The Complete Streets Policy and Council Order

Vision & Commitment

Complete Streets are safe and healthy streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable road users. People of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street, whether they are walking, bicycling, driving, or taking transit. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work.

They make it possible for children to walk or bike to school or to the park, and for seniors to continue to have an active lifestyle. They help buses to run on time and make it safe for people to walk to and from transit stations. They consider the needs of commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles, and facilitate their safe movement through the community.

The City of Cambridge is committed to designing, constructing, maintaining and operating our streets to provide for a comprehensive and integrated street network of facilities for people of all ages and abilities with a commitment to Complete Streets principles.

Projects, Phases and Jurisdictions

Complete Streets principles shall be incorporated into all publicly and privately funded projects. This includes transportation infrastructure and street design projects requiring funding or approval by the City, as well as projects funded by the state and federal government. Complete Streets principles shall also be incorporated into private developments and street reconstruction projects undertaken by private developments. In addition, the City will work with MassDOT, DCR, MBTA and other state entities to incorporate Complete Streets principles into state-owned roadways within Cambridge.

Exceptions to the Complete Streets Policy may be granted by the City Engineer, in consultation with the Community Development Department, Department of Public Works and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, in limited situations where cost or impacts of accommodation is excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use.

Design of Complete Streets

Projects will be undertaken in a context sensitive manner in which designs are developed in a collaborative process with a focus on safety, community goals, policies, plans, and input. The latest design guidance, standards, plans and recommendations available will be used, including the most up-to-date versions of:

 Documents and plans created by the City of Cambridge which to date include: o Pedestrian Plan o Bicycle Plan o Transit Strategic Plan o Five-Year Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction Plan o Safe Routes to School Program o Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance o Growth Policy Document o Parking and Transportation Demand Management Plan o Climate Action Plan o Urban Forestry Program

 The Architectural Access Board (AAB) 521 CMR Rules and Regulations  MassDOT Project Design and Development Guidebook  MassDOT Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide  The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide  The NACTO Urban Street Design Guide  Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards  The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s

Manual on Uniform Traffic Design Controls

 Green Infrastructure Design Guidelines

As appropriate and relevant, other planning and design guidance/manuals developed by local, state, or federal government agencies, or by nationally recognized groups such as NACTO, the American Public Transportation Association, or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Implementation The Complete Streets Program will be overseen by the Community Development Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department.

They will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Complete Streets Policy; developing criteria for measuring effectiveness such as linear feet of sidewalk reconstructed, miles of new bicycle facilities, declining crash rates, changes in mode splits and percentage of transit stops that are fully accessible; and, where necessary, altering existing practices and overcoming barriers that may act as impediments to implementation of the Complete Streets Policy.

These departments already engage in regular and ongoing coordination activities, and also include other relevant departments such as Police, Fire, and Public Health as needed and appropriate.