Laying the Foundation

Toronto
April 23, 2012

John LaPlante, P.E., PTOE

Director of Traffic Engineering, T.Y. Lin International
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Toronto, ON

Guelph, ON

Brantford, ON

Waterloo, ON

Cornwall, ON

We know how to build right

Hamilton, ON

Yet many roads are built like this

Mississauga, ON

What is a Complete Street?

A Complete Street is safe, comfortable & convenient for travel via automobile, foot, bicycle, & transit

Vancouver, BC

Complete Streets Policies

Provide for all users

US Access Board

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What is a Complete Streets policy?

Ensures that the entire right-of-way is designed for all users

Brampton, ON

Ajax, ON Mississauga, ON

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What is a Complete Streets policy?

Ensures that the entire right-of-way is designed for all users

Brampton, ON

Sydney, NS

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Why have a complete streets policy?

To make the needs of all users the default for everyday transportation planning practices:
No need to prove ped, bike and transit facilities are needed Rather, its assumed they're needed unless proven otherwise

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Why have a complete streets policy?

To shift transportation investments so they create better streets opportunistically:
Take advantage of all planning, construction, operations and maintenance activities

Toronto ON

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Why have a complete streets policy?

To ensure existing funds are used differently:
Every project creates better streets now

Victoria, BC

Why have a complete streets policy?

To save money:
Retrofits cost more than getting it right initially

Sydney, NS

Guelph, ON

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Why have a complete streets policy?

To gradually create a complete network of roads that serve all users

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Why have a complete streets policy?

To give transportation professionals political and community support for innovative solutions that help make active living possible

NYC DOT

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Why have a complete streets policy?

Healthy cities don't just happen. They result from creative vision, strategic decision-making and thoughtful implementation that respects the needs and challenges of all residents. They happen by design Toronto Public Health
Healthy Toronto by Design Report, Toronto Public Health, 2011 Complete Streets by Design, Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, 2012 Photo by

Steve Davis

Who wants Complete Streets?

Canadas great places to live: Transit, walking and cycling are 12 out of a possible 105 points

MoneySense, Canadas Best Places to Live 2012, Canadas Ideal City, 2012

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Who wants Complete Streets?

About 30% of Canadians dont drive: 33% of Canadians 65 and over Children under 16 Low income Canadians cant afford to drive

82% of Canadians want to walk more and 66% want to bicycle more

Environics, International, 1998 National Survey on Active Transportation, Go for Green, Health Canada, 1998 Transport Canada, Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics, 2008; and Statistics Canada, Population Estimates by Age, 2008 London, ON Cornwall, ON

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Benefits: older Canadians

Senior, non-drivers are less likely to participate in social activities than drivers Seniors need affordable transportation options to age in place of choice

Ontario Trillium Foundation Ontarios Aging Population: Challenges & Opportunities, 2011

Burlington, ON

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Benefits: health
Now North Americans move without moving 54% of Canadians are inactive and at risk for diseases associated with inactivity: Obesity Diabetes High blood pressure Other chronic diseases

Brampton, ON

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Benefits: physical activity

Residents more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks Cities with more bike lanes have more cycling 1/3 transit users get daily activity requirements during commute

Charlottetown, PE

Halifax, NS Montreal QC

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Benefits: physical activity

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Percent of Obesity

50
40

20

15 10
5 0

30 20
10 0

Obesity

Walk, Bike, Transit

Source: Pucher, Walking and Cycling: Path to Improved Public Health, Fit City Conference, NYC, June 2009

Percent Walk, Bike,Transit

30

60

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Benefits: safety
400 pedestrians and cyclists killed annually 2,400 injured 60% killed and 85% injured in urban areas

Source: Transport Canada, Statistics and Data, Annual Fatalities 2005 2009, Injuries 2004

Waterloo, ON

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Benefits: safety
Intersections designed for pedestrians can reduce pedestrian risk by 28% Sidewalks reduce ped crash risk by 88%

Ajax, ON

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Benefits: people with disabilities

Improved mobility for people with disabilities and reduced need for expensive para-transit service

Kitchener, ON

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Benefits: better use of transit funds

Specialized transit costs 16 times more per passenger than conventional transit

Source: Canadian Urban Transit Association Statistics, 2010

Kiwanis Transit and GRT, Waterloo, ON

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Benefits: the environment

Fewer emissions Less noise pollution Less wear & tear on our roads Less need to widen roads

