Complete Streets, streets that are designed to be safer for everyone, have become more widely adopted in the last decade in municipalities across the continent. Based on ongoing research at The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT), there has been a steady uptake in Canadian cities since 2009, with 2014 being the year to date with the most Complete Streets policies created. Over 80 jurisdictions in Canada currently have a Complete Streets policy in place.
But what are academics saying about this approach and its impact on road safety, transportation choices and community vitality? We dug into the scholarly literature to find out.
In fall 2020, TCAT intern Ely DeSandoli conducted a review of scholarly articles and books on Complete Streets, to better understand how this transportation planning concept is viewed within the academic context. The research covers case studies of Complete Streets, tools for evaluation, and critiques challenging the Complete Streets concept to consider equity and inclusion more deeply.
Photo: A five-year Complete Streets partnership in Sacramento, California resulted in improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure