Urbandale’s Complete Streets policy commits to designing streets for all users
The City of Urbandale is proud to announce the adoption of a Complete Streets policy to support roadway design that accommodates all transportation modes and users. This policy is meant to enable economic growth, regional competitiveness, and active lifestyles, while providing improvements to existing roadways and redevelopments throughout our community.
In the summer of 2015, the Urbandale City Council began the discussion on the merits of adopting a Complete Streets policy to complement existing transportation planning. During a recent strategic planning process, the Complete Streets concept was discussed and incorporated into the overall strategy to better integrate pedestrians, bicyclist and vehicular traffic.
“Urbandale has recognized the need to take a comprehensive approach to address the varied transportation needs of all of our residents,” Urbandale Mayor Robert Andeweg said. “To be able to incorporate the existing network of streets, sidewalks and trails into a system that effectively and safely moves people from one place to another is a key advantage of the newly adopted policy. The policy also gives the city council the ability to make adjustments to the transportation systems of the city to adapt to changing options and preferences of our citizens. Our policy provides an effective framework to not only deal with current transportation demands but gives us flexibility to adapt to future needs and wants.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx challenged U.S. mayors to take significant action to make streets safer for all people, and one of his recommendations was adopting complete streets policies. “Complete streets” is a term used to describe streets designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders.
A model policy was developed by Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for metro-area governments to consider adapting to their communities. The effort helps meet the goals established in the region’s long-term transportation plan, Mobilizing Tomorrow, as well as The Tomorrow Plan, the region’s long-term plan for sustainable development over the next 40 years.
The City of Urbandale is the eight metro-area government to adopt a complete streets policy, joining the cities of Des Moines, Carlisle, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Windsor Heights and West Des Moines. More information about the MPO’s Complete Street Initiative is available at www.dmampo.org/complete-streets.