Complete Streets Now in Public Works Manual

BRADENTON – At Thursday's BOCC Land Use Meeting, members voted to approve Resolution R-16-036 incorporating a Complete Streets section into the County Public Works Highway and Traffic Standards Manual.

Complete Streets are roadways designed for cyclists, pedestrians, bus riders, as well as cars, trucks and service vehicles. People of all ages and style of travel can move from here to there on a complete street designed corridor.

In March 2012, the Manatee County Health Department (MCHD) was awarded a Power of Policy grant from the American Public Health Association, specifically for the Complete Streets policy planning in Manatee County.

MCHD organized County staff, School Board staff, law enforcement, fire and EMS representatives to form a Complete Streets Workgroup to recommend guidelines to the County Commission in late 2012.

In the next calendar year the goals and objectives of the Workgroup and BOCC became recommended goals and policy that was added to the Comprehensive Plan.

After adoption of the proposed Resolution R-16-036, Complete Streets became a formal section of the Public Works Highway and Traffic Standards Manual as Policy 5.6.1.4.a.

A representative from Littlejohn stated, accidents dropped 50 percent in the decade of 2002 to 2012–and injuries dropped by 70 percent during the same period–in studies where conventional streets were converted to complete streets.

Streets often remain cooler from the foliage and walking and cycling become more popular. Local merchants also benefit from the design, especially when buy local initiatives are implemented.

Commissioners see Complete Streets as a valuable tool when implemented in urban redevelopment because much of the cost can be found in grants from Federal and State Departments of Transportation.