1. AARP Public Policy Institute
January 27, 2009
Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America
Jana Lynott, AICP
Strategic Policy Advisor
Transportation & Livable Communities
AARP Public Policy Institute

2. Hawaii Act 54—
An Opportunity to Complete the Streets
• All ages and abilities
• All modes
• Applies to new construction,
reconstruction, and
maintenance
• Broad reach (state & county
roads)
• Allows for exemptions
• Directs the next step => Task
force to look at updating
design standards,
establishing new
performance measures,
restructuring procedures

3. Incomplete Streets
Photograph from Edward Stollof
3

4. Complete Streets
4

5. Complete Streets
Street A Street B
Street D Street E Street F
5

6. Who wants Complete Streets?
• 55% of Americans would rather
drive less & walk more
• Transit is growing faster than
population or driving
• About one-third of Americans
don‘t drive:
 20% of Americans over 65.
 All children under 16.
 Many low income Americans
cannot afford automobiles.
• Older adults who wish to remain
independent through safe
driving
6

7. What is a Complete Streets policy?
A complete streets policy ensures that the
entire right of way is planned, designed &
operated to provide safe access for all
users.
7

8. Why have a complete streets policy?
• To change practice,
integrating the needs of all
road users into everyday
transportation planning
practices
8

9. Why have a complete streets policy?
• To gradually create a
complete network of
roads that serve all
users
9

10. Why have a complete streets
policy?
• To shift
transportation
investments so they
are creating better
streets now.
10

11. Complete Streets policies are
NOT:
• A mandate for immediate retrofit
• A silver bullet
• A design prescription
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12. Implementation - from policy to
practice
12

13. An effective policy should result in:
 New training for planners and engineers
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14. An effective policy should result in:
 Restructured procedures
Existing and Future
Conditions
2. Define
1. Define Land
Transportation
Use Context
Context
DEFINE THE CONTEXT
Objectives
ASSESS EXISTING DESIGN
Goals and
3. Identify 4. Describe
Deficiencies Future Objectives
IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS
Decision-Making
5. Define 6. Describe
Street Type Tradeoffs
and Initial and Select
Cross-Section Cross-Section
Source: City of Charlotte’s Urban Street Design Guidelines
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15. An effective policy should result in:
 Re-written design manuals
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16. An effective policy should result in:
 New measures to track success
3000
2,632
Number of Pedestrians
Parking Utilization Percentage
2500 45%
2,136 41%
2000
40%
35%
1500
30% 29% 35.0%
29.5%
1000 25% 30.0%
20%
Speeding Analysis
25.0%
500
15% 19.6%
20.0%
0 10% 15.7%
Before After 15.0%
5% 9.8% 8.9%
0% 10.0% 7.5%
Before After
5.0%
0.0%
Before After Before After Before After
North End Middle South End
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17. Model Implementation
Courtesy of Charlotte, NC DOT

18. Key Issues for Older Adults
• Declining vision & hearing
• Decreased physical fitness and flexibility
• Decreased ability to focus attention
• Increased reaction time
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19. Planning & Design Principles for Older Adults
• Slow Down
– Allow drivers and
pedestrians enough time
to prepare for and execute
• changes
Make it Easy
– Make the physical layout
of the system easy to
maneuver for drivers and
• Enjoy the View
pedestrians
– Make it easy for drivers
and pedestrians to notice,
read, understand, and
respond to visual cues
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20. Slow Down
85%
Pedestrians
Chance of Death if
Hit by a Motor
45%
Vehicle
5%
20 m ph 30 m ph 40 m ph
Source: NCHRP Report 500, Vol. 10: A Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Pedestrians, 2004.