Toronto, ON Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario, photo source: Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Infrastructure

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Benefits: Less need to widen roads

Trips in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area: 17% less than 2 km 40% less than 5 km But only 5% of work trips and 32% of school trips are by active transportation 79% of transit users and 50% of drivers would take transit more often if service were improved
Source: The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Metrolinx, 2008 Hamilton, ON

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Benefits: the economy & your wallet

Multi-modal streets: Increase home values Revitalize retail People can leave their car at home

Burlington, ON

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CS changes intersection design

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CS changes intersection design

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CS changes bicycling

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CS changes bicycling

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CS changes transit

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CS changes transit

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CS changes accessibility

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CS changes accessibility

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Complete streets and trails

Streets provide access to trails CS + trails = comprehensive nonmotorized network CS takes pressure off overcrowded trails

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Complete Streets is NOT:

A design prescription A mandate for immediate retrofit A silver bullet; other initiatives must be addressed:
Land use (proximity, mixed-use) Environmental concerns VMT reduction (i.e. pricing, gas taxes) (but complete streets will help!)

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What does a complete street look like?

One size doesnt fit all:
Complete Streets doesnt mean every street has sidewalks, bike lanes and transit

There is no magic formula

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The many types of Complete Streets

A slow-speed shared street

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The many types of Complete Streets

One crossing completes a Safe Route to School

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The many types of Complete Streets

Shoulder bikeways on rural roads

Grey County, ON

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The many types of Complete Streets

Busy multi-modal arterials

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The many types of Complete Streets

Transit routes
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The many types of Complete Streets

Suburban arterials
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The many types of Complete Streets

Residential skinny streets

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The many types of Complete Streets

Low traffic shared streets

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The many types of Complete Streets

Historic Main Street

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Complete Streets & Context Sensitive Solutions

It doesnt mean every street has sidewalks, bike lanes, transit Context sensitive:
1. External context: land use 2. Internal context: who is likely to use the street

Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario, photo source: Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Infrastructure

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What about funding?

Complete streets is about using existing resources differently:
Capital Programs, Development Charges in intensification areas, Federal Gas Tax for Active Transportation, Infrastructure Renewal and Economic Stimulus Funds, AMO Green Fund

While retrofit funding is important, it is not necessary to get started Additional funding is not needed

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Facility Selection
Bicycle Lanes
OK to reduce travel lane

3.25 m lanes are just as safe as 3.5 and 3.75 m lanes on urban arterials with posted speeds 70 km/h and under

Does it cost more?

1. Avoid costly retrofits 2. Minimal additional funding 3. Save money with better design

Sample low-cost improvements

Restripe for bike lanes without moving curbs/drainage Do not construct overly wide lanes (3.25 m not 3.5 m) Sidewalks installed during drainage project add little cost Timing signals to control speeds and increase safety Countdown ped signals reduce crashes

Hamilton, ON

Ajax, ON

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Transformative Moment
Fragile Canadian economy Increasing gas prices Rising obesity: Health Canada recognizes impact of built environment and suggests active transportation to increase physical activity; Growing awareness: quality of life an economic engine Climate change & sustainability

A Complete Streets Policy

ensures that the entire right of way is planned, designed, and operated to provide safe access for all users."

An ideal complete streets policy

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sets a vision Includes all modes Emphasizes connectivity Applies to all transportation projects & phases Adoptable by all agencies to cover all roads Specifies and limits exceptions, with management approval required 7. Uses latest design standards & is flexible 8. Is context-sensitive 9. Sets performance standards 10. Includes implementation steps
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Complete Streets

Are sensitive to the community Serve adjacent land uses Serve all who potentially will use the street

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A Growing Movement in the U.S.

90

80
Number of Policies Adopted

70 60

50
40 30 20 10 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
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U.S. Complete Streets Policies

Canadas Complete Streets Policies

Approved Policy Prospective Policy

Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg Moncton

Thunder Bay Sudbury Waterloo London

Toronto Mississauga Oakville Hamilton St. Catharines

U.S. Jurisdictions with CS Policies

Rural 7%

Large City 12%

Towns 11% Midsize City 9%

Small Suburbs 28%

Small City 18%

Large Suburbs 5% Midsize Suburbs 10%

CLOSING QUESTION
How would your community benefit from a Complete Streets policy?

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QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

CONCERNS?
Toronto, ON