The concept of "Complete Streets" is a way of redesigning our roadways to incorporate and maybe even encourage modes of travel other than just cars. The Complete Streets initiative is a national one. Communities like New Haven, Connecticut, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Newport, Rhode Island have all designed streets to fit this model.
Norwich, Vermont has redesigned one of its main roads to make it safer for bikes and pedestrians to use the thoroughfare. In Burlington, Colchester Avenue has been repainted to make new accommodations.
There is a push for state legislation to mandate this type of planning in Agency of Transportation projects and a federal bill was passed last year requiring the policies be applied to federally funded transportation projects.
Bob Chamberlin is Director of Transportation Engineering for Resource Systems Group in White River Junction. His company worked on both the Norwich and the Burlington projects. Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur is Associate State Director of AARP Vermont. AARP is very supportive of the concept and has lobbied legislators in Montpelier to pass a Complete Streets bill.
They talked with VPR’s Jane Lindholm about how "Complete Streets" is working to encourage people to get out of their cars and use alternative modes of transportation.