Last Thursday, 40 people came out for an introductory meeting that hailed the beginning of the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition. Complete Streets means that our streets and roadways are designed and operated to be safe and accessible for pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and drivers-all users, regardless of age or ability.

Complete Streets is both a process to ensure that we are thinking holistically about a safe and accessible transportation system and a design framework to ensure that a specific transportation corridor is designed to be safe and accessible for all users. Too often our current transportation system includes incomplete streets that become safety hazards and barriers to pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, and seniors.

Complete Streets process and design have a number of potential benefits, including the following:

• improved traffic safety
• a more accessible and equitable transportation system
• improved public health by supporting walking and biking as a part of daily life
• safer streets for children to walk and bike to school
• enhanced ability for people to age in place and stay active and mobile as they age
• economic development through increased street vibrancy, livability, and community interaction
• lower transportation costs for families
• support for transportation options that help reduce oil consumption and air and global warming pollution
• infrastructure cost savings through a more efficient transportation system

The broad benefits of Complete Streets were reflected by the diversity among those in attendance, including groups that work on safety, health, accessibility, equity, environment, and transportation issues. These individuals expressed excitement for promoting a statewide policy now because of the increased local interest in Complete Streets, growing recognition of the benefits of Complete Streets, and the legislatively mandated Complete Streets Policy Review that the Minnesota Department of Transportation will finish in December.

The two main goals of the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition are to

1. pass a strong statewide Complete Streets policy in 2010 that includes a concrete implementation process and accountability, and
2. work to ensure ongoing statewide implementation of Complete Streets designs across all jurisdictions.

If you are interested in being involved with the Coalition as a supporter or active participant, please contact me (Ethan Fawley) at Fawley@fresh-energy.org.

Current official Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition members:

Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
Alliance for Sustainability
American Heart Association
Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Catalyst
Dero Bike Rack Company
Fresh Energy
Growth and Justice
Havefunbiking.com
Minneapolis Electric Bicycle Company
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Northfield Nonmotorized Transportation Task Force
Sierra Club North Star Chapter
St. Paul Smart Trips
Transit for Livable Communities
Twin Cities Streets for People
St. Paul Councilmember Russ Stark