Today well cover:

New Yorks Complete Streets Law

Planning Complete Streets in NY

NYSDOTs existing design guidance

Changes to NYSDOT
NYSDOTss design guidance
A Complete Street is a roadway planned and
designed to consider the safe, convenient
access and mobility of all roadway users of all
ages and abilities.

This includes
Thi i l d pedestrians,
d ti bi
bicyclists,
li t public
bli
transportation riders, and motorists; it includes
children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
 All users

Rt. 11, Canton

 Not a new challenge

Pompeii pedestrian crossing and sidewalks, ca. 79 AD

Complete Street roadway design features include
((but arent limited to))

sidewalks
lane striping
bicycle lanes
paved shoulders suitable for use by bicyclists
signage
crosswalks
pedestrian control signals
bus pull-outs
curb cuts
raised crosswalks
ramps
g measures
traffic calming
 Signed by Governor Cuomo in August 2011
- Enables safe access to public roads for all users by
utilizing Complete Street design principles

Adds new Section 331 to Highway Law:

Consideration of Complete Street Design
 Complete Streets will contribute to a

"cleaner, greener transportation system"

and

"more citizens will achieve the health benefits

associated with active forms of transportation
p
while traffic congestion and auto related air
pollution will be reduced.
 Provides for the consideration of Complete Street design
features for projects undertaken by the Department of
Transportation, municipalities and public authorities that receive
both state and federal funding and are subject to
department of transportation oversight

Provides a list of features and elements that may be considered

in Complete Street design.

Requires that if Complete Street design features are not

considered, a publicly available document shall set forth the
reason why these features were not considered.

Requires the Department of Transportation to

consult with stakeholders and the public on
best practices.
Exceptions to the law include resurfacing, maintenance or
pavement recycling projects.

The law does not apply where any of the following conditions
exist:

Bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited

The cost is disproportionate to the need

There is a demonstrated lack of need

The use of design features would have an

adverse
d impact
i t on safety
f t
The Complete Streets Law requires the implementation
of Complete Streets design features.

True

F l
False

Question 1
The Complete Streets Law requires the implementation
of Complete Streets design features.

True

F l
False

Question 1
A project may be exempted from the law if:

A. there is a demonstrated lack of need

B. the project was planned more than 5 years ago

C. the total project budget is less than $500,000

D. the p
project
j area already
y has at least one existing
g
Complete Streets design feature

Question 2
A project may be exempted from the law if:

A. there is a demonstrated lack of need

B. the project was planned more than 5 years ago

C. the total project budget is less than $500,000

D. the p
project
j area already
y has at least one existing
g
Complete Streets design feature

Question 2
If Complete Street design features are not considered on
an eligible project

A. the project will likely lose State and Federal funding

B. Complete
p Street design
g features must be retrofitted

C. the reason must be recorded in NYSDOTs project

record

D. the reason must be documented in a publicly

available document

Question 3
If Complete Street design features are not considered on
an eligible project

A. the project will likely lose State and Federal funding

B. Complete
p Street design
g features must be retrofitted

C. the reason must be recorded in NYSDOTs project

record

D. the reason must be documented in a publicly

available document

Question 3
 Consistent with New York State DOTs policies

Transit ridership NYS accounts for one-third of all transit trips

People are driving less

People are biking more - bike share fleets increasing in NYS

Safety and accessibility is needed for all users

 Pedestrian safety can be a significant benefit of
Complete Street design:

Crash Countermeasure Estimated Benefits

Restrict parking near intersections (to off

30% reduction in all pedestrian crashes
street)

