Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
03/11/2014
Agenda Report # 83
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Complete Streets
INITIATED BY: Planning Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested of a ?Complete Streets? Policy as
recommended by the Georgia Department of Transportation Complete Streets Design
Guidelines, Chapter 9, stating guiding principles and practices so
transportation improvements are planned, designed and constructed to encourage
walking, bicycling and transit use while promoting safe operations for all
users.
Background: All across the United States, citizens are asking their
planners and engineers to build roads that are safer, more accessible, and
easier for everyone to safely access. In the process, they are creating better
communities for people to live, play, work, and shop. Currently over 610
jurisdictions nation-wide now have Complete Streets Policies. This includes 30
states, 51 Regional Planning Organizations, 48 counties and 482 municipalities
(in 48 different states).
Analysis: Complete Streets refers to the concept that a street is a
transportation facility that should support all users, whether traveling by
personal automobile, on a bicycle, in a wheelchair, by transit or on foot.
Adoption of this concept calls for consideration during the planning phase of
all new construction and reconstruction projects. Because the entire design
life of the project must be considered, it warrants that current design should
not preclude future accommodations for alternative forms of transportation
(those besides cars). Adopting this policy would not make it automatic that
every roadway be required to meet this criteria. Designing a Complete Street
project also requires weighing the costs and benefits of incorporating
accommodations for alternative transportation users in the actual design of the
roadway.
Financial Considerations: As future road projects are developed under this
policy, needs for Complete Streets roadway enhancements will be determined on a
case-by-case basis.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None at this time.
Legal Considerations: None at this time.
Recommendations/ Actions: Adopt the resolution in support of establishing a
Complete Streets policy.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A ?COMPLETE STREETS? POLICY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMPLETE STREETS DESIGN GUIDELINES,
CHAPTER 9, STATING GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES SO TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED, DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO ENCOURAGE WALKING,
BICYCLING AND TRANSIT USE WHILE PROMOTING SAFE OPERATIONS FOR ALL USERS.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the Columbus Consolidated Government proposes this
Resolution relating to the Georgia Department of Transportation's Complete
Streets Design Guidelines, Chapter 9, attached hereto, stating guiding
principles and practices so that transportation improvements are planned,
designed and constructed to encourage walking, bicycling and transit use while
promoting safe operations for all users; and,
WHEREAS, the full integration of all modes of travel in the design of streets
and roadways is intended to reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility, and
provide more reliable commute times; and,
WHEREAS, this action will implement policies and procedures related to
the construction, reconstruction or modification of transportation facilities
to support the creation of Complete Streets, wherever it is practical to do so,
while recognizing that all streets are different and in each case, user needs
must be balanced; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Consolidated Government has the opportunity to
create and improve transportation facilities for all users by implementing
Complete Streets principles and standards into appropriate Columbus
Consolidated Government right-of-way projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Columbus Consolidated Government shall plan for, design and
construct all new public transportation improvement projects to provide
appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and
persons of all abilities, while promoting safe operation for all users, by
adopting the Georgia Department of Transportation's Complete Streets Design
Policy for this purpose.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of March 2014, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of _________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
Attachments
No attachments for this document.