St Louis city introduces Complete Streets Resolution

Today at the TrailNet's Livable St Louis Conference Shane Cohn of the St Louis Board of Alderman announced that a Complete Streets bill for St Louis has been introduced and already has eleven co-sponsors.

Next step for the bill is a committee hearing, and the committee chair is a co-sponsor, so Alderman Cohn thinks it is likely to come through committee OK.

Best thing you can do to help support Complete Streets in St Louis is to write the St Louis alderman and ask them to support the bill.

The full list of Board of Aldermen and a link to send each an email message is here.

The Complete Streets Bill is Board Bill 7. More info about the bill is here.

Complete text:

1 BOARD BILL NO. 7 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN SHANE COHN AND

2 PRESIDENT LEWIS REED, ALDERMAN FREEMAN BOSLEY

3 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO A “COMPLETE STREETS” POLICY FOR THE

4 CITY OF ST. LOUIS, STATING GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES SO THAT

5 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED, DESIGNED AND

6 CONSTRUCTED TO ENCOURAGE WALKING, BICYCLING AND TRANSIT USE

7 WHILE PROMOTING SAFE OPERATIONS FOR ALL USERS.

8 Whereas, the City desires to encourage walking, bicycling and transit use as safe, convenient and

9 widely available modes of transportation for all people; and

10 Whereas, the City desires to adopt a “Complete Streets” policy which is to be used as guiding

11 principle, where practicable and economically feasible, in the design, operation and maintenance

12 of City streets to promote safe and convenient access and travel for all users including

13 pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, transit riders, and people of all abilities; and

14 Whereas, the City will strive to consult with Business Districts and Neighborhood Associations

15 in consideration of functional facilities and accommodations in furtherance of the City’s

16 “Complete Streets” policy; and

17 Whereas, transportation improvements, facilities and amenities that may contribute to “Complete

18 Streets” will be developed to fit in with the context of the surrounding community and may

19 include: Street and sidewalk lighting; pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; access

20 improvements, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; public transit

21 facilities accommodation including, but not limited to, pedestrian access improvement to transit

22 stops and stations; street trees and landscaping; drainage; and street amenities; and

1 Whereas, the City will consider such transportation improvements, facilities and amenities

2 where such are practicable and economically feasible during the construction, reconstruction or

3 other changes of transportation facilities on streets and redevelopment projects.

4 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AS FOLLOWS:

5 SECTION ONE. The “Complete Streets” policy sets forth the guiding principles and practices

6 to be considered in public transportation projects, where practicable, economically feasible, and

7 otherwise in accordance with applicable law, so as to encourage walking, bicycling and transit

8 use while promoting safe operations for all users.

9 SECTION TWO. While the “Complete Streets” policy does not require certain designs or

10 construction standards and does not require specific improvements, this policy does require the

11 City to consider complete street elements in the design, construction and maintenance of public

12 transportation projects, improvements and facilities in addition to other considerations including,

13 but not limited to, cost of improvements, budget for the project, space and area requirements and

14 limitations and legal requirements and limitations.

15 SECTION THREE. Guiding principles and practices of the “Complete Streets” policy are as

16 follows:

17 1. “Complete Street” Defined. A “Complete Street” is designed to be a transportation

18 corridor for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists. “Complete

19 Streets” are designed and operated to enable safe continuous travel networks for all users.

20 Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move

21 from destination to destination along and across a network of “Complete Streets”. Transportation

22 improvements, facilities and amenities that may contribute to “Complete Streets” and that are

23 considered as elements of a “Complete Street” include street and sidewalk lighting; pedestrian

1 and bicycle safety improvements; access improvements, including compliance with the

2 Americans with Disabilities Act; public transit facilities accommodation including, but not

3 limited to, pedestrian access improvement to transit stops and stations; street trees and

4 landscaping; drainage; and street amenities.

5 2. The City will strive, where practicable and economically feasible, to incorporate one or

6 more “Complete Street” elements into public transportation projects in order to provide

7 appropriate accommodation for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users and persons of all abilities,

8 while promoting safe operation for all users, in comprehensive and connected networks in a

9 manner consistent with, and supportive of, the surrounding community.

10 3. The City will strive to incorporate “Complete Streets” principles into all public

11 strategic plans, upon subsequent updates. The principles, where practicable, shall be incorporated

12 into other public works plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs as appropriate and

13 directed by the President of the Board of Public Service.

14 4. It shall be a goal of the City to foster partnerships with the State of Missouri, St. Louis

15 County, neighboring communities, City of St. Louis Business Districts and Neighborhood

16 Associations in consideration of functional facilities and accommodations in furtherance of the

17 City’s “Complete Streets” policy and the continuation of such facilities and accommodations

18 beyond the City’s borders.

19 5. The City recognizes that “Complete Streets” may be achieved through single elements

20 incorporated into a particular project or incrementally through a series of smaller improvements

21 or maintenance activities over time. The City will attempt to draw upon all possible funding

22 sources to plan and implement this policy and shall investigate grants that may be available to

23 make “Complete Streets” elements more economically feasible.

1 SECTION FOUR. During the planning phase of any public improvement project, a designee of

2 the President of the Board of Public Service shall conduct a study and analysis relating to the

3 addition and incorporation of one or more “Complete Streets” elements into the public

4 transportation project. The study and analysis shall include cost estimates, whether the elements

5 could be incorporated in a safe manner, the degree that such improvements or facilities may be

6 utilized, the benefit of such improvements or facilities to other public transportation

7 improvements, whether additional property is required, physical or area requirements or

8 limitations and any other factors deemed relevant.

9 Such study and analysis shall be submitted to the President of the Board of Public Service for

10 consideration in the design and planning of the public transportation project. The President of the

11 Board of Public Service shall consider the incorporation of one or more “Complete Streets”

12 elements in each public transportation project to the extent that such is economically and

13 physically feasible.

14 SECTION FIVE. Emergency Clause. This being an ordinance for the preservation of public

15 peace, health and safety, it is hereby declared to be an emergency measure within the meaning of

16 Sections 19 and 20 of Article IV of the Charter of the City of St. Louis and therefore this

17 ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval by the Mayor.