Install pedestrian crossing 25% reduction in all pedestrian crashes

Install pedestrian signal 50-55%

50 55% reduction in all pedestrian crashes

Provide paved shoulder (at least 4 ft.) 71% reduction in all pedestrian crashes

Convert intersection to roundabout 89% reduction in all pedestrian crashes

 Local Complete Street Policies/Resolutions
Angelica Kingston Alleghany County
Babylon Lake Luzerne Cattaraugus County
Belmont Lewis Erie County
Bethlehem Lewisboro Essex County
Binghamton Little Valley Nassau County
Brookhaven Malone Suffolk County
Buffalo New York City Ulster County
Canandaigua Newcomb Westchester
Chester New Rochelle County
Clyde North Hempstead
Cuba Rochester
Dobbs Ferry Salamanca
East Hampton Saratoga Springs
Elizabethtown Sharon Springs
Fort Edward South Hampton
Gl
Glens F
Falls
ll S i V
Spring Valley
ll
Great Neck Plaza Warrensburg
Gowanda Westport
Hinsdale Willsboro
Independence Williamson
Islip Wilmington
 NYSDOT only owns about 10% of the of the non-freeway
mileage in the State
Most
M Complete
C l S
Streets projects
j are undertaken
d k at the
h local
l l
level
 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
NYSDOT Regions
NYSDOT Statewide Programs
NYSDOT Community Technical Assistance
NYS Department of State
Municipalities
 Focused on system, not isolated projects
Corridors
Safety, Accessibility and Continuity
 S
NYSDOT Smart G h
Growth
Screening Tool
www.dot.ny.gov/programs/smart-planning/
smartgrowth-law

Cornell Local Roads Program

Complete Streets: Planning Safer
C
Communities
iti ffor P
Pedestrians
d ti
and Bicyclists
www.clrp.cornell.edu/library/publications.html

NYSDOT Complete Streets

Planning Checklist
(draft - expected to be
completed in Spring 2014)
www.dot.ny.gov/programs/completestreets/
planning

23
 Several informational resources to
help guide communities with
Complete Streets planning and
Smart Planning at
www.dot.ny.gov/programs/smart-
planning ;

Smart Growth America provides a

number of resources on their
website at
www.smartgrowthamerica.org/ .

- National Complete Streets

Coalition resources
www smartgrowthamerica org/co
www.smartgrowthamerica.org/co
mplete-streets/
 Bicycle planning info at www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle
Most Complete Streets projects are undertaken at the
______ level.

A. national

B. state

C. local

Question 4
Most Complete Streets projects are undertaken at the
______ level.

A. national

B. state

C. local

Question 4
At what project stage should Complete Streets
considerations first be addressed?

A. Planning

B Preliminary
B. P li i d
design
i

C. Final design

D. Construction

Question 5
At what project stage should Complete Streets
considerations first be addressed?

A. Planning

B Preliminary
B. P li i d
design
i

C. Final design

D. Construction

Question 5
2011-2012: Comprehensive review of Department design
guidance documents to determine
- which guidance already supports Complete Streets?
- which guidance needs to be brought into compliance
with the Complete Streets law?
 Project Development Guidance

Bicycle and pedestrian needs are identified early

on, when the project scope is being set

The recommended interdisciplinary project team

includes the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian
Coordinator

Outlines Public and Stakeholder Involvement and

includes Public Involvement Manual

Describes Context Sensitive Solutions

Joan McDonald Andrew Cuomo

Commissioner Governor
 Design Guidance

Most,, but not all,, of the Departments

p design
g
guidance was found to support Complete Streets

The Departments Highway Design Manual

devotes a chapter each to Pedestrian Facilities,
Bicycle Facilities, Traffic Calming and Mobility
Measures

Steps are being taken to ensure that design

guidance fully supports the law and system users
 Sidewalks (Highway Design Manual Chapter 18 Pedestrian Facility Design)

Paved Shoulders Suitable for Use by Bicyclists (Highway Design Manual Chapter 17
Bicycle Facility Design)

Lane Striping (Highway Design Manual Chapter 17 Bicycle Facility Design)

Bicycle Lanes (Highway Design Manual Chapter 17 Bicycle Facility Design)

Share the Road Signage* (Highway Design Manual Chapter 17 Bicycle Facility Design,
TSMI 13-07 Shared Lane Marking Policy)

Crosswalks (Highway Design Manual Chapter 18 Pedestrian Facility Design)

Road Diets (Highway Design Manual Chapter 25 Traffic Calming)

Pedestrian Control Signalization (Highway Design Manual Chapter 18 Pedestrian Facility

Design; Highway Design Manual Chapter 11 Signs, Signals and Delineation)

