Posted May 21, 2016, 12:24 PM
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Philly -> Osaka -> Tokyo
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The biggest city on earth. Literally
Posts: 5,863
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Reading Receives National Recognition for Complete Streets Policy
Read more: http://crossroads.newsworks.org/inde...streets-policy
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The city of Reading was one of 16 U.S. cities recognized by Smart Growth America (SGA) recently for creating exemplary 'complete streets' policies in 2015.
'Complete streets' policies aim to accommodate all street users, whether they travel by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot, through design choices that clarify where everyone belongs. There's a gradation of complete street designs, from basic elements like sidewalks, crosswalks, and "Share the Road" markings, to more substantial features like physically separated lanes for transit vehicles and bicycles, or traffic signal priority for pedestrians and transit.
Reading was actually the first city to ever score a perfect 100 from SGA, which advocates for policies that promote traditional urban infill development over suburban land use planning.
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Reading's executive order also incorporates some non-transportation goals like green stormwater management, and makes aesthetics and placemaking a central focus. From the order:
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"Complete Streets are beautiful, interesting and comfortable places for people. The design of cities begins with the design of streets, as community places where people want to be. As part of Reading's public realm, streets shall be held to a higher standard for urban design at a human scale. Multi-modal accommodations and all City projects in the right-of-way shall be approached as opportunities to enhance the aesthetic qualities of Reading and its public realm through the thoughtful creation of place. Wherever feasible, streetscapes shall protect and include street trees and native plants, and incorporate landscape architecture, public art, pedestrian amenities and wayfinding signage, sidewalk cafes and street-facing retail, and/or other elements that enhance the attractiveness of Reading and foster healthy economic development."
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Craig Peiffer, zoning administrator for the city of Reading, said the policy was created through an executive order by former Mayor Vaughn Spencer in August of 2015, as part of an overall strategy to improve the city's downtown business district. It continues to enjoy support from the new Mayor Wally Scott.
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They're also working with PennDOT to replace three state-owned bridges between Center City and West Reading, installing wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and protection from vehicle traffic. While some other cities sometimes report difficulty getting PennDOT to go along with changes to state routes that de-prioritize vehicle traffic, Peiffer said District 5 transportation planners were accommodating to a multi-modal approach.
"The only issue we ran into was that we didn't want to plan a bike lane on a bridge with no connection on either side, so we're going ahead with the bike lane on the bridge, and planning to install bike lanes on either side when we repave," he said.
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