Complete Streets planning making inroads in Springfield

An editorial yesterday in the Springfield News-Leader outlined some of the things Springfield has been doing to put Complete Streets into action, summarized a recent study that showed a strong need for bicycle and pedestrian access, and encouraged the city to include Complete Streets elements in its upcoming sales tax renewal:

Complete Street

The city is working hard to upgrade Springfield's streets to accommodate growing traffic, and we applaud that effort. But we also urge more focus on making it safer and easier to get out of our cars.

The last 1/4-cent capital improvements tax earmarked $400,000 to mark bicycle lanes throughout the city, part of the "complete streets concept." And building sidewalks, especially with a half mile of city schools, is another ongoing effort, Phil Broyles, director of the city's Public Works department, said.

The next 1/8-cent tax vote must also include substantial funding for such projects. Broyles said the recent transportation survey shows a definite need. . . . 

"There's definitely people in this community who would walk to work or to shop, or ride their bicycles, if there were a safe way to do it," said Broyles.

Within the past couple of years, 5 out of the six largest cities in Missouri have officially adopted Complete Streets policies, meaning that more than 1.1 million Missourians live in a city with a Complete Streets policy.  

Which one hasn't yet?  Springfield.

But a Complete Streets policy in Springfield is currently in the works--it is just waiting for final adoption.

And as you can see, that new Complete Streets policy is already starting to change the way Springfield is thinking about its roads and streets--and its transportation funding.

One of the top goals in MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri is adoption of Complete Streets policies at every level of government--from towns and villages to regions to the state to the entire country. Find out how to help your community adopt a Complete Streets policy here.