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Missouri Livable Streets Blog launches - bringing Complete Streets to Missouri

Submitted by Brent Hugh on Thu, 03/24/2011 - 12:24pm

Missouri Livable Streets has launched a new blog.  An excerpt from a recent post: 

Today, as people start to awaken and look for alternatives to the automobile, they realize — even for the shortest trips — that they are trapped by the poor designs and shortsighted policies of the past. Now there is a better way, and it’s called “Complete Streets.” This term describes a way of designing roads so that they are accessible and comfortable for everyone, not just automobile drivers. Engineers consider the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users and transit riders while designing new roads. Complete Streets have additional features that a typical street might not.

Things like sidewalks, well-designed crosswalks, bicycle lanes and narrower automobile lanes to control speed are all common parts of a complete street. Complete Streets enhance safety, improve accessibility and give people a choice in what mode of transportation they want to use. People can certainly drive an automobile, but they can also bike or walk if they choose. Those are choices that most Americans feel they do not currently have because of the way our roads have been designed in the past.

Seems like pretty sensible transportation planning, right? Unfortunately, this concept is new to many communities.
The first blog post has more information about Missouri Livable Streets and the reasons for bringing Complete Streets in Missouri:

There is a lot of livable streets activity happening lately in Missouri communities. Eleven Missouri cities have livable streets policies. Our House of Representatives is considering a Complete Streets bill. Several organizations - including Missouri Livable Streets - are spreading the message to local governments and advocacy groups.

What is a livable street? Simply put, a livable street is any transportation facility that provides access to safe, physical activity for all residents regardless of age or ability. Livable streets are context-specific, that is, different street segments call for different elements. These elements can include sidewalks, bicycle facilities, crosswalks, mid-block crossings, countdown timers, pedestrian sanctuaries, street trees and transit.

Missouri Livable Streets is a grant funded project of University of Missouri Extension, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Council on Physical Activity and Nutrition. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Missouri Livable Streets is dedicated to helping all communities improve their quality of life by investing in their streets, roadways and sidewalks.

For more information see our website livablestreets.missouri.edu and 'Like' us on Facebook.

Working for the adoption of Complete Streets policies across Missouri is one of the top goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. We've been proud to be involved in and support Missouri Livable Streets and its work to bring livable streets advocacy trainings to communities across Missouri and generally work to promote Complete Streets and related concepts to Missouri advocates, elected officials, and government staff.

These efforts have paid off--Missouri has gone from five Complete Streets policies just a year ago to 14 policies today.  Over one million Missourians live in a city with a Complete Streets policy and three million Missourians--half the state's population--live in a Metropolitan Planning Organization that has officially endorsed Complete Streets.

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