOT strong encouragement to make their roads safer for bicycling, walking, and transit users and to design roads to be safe for the young, the old, and the disabled--will have a hearing in the Missouri House Transportation Commitee on Tuesday, March 3rd, at 12 Noon.

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The bill is designed to encourage MoDOT to adopt the principles of the nationwide Complete Streets movement--a movement that is supported by groups as diverse as the National Association of Realtors, the American Planning Association, American Public Transportation Association, Institute of Transportation Engineers, League of American Bicyclists, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Smart Growth America, and the American Council of the Blind.

Complete Streets policies have been adopted in a number of states (including Illinois and South Carolina) as well as in the cities of Columbia, Ferguson, DeSoto and the St. Joseph and St. Louis metro areas.

Representative Mike Sutherland of Warrenton has introduced the bill again this year.

Last year when a similar bill was introduced, it passed the House with a nearly unanimous vote, but when it came to the Senate, MoDOT Director Pete Rahn personally came to the capitol to make sure it was stopped.

This year we have arrayed a much larger and stronger array of groups in support.

The hearing is Tuesday, March 3rd, 12Noon, Committee Hearing Room 7, Missouri State Capitol.

The bill's online page is here.

FULL BILL TEXT
As introduced.

Section A. Chapter 226, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 226.222, to read as follows:

226.222. 1. The department of transportation's plans, programs, and projects shall provide full consideration for the safety and contiguous routes for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, and transit users of all ages and abilities. Bicycle ways and pedestrian ways shall be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities by the department of transportation, including the incorporation of such ways into state plans and programs. The highways and transportation commission may expend state road fund moneys to provide appropriate accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, transit users, and other users of the public roadways, in addition to operators of motor vehicles.

2. As used in this section, "appropriate accommodations" include but are not limited to pedestrian ways, bicycle ways, shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists, lane striping, "share the road" signage, crosswalks, pedestrian control signals, curb cuts, and ramps.

3. As used in this section, "bicycle way" means a publically owned and maintained bicycle lane, shared-use lane, shoulder, or way designed and designated for bicycle travel. A bicycle way may be designated for the exclusive use of bicycles or may be shared with other transportation modes.

4. The department shall establish planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations standards for appropriate accommodations for bicyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons, and transit users. The department shall establish appropriate training programs for staff to implement these standards.