21. The addition of bike lanes and parallel parking
makes it easier for older drivers to turn.

22. Make it Easy
Pedestrian Signal Timing Can Make a
Whole Lane of Difference for Older Adults
B A
70 ft 56 ft 00 ft
Courtesy of ITE
22

23. Enjoy the View Courtesy of Dave Morena, FHWA-Michigan Division
Rochester Hills, MI
9 Inch upper/lower lettering
Mississippi DOT 2009
2004 program MUTCD
proposed

24. Paint the rumbles
Michigan: 200+ freeway miles
Paint on rumble strip
Paint on pavement
Courtesy of Dave Morena, FHWA-Michigan Division

25. Over-sized Glass Beads
Wet night
Large
beads
in
urethane
marking
30+ states

26. Rural Highway– Increase Shoulder Width
Wide Shoulders
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27. Rural Highway– Example of Multi-Use Trail
Multi-Use Trail
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28. Rural Crossroads– Existing Conditions
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35. “The CTP employs a Complete Streets philosophy
that defines the street by more than just its
mobility and accessibility functions, but by its role
as a critical community character shaper.”

36. Decatur‘s Policy
Guiding  Adopted as part of the Community
Principles:
Transportation Plan in 2008
Health
 ―Complete Streets are defined as
Safe
Choices
streets with safe travel facilities for
Community
all users- pedestrians, bicyclists,
motorists and transit riders – of all
Connectivity
ages and ability levels‖

37. Corner of Commerce Drive and
West Ponce de Leon
Before

38. Corner of Commerce Drive and
West Ponce de Leon
After

39. New York City
• Bold
• Pragmatic
• Specific focus
on older
pedestrian

41. Re-Making Iconic
Places – Times &
Herald Squares

42. Broadway Boulevard

46. 9th Avenue Protected
Bike Lane

47. Alachua County, Florida
Corridor Design Manual

48. Avon, NJ
Mainstreet
C Streetscape
S Project
S
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
AASHTO/FHWA Peer Exchange: Context Sensitive Solutions Baltimore, MD Sept. 6-8, 2006

49. Making Streets Better for Older Drivers
Avoid “Suicide Lanes”
Older drivers report that two-way left-
turn lanes are confusing and risky
A raised curb median treatment reduces
crashes and provides refuge for
pedestrians
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50. C
S
S
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
AASHTO/FHWA Peer Exchange: Context Sensitive Solutions Baltimore, MD Sept. 6-8, 2006

51. C
S
S
e
x
c
h
a
n
g
e
AASHTO/FHWA Peer Exchange: Context Sensitive Solutions Baltimore, MD Sept. 6-8, 2006

52. C
S
S
e
x
c
h
a
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AASHTO/FHWA Peer Exchange: Context Sensitive Solutions Baltimore, MD Sept. 6-8, 2006

53. C
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x
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AASHTO/FHWA Peer Exchange: Context Sensitive Solutions Baltimore, MD Sept. 6-8, 2006

54. Virginia Department of
Transportation
• Policy for Integrating Bicycle and
Pedestrian Accommodations (2004)
• Street Requirements/Road Design Manual
(2009)

55. Exemplar Complete Streets
Design Manuals
• Charlotte, NC Urban Street Design Guidelines
• Virginia DOT Secondary Street Acceptance
Standards and Road Design Manual
• Alachua County, FL Corridor Design Manual
• Decatur, GA Policy and road projects
• NYC Sustainable Streets (plan), Street Design
Manual, Safe Streets for Seniors
• State of Massachusetts Project Development
Guide
• Louisville, Kentucky Complete Streets Manual
• Sacramento Best Practices Guide
55

56. Complete Streets Resources
• Fact Sheets
• Monthly policy news
• Policy examples
• Complete Streets
Implementation
Workshops
www.completestreets.org
56

57. Discussion Questions
1. What are the major obstacles and
opportunities for implementing Complete
Streets on Hawai‗i Island?
2. What should be the performance
measures to track implementation
success?
3. What does the Complete Streets Task
Force need to know about Hawai‗i
Future Community Builders
Island?
Photo by Jana Lynott

58. Where to find me
Jana Lynott, AICP
AARP Public Policy Institute
(202) 434-3893
jlynott@aarp.org
Future Community Builders
Photo by Jana Lynott