Bus Pull Outs (Highway Design Manual Chapter 24 Mobility Measures; Highway Design Manual
Chapter 18 Pedestrian Facility Design)

Curb Cuts (Highway Design Manual Chapter 5 Basic Design, Highway Design Manual Chapter
18 Pedestrian Facilityy Design)
g )

Traffic Calming Measures (Highway Design Manual Chapter 25 Traffic Calming)

Share the Road Signage*
TSMI 13-07 discontinued the
SHARE THE ROAD (W16 (W16-
1P) plaque in favor of the IN
LANE plaque (NYW5-32P)
 Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA) requires accommodation of
pedestrians and persons with
disabilities on all highway alteration
projects.
 Curb Cuts and Curb Ramps

Fort Edward

Altamont
 Crosswalks

Combined Ladder Bar and Stripe Type LS

(Clifton Park)

Ladder Bar - Type L

(
(Greene)
)

Striped Type S
(Brockport)
 Raised Crosswalks
Applications were very restricted
Department-wide guidance was recently issued to
greatly expand acceptable applications, and issue
standard design
g details
Pedestrian Control Signalization
 Sidewalks

Before Before

Aft
After
After

Fayetteville Delmar
Paved Shoulders Suitable for Use by Bicyclists

Dexter

Cranberry Lake
 Bicycle Lanes
Lanes, Bicycle Routes and
Multi-Use Paths

Guilderland
Brockport

Wantaugh State Parkway

 Sh d Lane
Shared L M ki
Markings (SLM )
(SLMs)
May be appropriate to accommodate bicycles where
narrow lanes cannot be adjusted

Policy transmitted in TSMI 13-07.

M
Markings
ki h
have b
been iincorporated
t d iinto
t th
the D
Departments
t t
standard sheets for pavement markings

Joan McDonald Andrew Cuomo

Commissioner Governor
 Bus Pull-outs

Colonie

Joan McDonald Andrew Cuomo

Commissioner Governor
T ffi Calming
Traffic C l i

Hamburg
 Road Diets

Before

After

Poughkeepsie
 Availability of Design Guidance

Many
M Complete
C Streets
l t St t -
related special specifications
and drawings have been
developed by NYSDOT
Were available to Department
designers, but not to local
agencies
Now available on NYSDOTs
Complete Streets website
Th
The website
b it will
ill b
be updated
d t d as
needed.

www.dot.ny.gov/programs/completestreets
 Context and needs of road users

Compete
p means different things
g in different p
places
As with most projects, other issues must
be taken into consideration:

Impacts on private property/right-of-

way
N
Natural
t l environment
i t ((e.g., ttree
removals, wetland impacts,
endangered species)
B
Built
ilt environment
i t ((e.g., hi
historic
t i
properties or districts)
Stormwater runoff
Public acceptance
Motor vehicles (safely moving
people,
p p ,g goods and services))
Stakeholder Outreach Meetings

October 2013 in Albany, Binghamton, Long Island & Buffalo

State and federal agencies

Advocacy groups
Transit
T it representatives
t ti
Municipal representatives
 Future Changes to Design Guidance

Seeking
S ki continuous
ti input
i t to
t strengthen
t th
NYSDOTs Complete Streets efforts!

completestreets@dot.ny.gov
Complete Streets measures are only appropriate on new
construction projects.

True

False

Question 6
Complete Streets measures are only appropriate on new
construction projects.

True

False

Question 6
In a situation where a narrow lane cannot be adjusted, to
allow bicycles and cars to travel side-by-side
side-by-side, Shared
Lane Markings (SLMs) may be appropriate.

True

False

Question 7
In a situation where a narrow lane cannot be adjusted, to
allow bicycles and cars to travel side-by-side
side-by-side, Shared
Lane Markings (SLMs) may be appropriate.

True

False

Question 7
Complete Street design considerations can be omitted
from a project if they will have an adverse impact on the
environment.

True

False

Question 8
Complete Street design considerations can be omitted
from a project if they will have an adverse impact on the
environment.

True

False

Question 8
Future Changes to Design Guidance

Thank you

Kara Phillips, RLA

kara.phillips@dot.ny.gov