Overview of Complete Streets
Eileen Gunn
Sustainability Manager,
Office of Transportation Planning
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Complete Streets is MassDOT’s program
for communicating and implementing the
comprehensive multi-modal philosophy in
MassDOT’s award-winning Project
Development and Design Guide.
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Three key objectives:
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Multimodal Consideration
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Context Sensitive Design
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Clear Project Development Process
Complete Streets
Best captured in Guiding Principles of the Highway Project Development &
Design Guide (Guidebook )
Multimodal Consideration — to ensure that the safety and mobility of all users of
the transportation system (pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers) are considered
equally through all phases of a project so that even the most vulnerable (e.g.,
children and the elderly) can feel and be safe within the public right of way. This
includes a commitment to full compliance with sate and federal accessibility
standards for people with disabilities.
Context Sensitive Design — to incorporate, throughout project planning, design,
and construction, the overarching principles of Context Sensitive Design (a
collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all constituents to develop a
transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic,
historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility for
all users).
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Complete Streets Concepts
Roadway Classification vs. Context
Design Speed Selection
Mobility Considerations
Lane Widths
On-Street Bike Lanes
Road Diets
Intersection Curb Radii
Pedestrian Facilities
Pedestrian Signalization
Transit Considerations
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Design Guide requirements
Pedestrian and bicycle accommodation included on all
projects
 Plans posted online for 25% design review
 Recipients of highway access permits are subject to Design
Guide standards
 Recipients of state funding (PWED, TOD, etc.) must adhere
to Design Guide standards
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We know how to build right
Summer St., Arlington
Accommodating all users
There’s room; it needs to be
recaptured
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Anderson Bridge, Cambridge: Before
Anderson Bridge, Cambridge: After
Cambridge: Before
Cambridge: After
Mass Ave., Arlington: Before
Mass Ave., Arlington: After
Route 134, Dennis: Before
Route 134, Dennis: After
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Award Winning in Numerous Categories:
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Transportation
Environmental
Public Works
Historic Preservation
Planning
Context Sensitivity
Highway Design
Conventional design – from the inside out
16’
12’
16’
12’
Add up (wide) travel lane, run out of ROW
Result: one narrow curbside sidewalk
16’
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Proposed design – from the outside in
6’
8’
6’
11’
11’
6’
Add up desirable elements, fit in ROW;
result: nice sidewalks, bike lanes, adequate
travel lanes
8’
6’
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Proposed design – from the outside in
6’
8’
6’
11’
Approaches to cross-section
formulation are presented from
11’ right-of-way
6’ edge 8’
to edge, 6’
rather than the more traditional
method from center line out.
Design Guide, p. 5-2
Add up desirable elements, fit in ROW;
result: nice sidewalks, bike lanes, adequate
travel lanes
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Do we have to widen roads to fit everything?
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Challenges to Achieving
Complete Streets
Ownership of the roadway system
Maintenance of sidewalks
Context sensitive