Title
City of Phoenix Complete Streets Policy (Resolution 21554)
Description
This report requests City Council approval of the proposed Complete Streets Policy.
Report
Summary
The Complete Streets initiative supports the City’s vision for a more sustainable transportation system that is safe and accessible for everyone. Complete Streets provides infrastructure that encourages active transportation such as walking, bicycling, transportation choices, and increased connectivity.
The proposed Complete Streets Policy is an important step in carrying out the Council-adopted Complete Streets Guiding Principles and will provide context-sensitive design guidance for all projects within the public right-of-way, and all streets accepted by the City. The Complete Streets Advisory Board (CSAB), comprised of community (voting) and city (non-voting) stakeholders interested in active transportation and safe streets, meets each month to help develop elements of the Complete Streets Initiative and advise staff and City Council on issues related to Complete Streets. The CSAB, with input from staff and other stakeholders including both private development and health representatives, developed and adopted a proposed Complete Streets Policy based on the established Guiding Principles approved by City Council. Collaborative meetings occurred throughout 2016 with focused discussion using a series of existing and planned development examples and their relationship to Complete Streets. At the Feb. 23, 2017 meeting, CSAB, stakeholders and both legal and technical staff worked through modifications to the document after which the CSAB adopted a proposed Complete Streets Policy (Attachment A). The Complete Streets Policy is a document that provides the vision and goals for Complete Streets in Phoenix, roles and responsibilities of the City, and exceptions to the policy. Street Transportation (STR) and Planning and Development (PDD) departments have worked closely on this policy to clearly define roles and responsibilities. PDD will provide guidance for privately funded projects to implement the policy, and STR will lead project implementation.
The Complete Streets Policy was approved unanimously by the City of Phoenix Planning Commission on May 4, 2017. Additionally, direction was given by the Planning Commission to continue working with the private development community in the next phases of the process. The next phases of the process include modifications to the existing Street Transportation Design Guidelines to include Complete Streets guidance and the creation of a set of performance measures to assist in measuring the success of Complete Streets implementation, which will also be brought to the CSAB for adoption. Finally, the CSAB, staff and stakeholders will provide input on potential revisions to the City Code and processes to advance the Complete Streets effort for both public and private projects.
Complete Streets works in concert with other City initiatives including, but not limited to: Transportation 2050 Program, Comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan, Downtown Phoenix Comprehensive Transportation Plan, General Plan, Choice Neighborhoods Grant, Reinvent PHX and other transit-oriented development planning activities.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Complete Streets ordinances adopted by City Council in July 2014 established Guiding Principles and the Complete Streets Advisory Board. The CSAB and the Planning Commission approved the proposed Complete Streets Policy on Feb. 23, 2017, and May 4, 2017, respectively.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee heard this item at the June 13, 2017 meeting and recommended approval by a vote of 4-0.
Public Outreach
Collaboration occurred throughout 2016 at the CSAB monthly meetings using input from staff, CSAB members and various stakeholders to develop the proposed Complete Streets Policy.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.