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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: March 9, 2020
SUBJECT:
A Resolution adopting a Complete Streets Policy.
PURPOSE:
To adopt a Complete Streets Policy which formalizes the commitment of the City to include consideration for bicyclists, pedestrians of all abilities, and transit users, along with drivers, within street design activities.
BACKGROUND:
The Complete Streets movement aims to develop integrated, connected networks of streets that are safe and accessible for all people, regardless of age, ability, or chosen mode of travel. Complete Streets make active transportation such as walking and bicycling convenient, and provide increased access to employment centers, commerce, and educational institutions; all while allowing greater choice in transportation options.
The term Complete Streets means much more than the physical changes to a community’s streets. Complete Streets means changing transportation planning, design, maintenance, and funding decisions. A Complete Streets policy ensures that, from the start, projects are planned and designed to meet the needs of every community member, regardless of their age, ability, or how they travel. Doing so allows a community to save money, accommodate more people, and create an environment where every resident can travel safely and conveniently.
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, seeks to fundamentally transform the look, feel and function of the roads and streets across all communities, by changing the way most roads are planned, designed and constructed. Complete Streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind.
DISCUSSION:
One of the recommendations from the approved “A Master Plan for Downtown Aurora” (O17-080) was to develop a Complete Streets Policy. The policy is attached as 'Exhibit A'.
The policy will formalize the commitment of the City to include consideration for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users, along with drivers, within street design activities. Also recently some federal funding sources have included points in their scoring methodology for a municipality having a Complete Streets Policy. This includes the Surface Transportation Program (STP) Shared Fund and STP Local Fund, which has applications due for their current call for projects on March 15, 2020.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Planning and Zoning, the Department of Public Works, and other relevant departments, agencies or committees shall incorporate Complete Streets principles into all appropriate plans, manuals, checklists, decision trees, rules, regulations and programs as appropriate.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to the Infrastructure and Technology Committee for approval.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution adopting a Complete Streets Policy.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a history of creating long-range planning documents that have been used successfully to help guide growth and redevelopment; and,
WHERAS the City of Aurora has a Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, dated July 2009, which promotes IDOT’s “Complete Streets” design standards; and,
WHEREAS, in 2017 the City approved “A Master Plan for Downtown Aurora” (O17-080) which, among other things, recommended the adoption of a Complete Streets policy; and
WHEREAS, Complete Streets are designed to improve mobility, access, and connectivity for persons traveling by all modes, encourage healthy lifestyles, increase safety for all users, enhance neighborhoods, businesses, and institutions, and advance the quality of life for all City of Aurora citizens and visitors; and
WHEREAS, developing Complete Streets is a priority on all corridors and routes. Transportation and development projects shall be treated as an opportunity to offer improvements in access and connectivity by all modes of travel to City of Aurora services, businesses, neighborhoods, schools, parks, trails, and adjacent communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora is a key connection point for the regional trails such as Virgil Gilman Trail, Fox River Trails, and Illinois Prairie Path and some local trails like the Waubonsie Creek Trail, Indian Trail path, New York Street Trail and Oakhurst Forest Preserve Trails, which are multi-use trails that encourage local development, promote a healthy lifestyle and bring many visitors to the community on foot and by bicycle; and
WHEREAS, streets are a key public space, shape the experience of residents and visitors to the City of Aurora, directly affect public health and welfare, and provide the framework for current and future development.
WHEREAS a Complete Streets Policy is shown as 'Exhibit A'.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the City adopt the Complete Streets Policy, shown as 'Exhibit A'.