Complete Streets Toolbox
What is a Complete Street?
A Complete Street is designed with every user in mind, whether a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist, or user of public transportation, of any age. A Complete Street ensures the entire right-of-way enables safe access for all users. No two Complete Streets will look the same. The inclusion and placement elements such as crosswalks, bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, medians, or curb extensions depends upon the surrounding land use and users' needs. Smart Growth America has an extensive library of materials relating to the implementation of Complete Streets.
What does a strong complete streets policy look like?
Evaluating Complete Streets policies.
Complete Streets in the Ozarks
The OTO Design Standards included in Destination 2045 recommend pedestrian and bicycle accommodations on a number of roadway classifications. Guidelines for those accommodations are included in the Design Standards. The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation tracks Missouri communities and regional/metropolitan planning agencies who have adopted Complete Streets policies. This is a great resource for local jurisdictions looking for a sample policy that reflects a unique set of needs.
NACTO Urban Street Design Guide
"A blueprint for designing 21st century streets, the NACTO Urban Street Design Guide unveils the toolbox and the tactics cities use to make streets safer, more livable, and more economically vibrant."
NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide
"The purpose of the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide is to provide cities with state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists."
NACTO Guidelines for Regulating Shared Micromobility
"Developed for cities, by cities, the Guidelines for Regulating Shared Micromobility outlines best practices for cities and public entities regulating
and managing shared micromobility services on their streets."
Small Town and Rural Design Guide
"The Small Town and Rural Design Guide is an online design resource and idea book, intended to help small towns and rural communities support safe, comfortable, and active travel for people of all ages and abilities."
AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities
The AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities "provides information on the physical infrastructure needed to support bicycling."
This is the 4th Edition from 2012. The 5th edition was released in December 2024 and is available for purchase on the AASHTO website.
FHWA Achieving Multimodal Networks
"Achieving Multimodal Networks: Applying Design Flexibility and Reducing Conflicts highlights ways that planners and designers can apply the design flexibility found in current national design guidance to address common roadway design challenges and barriers."
FHWA Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: Toolkit and Guide
This guide offers best practices for planning and designing bike lanes on high speed roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or higher, addressing the challenges these environments pose to bicyclists.
WSDOT Active Transportation Programs Design Guide
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) created the Active Transportation Programs Design Guide to clarify treatments for local agencies in Washington State. The guide is a good example for treatments that improve the safety for people who walk, bike and roll. The guides includes examples and explanations for speed management treatments, crossing and intersection treatments, grade-separated treatments, illumination, ADA improvements, linear treatments for bicyclists and/ or pedestrians.
Create your own Complete Street Roadway Profile
Streetmix is a new website where you can customize your own street designs. OTO members can use this site to communicate their own design standards or invite members of the public to help through participatory street design. Each design element can be customized for types and widths. Case Studies...
StreetPlan is another free website where you can create a drag and drop complete street.
Resources
There are a number of great national and local resources for implementing complete streets, including OTO's own Design Standards.
