News

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) stepped up its commitment to complete streets yesterday with its adoption of a formal Complete Streets Policy.

In 2000, the Department adopted Bicycling & Walking in North Carolina, a Critical Part of the Transportation System, a resolution committing itself to making bicycling and walking integral in the state transportation system. While it met the base threshold for complete streets – dedication to including bicycling and walking accommodations in all transportation projects – it did little to expound on that plan, or meet very many of our elements of a complete streets policy. Lack of detail or enforcement meant the policy could be frequently ignored.

Yesterday, NCDOT unveiled its latest efforts (.doc) to routinely provide for all users of the roads – pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, and motorists of all ages and abilities. The new document:

• explains the scope and applicability of the policy (“all transportation facilities within a growth area of a town or city funded by or through NCDOT, and planned, designed, or constructed on state maintained facilities, must adhere to this policy”);
• asserts the Department’s role as a partner to local communities in transportation projects;
• addresses the need for context-sensitivity;
• sets exceptions (where specific travelers are prohibited and where there is a lack of current or future need) and a clear process for granting them (approval by the Chief Deputy Secretary); and
• establishes a stakeholders group, including transportation professionals and interest groups, tasked to create comprehensive planning and design guidelines in support of the policy.

Nina Szlosberg, member of the NCDOT Board of Transportation, introduced the policy, and Tom Norman, Manager of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Division shepharded it through an internal staff development process. The National Complete Streets Coalition applauds the NCDOT for taking this step and looks forward the many great projects sure to come out of the new policy.