The national recognition assessment is based on identical Complete Streets policies that the two cities adopted in April 2013, encouraging planners and engineers to design and build streets that are safe and convenient for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, or ethnicity, and no matter how they travel.
In addition, Auburn Mayor Jonathan P. LaBonte and Lewiston-Auburn Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee Chair Craig Saddlemire will serve as panelists this date (2/18) in a 12 p.m. (EST) “Top Complete Streets Policies of 2013” webinar/call. Highlights of the Smart Growth America report (attached) will be part of the discussion.
“Community leaders and transportation practitioners are working together in small towns and big cities, and across almost every state in the nation to pass policies that will ensure that future transportation investments create Complete Streets,” said Roger Millar, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition.
“A lot of this year’s policies direct additional action on Complete Streets. That’s a huge part of turning words on paper into better, safer streets,” added Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “Seeing the benefits of that on-the-ground change in other communities is a big part of why so many cities are adopting Complete Streets policies today.”
The National Complete Streets Coalition reviewed every policy passed in the United States in 2013 (83 policies) and scored each policy according to 10 Complete Streets elements. Lewiston and Auburn tied “fourth” nationwide out of the 83 policies scored---scoring a total of 88 points out of 100. The town of Littleton, Massachusetts, is home to 2013’s top policy, with a total of 94.4 points. Info about winning policies and evaluation criteria can be found at: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets-2013-analysis.
The communities with the highest-scoring policies are (in order):
Littleton, MA
Peru, IN
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lewiston & Auburn ME (Tie)
Baltimore County, MD
Portsmouth, NH
Muscatine, IA
Piqua, OH
Oakland, CA
Hayward, CA; Livermore, CA; & Mass. Dpt. of Trans. (Tie)
Cedar Falls, IA, & Waterloo, IA (Tie)
The Lewiston-Auburn Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee previously developed the policy and presented it to both municipalities for adoption. Chair Saddlemire notes, “In the neighborhood where I live, over half of the households don't own cars. For some, walking and biking is about recreation. For others, it’s about necessity. Lewiston is proud to partner with Auburn and plan and develop our streets as sites that serve all users. Our streets are not just ways to travel, but they are also places to exercise, gather, and meet new people. We are fortunate enough that the core of our city was built around this principle, much like many other New England towns and cities. Our local political leaders have come to agreement that it's time to restore the spirit of complete streets. Over the past two years, we have had unanimous support from elected officials and administration in both cities. After roughly nine months of planning, we adopted identical complete streets policies over two consecutive nights. The LA Bike Ped Committee is very grateful to Smart Growth America for recognizing our achievement. We are pleased to receive affirmation that not only did we pass a complete streets policy, but we passed a good one!"
“The Auburn City Council has made a firm commitment to becoming one of New England’s most walkable, bikeable, and physically active communities, and this policy’s adoption is step one,” adds Mayor LaBonte, a member of the Local Leaders Council of Smart Growth America. “Now the hard work begins, aggressively implementing this direction to show our citizens and investors that we mean it.”
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for, and leading coalitions to bring better development to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods.
For additional information, visit http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/completestreets.
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