There’s a new movement afoot to make all of America’s streets safe and useful for all Americans.
By Terry Moakley
Photo Courtesy of New York City Department of Transportation
I live in suburbia, about 20 miles or so northwest of New York City. I’ve lived in my community for nearly 30 years, and probably 15 or so years ago my township started a bus service. It has only four routes but one of them has a stop probably a tenth of a mile from my home.
I’ve never used this bus service. Why? Simply put, it’s not really accessible to me in my wheelchair because reaching the bus stop would be extremely dangerous. I could go out my front door and roll half the distance to the bus stop on my street but I would need to roll in the street because there are no sidewalks. I wouldn’t have a huge problem doing this because my street is not terribly busy, but rolling down the second street to the bus stop is the part of the trip that really terrifies me. There’s an asphalt sidewalk on street number two, but it delivers me to a busy intersection with only a flashing yellow traffic signal, and the bus stop is on the other side of the street.
In my working life over the years and in many communities around the country, I’ve witnessed or heard about similar situations. The fact of the matter is that simply because there is a bus stop or a train station within reach of where a wheelchair user or otherwise mobility-impaired person lives, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the transit stop can be reached independently and safely.
A remedy for this situation may be on the way.
Legislative Remedy
In the U.S. Congress, legislation is in the works that, if adopted, could genuinely improve the pedestrian environment for everyone, including individuals with disabilities and aging persons. The Complete Streets Act of 2009, S. 584/H.R. 1443, was introduced last March by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). It would require each state to have laws and policies in place within two years that apply “complete street” principles to all federally funded transportation projects. Such principles would ensure that the safety and convenience of all users of a transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, children, older individuals, motorists and individuals with disabilities, are accommodated in all phases of project planning and development.
In June of last year, however, Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the lengthy, multi-year Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009.
With pressure from some of the sponsors of the Complete Streets Act of 2009, Congressman Oberstar and his staff added complete streets principles to his bill, called “comprehensive street design policies and principles.” This language would direct a new Office of Livability to take steps to encourage States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to adopt complete streets policies. And, this bill would require that all new projects receiving federal funds be consistent with “comprehensive street design policies and principles.”
While the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed Rep. Oberstar’s bill out of the committee, it has a long way to go before it’s the law of the land. In the interim, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, short-term transportation project authorization bills, the latest of which expired on February 28.
Are the Bills Strong Enough?
I don’t know about you, but when I see words like “encourage” and “be consistent with,” I get nervous that what is in the bill will be left out of the transportation project. I say, let’s require complete streets principles in all new construction, renovation, additions and street repairs.
For a lot more detailed information on complete streets, pay a visit to the Complete Streets Coalition at www.completestreets.org. There, you will find an excellent slide show with before/after photos of pedestrian improvements that truly illustrate the value of complete streets construction. You can also send a message in support of the Complete Streets Act of 2009 to your Senator or Congressional Representative from this useful Web site.
A requirement for complete streets construction is critical for individuals with disabilities to be able to get to public transportation stops more easily, and to move around more safely along with others in communities large and small.
Terry Moakley is Chairman of VetsFirst and a member of United Spinal’s Board of Directors. He has been an activist in transportation issues for more than 30 years.
