Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Summarize the complete streets elements - grey infrastructure such as adding sidewalks, bumpouts, bike lanes, truck routes, broad band, EV charging station, smart grid. |
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Summarize the complete streets (re)construction project and its green infrastructure elements - street trees, vegetation, rain gardens, permeable pavement, stormwater capture and re-use, EV charging, etc. Note if a utility franchise fee (vs. special assessments) was used. |
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Use the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System; use a Pavement Management Plan to incorporate complete street goals; implement a "dig once" plan/policy (installing conduit/other underground capacity that can accept future infrastructure such as fiber optics without digging up the street); report lower cost of project (capital costs and/or anticipated maintenance costs) compared to reconstructing roads with no changes. |
Resources
- A complete streets reconstruction project improves safety, accessibility and mobility for all users - motorists, transit users, pedestrians, bicyclists. Grey infrastructure includes more traditional construction materials, systems, conveyance methods, and approaches, including utility work (sewer, water, electric, smart grid, telecommunications, district heating pipes: some or all of which can be done together at a cost savings over multiple street tear-ups). Green infrastructure includes strategically planned and managed networks of working landscapes and alternative approaches, focusing on stormwater and trees, that reduce the adverse impacts of development while providing a potentially wide array of ecological services and quality of life benefits. Social infrastructure is part of a living street and includes friendly storefronts.
- See Complete Streets: Guide to Answering the Costs Question to learn how in Richfield, MN, a road diet resulted in reconstruction cost savings of approximately $2 million, or one-third of the original cost estimated for reconstruction of 76th St. Reconstruction of Duluth's main street in 2016 may include installation of hot water district heating pipes. Simultaneous installation of smart grid electric wires and broadband wires is explored in Smart Grid, Smart Broadband, Smart Infrastructure (Center for American Progress: 2009).
- The Green Street Municipal Handbook (U.S. EPA: 2008) is a well-illustrated guide to effective design of alleys and residential, commercial and arterial streets to reduce stormwater flow, improve water quality, reduce urban heating, enhance pedestrian safety, reduce carbon footprints, and beautify neighborhoods.
- The Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System was used in a 2013 54th Street reconstruction effort that informed Edina's 2015 Living Streets Plan. Maplewood has budgeted rain gardens as part of all street reconstruction work since 1996. Since most cities schedule reconstruction of specific street segments years in advance, this affords a community the time to carefully plan integrated grey and green infrastructure projects.
- For actions and resources related to tree installation and to stormwater infrastructure, see GreenStep best practices #16 (Urban Forests) and #17 (Stormwater Management).
Order Number
3
Action Type
Finite