Complete Streets in Missouri: Where are we? What are the next logical steps?

With the adoption of a Complete Streets policy in St. Louis County last week--the first county in Missouri to adopt a policy, and a policy that will positively affect over a million people--it is a good time to take stock of where we are in Missouri with Complete Streets, and what's next. 

An example of a complete street in a city or town.

Much more about Complete Streets in Missouri--including sample policies and help in working to adopt a Complete Streets policy in your own community--is on MoBikeFed's Missouri Complete Streets Page.

Overall

The number of Complete Streets policies in Missouri has risen rapidly in recent years.  This list summarizes the total number of policies in Missouri at city, county, metro, regional, and state levels combined:  

• 2001 - 0 policies
• 2002 - 1 policy
• 2007 - 3 policies
• 2008 - 5 policies
• 2009 - 5 policies
• 2010 - 13 policies
• 2011 - 20 policies
• 2012 - 22 policies
• 2014 - 23 policies

Counties

St. Louis County is the first county in Missouri to adopt a Complete Streets policy.  But it's a great start: At one million residents, it is the state's largest county.

• Currently: 1 county, 1 million residents
• To go: 113 counties, 4.6 million residents
• Most logical next steps: Jackson County, St. Charles County, Greene County, Clay County, Jefferson County, Boone County 
  

  A rural Complete Street--and example of the type of roads rural counties could be building with Complete Streets policies in place.

Cities

Seventeen Missouri cities have adopted Complete Streets policies as well including all six of the state's six largest cities. Where we are:

• Currently: 17 cities, 1.6 million residents
• To go: 60 cities with population over 10,000; about 900 other cities; about 2.5 million residents (Total population of Missouri cities is about 4.1 million)
• Most logical next steps:
  • The next largest cities that have not yet adopted Complete Streets policies, including O'Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters, Florissant, Joplin, Chesterfield, Jefferson City, and Cape Girardeau.
  • A movement among smaller cities to adopt Complete Streets policies.  Smaller cities often have a lower barrier to passing a policy, and adopting a policy helps considerably when applying for grant funds and working with larger agencies (counties, RPCs, MoDOT) on road projects in and near the city.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Four Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Missouri have adopted Complete Streets policies, and another (Columbia area) is currently working to adopt a policy.

• Currently: 4 MPOs, 3.2 million residents in Missouri (and another 1.5 million MPO residents in adjoining states); a fifth MPO has a policy in progress
• To go: Four MPOs still do not have Complete Streets policies
• Most logical next steps: All four remaining MPOs should adopt Complete Streets policies in the next year

Regional Planning Commissions

Missouri's nineteen Regional Planning Commissions cover rural areas of the state, including cities and towns in those areas. No RPC has adopted a Complete Streets Policy yet.

• Currently: No RPC has adopted a Complete Streets policy
• To go: Nineteen RPCs
• Most logical next steps: One or two RPCs act as pilot projects, working out and adopting Complete Streets policies and procedures appropriate to their role and context.

Statewide

The Missouri General Assembly adopted a resolution in support of Complete Streets in 2011.  MoDOT has worked to gradually improve its bicycle and pedestrian policies and processes, taking a gradual step-by-step approach to working towards Complete Streets standards.

• Currently: General Assembly has adopted a resolution in support of Complete Streets; MoDOT has recently updated and improved its bicycle and pedestrian policies
• To go: Formal adoption of a statement and policies in support of Complete Streets policies by MoDOT leadership
• Most logical next steps: MoDOT continues incremental improvement of its bicycle and pedestrian policies in its policies, training, and long-range planning.  Any new MoDOT funding allows for funding of needed bike/ped projects and accommodations on MoDOT roads.

Much more about Complete Streets in Missouri--including sample policies and help in working to adopt a Complete Streets policy in your own community--is on MoBikeFed's Missouri Complete Streets Page.

Developing a world-class bicycle and pedestrian network is among of the primary goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri, and working with our partners across the state for adoption of Complete Streets policies is one of the most powerful ways of accomplishing that goal.

And--your membership and support for MoBikeFed helps make our statewide vision a reality, and helps bring Complete Streets policies to more communities across Missouri. Right now your membership or donation to MoBikeFed will be DOUBLED by a group of 38 generous donors.