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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.04.15_Mayor_Announces_Complete_Streets_PolicyCITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR Office of the Mayor CONTACT: Kara Kelly, (574) 235 -5853 kkelly @southbendin.gov FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, November 4, 2015 BUTTIGIEG ANNOUNCES SOUTH BEND'S ADOPTION OF A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg announces the City of South Bend's adoption of a Complete Streets Policy that advocates for the design of streets to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. "Great cities have well - designed streets, and forward- looking design decisions will help accelerate our city's comeback," says Mayor Buttigieg. "A Complete Streets policy means that our streets will be safer, friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians, and better able to support quality of life in South Bend." The Complete Streets Policy will be considered by the city's Board of Public Works on November 10. The adoption of this policy is one activity encouraged within the Mayors' Challenge, a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative that South Bend accepted earlier this year. Complete Streets improvements may include sidewalks, bike lanes, accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and roundabouts. "A Complete Street is designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the road," says Scott Ford, Executive Director of Community Investment. "The city's existing transportation budget already includes several Complete Streets projects, allowing these quality - of -life improvements to be made at minimal cost to taxpayers." Examples of the Complete Streets approach can be found in recently completed projects within the city's Smart Streets initiative such as East Jefferson Boulevard and Lincolnway West. Complete Streets principles are also driving the conversion of South Bend's one -way streets into two -way streets. The Mayors' Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets is a call to action by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx for political jurisdictions to incorporate safe and convenient walking and bicycling access into transportation projects. The City of South Bend is one of nearly 200 cities across the nation to have accepted the Challenge.