COMPLETE
STREETS
COMPLETE
NETWORKS
A Manual for the
Design of Active
Transportation
Table of Contents
Introduction
How to Use this Manual
2
Acknowledgements
4
Chapter 4: Amenities
Components for
Populating
Complete streets
Chapter 1: Basis
Complete Design
Processes
and Policies
1a What are Complete Streets?
5
1b Why Complete Streets?
11
1c Principles of Complete Streets
15
1d Coordination of Complete
Networks
21
5
4a
Lighting
147
4b
Furnishings
155
4c
Green Infrastructure
165
4d
Signing
173
4e
Textures & Markings
179
Chapter 5: Process
Implementing the
Complete Streets
Network
5a Assemblage: A Recommended
2
3
Design Process
Chapter 2: Typologies
Complete Networks
Through Places, Modes,
and Links
185
5b Coordinating with Procedural
Manuals & Standards
2a
Planning Complete Networks
25
2b
Context Zones
35
2c
Street Typologies
41
2d
Intersections & Transition Typologies
81
203
5c Measuring Progress
209
5d Adopting This Manual
215
Sources
217
Chapter 3: Geometrics
Components for
Assembling
Complete Streets
3a
Pedestrian Ways
85
3b
Bicycle Ways
91
3c
Transit Ways
107
3d
Vehicle Ways
115
3e
Intersections & Transitions
121
Complete Streets: An Introduction
1
How to Use this
Manual
This manual is divided
into five chapters: Basis, Typologies,
Geometrics, Amenities, and Processes.
Each chapter provides information to
assist planners, designers and decision
makers in developing a new design
approach to enable better and safer
active transportation in their communities.
The information is organized to facilitate
the design process and to allow the
reader to access relevant information at
various stages in the development of
Complete Streets.
Each chapter builds on the previous; however, this
document is not intended to be read front-to-back.
A Note on the Format
Instead, each chapter provides a quick reference
on a specific aspect of the Complete Streets
concept.
Getting Started
Chapter 1, Basis, is a primer on the philosophy
These sections introduce best
behind transportation design of multimodal
practices and are featured at the
accommodation and new ways to optimize
beginning of each section heading.
roadways that create complete networks.
Going the Distance
Chapter 2, Typologies, contains methods for
scoping and design based on place
This content covers suggestions
context, mode hierarchy, and street typology.
for going above and beyond
Chapters 3 and 4, Geometrics and Amenities,
best practices, reaching for
are a collection of best practices for design
excellence in Complete Streets
elements to include in roadways. These chapters
policy.
include sections on both “Getting Started” and
“Going the Distance,” which describe approaches
for communities that are committed to building
Complete Streets, and include cutting-edge
approaches now in use across the country. These
chapters also provide a common language for
implementation practices.
Chapter 5, Processes, contains performance
measures and design processes that enable
integration of active transportation into decisions
and processes.
2
Complete Streets: An Introduction
Chapters
summaries
Chapter 1: Basis
Complete Design Processes
and Polices
Chapter 3: Geometrics
Components for Assembling
Complete Streets
This chapter provides the philosophical
This chapter provides descriptions and
basis for taking a complete approach
resources for defining the components of
to roadway design. This approach
the right-of-way. The chapter establishes
asks designers to consider the safety
definitions for bicycle, pedestrian, and transit
and travel priorities of multiple modes,
ways. An additional section is included to
to examine the context of a complete
describe intersection treatments.
network of origins and
destinations, and to reestablish people
and places as the primary objectives of
transportation investments. The chapter
Chapter 4: Amenities
Components for Populating
Complete Streets
provides definitions and background
information on Complete Streets,
This chapter contains descriptions and
presents supportive information, outlines
resources for selecting the lighting, green
some new principles to consider in
infrastructure, furnishings, wayfinding,
roadway design, and offers insights to
identity features, textures, and markings that
help coordinate active transportation
are essential to a complete network.
design objectives within traditional
Furnishing elements include benches,
transportation design constraints.
refuse receptacles, transit shelters, and bike
parking. Wayfinding features include signs
for the bicycle, transit, motor vehicle and
Chapter 2: Typologies
Complete Networks
Through Places, Modes,
and Links
pedestrian networks. Identity features
include special consideration for districts
and places, as well as special pedestrian
and bicycle amenities. Textures and
markings include a description
This chapter contains descriptions and
resources for planning and prioritizing
of select materials and appropriate
applications.
the right-of-way as a system of
interconnected corridors, and provides
basic planning concepts to enable
application of corridor typologies to the
roadway network. These concepts
Chapter 5: Processes
Implementing the Complete
Streets Network
expand on current practices for the
planning and design of the modes,
This chapter contains recommendations for
places, and links discussed in Section
modifications to project development
1.3. These sections include
procedures and methods that will make it
recommended mode priorities, land
possible to incorporate this document into
use coordination, place considerations,
design processes that will result in Complete
and transportation facility characteristics.
Streets. Topics covered include measurement
tools, a recommended design process for
using this manual, decision point checklists to
assist with project development and review,
guidance for coordination with procedural
manuals and standards, and document
adoption guidance.
Complete Streets: An Introduction
3
Acknowledgements
Active Transportation
Alliance Project Team
Website
Development
Bryan Kaminiski
Paul Halupka
Brett Mohr
Paul Lippens
Dan Persky
Technical Review
Amanda Woodall
Elizabeth Austin
Active Transportation
Alliance Contributors
Doug Farr
Michael King
John LaPlante
Michael Moule
Mitch Brinker
Tom Murtha
Ron Burke
Michael Ronkin
Shafaq Choudry
Stefanie Seskin
Barb Cornew
Ryan Snyder
James Cruz
Marissa Dolin
Project Steering
Committee
Lu Gan
Melody Geraci
Eric Hanss
Ed Barsotti
Tim Jeffries
John Beissel
Patrick Knapp
Alison Bos
Ruth Myers
Leonard Cannata
Nabil Nahza
Andre Garner
Tara Fifer
Heather Schady
Lara Jaskiewicz
Ethan Spotts
John o’Neal
Kendra Swierczek
Ingrid Peterson
Ted Villaire
Chris Staron
Dan Szwaya
David Tomzik
Photography
Scott Van Der Aa
All photos were taken by Active
Transportation Alliance staff, unless
otherwise noted in the photo caption.
4
Steven Vaughn
Mike Walczak
Tammy Wierciak
Frank Williams
Complete Streets: An Introduction
Chapters
summaries
Funding Credit
This project was made possible through funding from
the Cook County Department of Health and Human
Services and the Communities Putting Prevention
to Work (CPPW) project. CPPW is a joint project
between the Cook County Department of Public
Health and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan
Chicago.
Model Design Manual for Living
Streets: Los Angeles County
Parts of the Model Street Design Manual were used,
with permission, to model a few sections in this manual.
The LA effort was funded by the Department of Health
and Human Services through the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health and the UCLA Luskin
Center for Innovation.
Complete Streets: An Introduction
5