Is Calgary’s Complete Streets Policy working as intended?
Complete Streets: A history
Today’s urban centres face challenges with their transportation systems. In North America, urban planning in the decades after World War II placed an emphasis on moving people and goods with private vehicles. Of course, the widespread use of private vehicles comes with benefits, but the negative consequences from those decisions have been felt for decades and persist. Most clearly, the movement of people and goods by private vehicle is expensive, dangerous, and inequitable relative to other modes of transportation. Expensive in the sense that the tax dollars required to build and maintain the infrastructure to enable the mass movement of people in private cars requires hundreds of millions of dollars each year. It is dangerous in the sense that traffic accidents involving vehicles are often catastrophic, especially when high speeds, pedestrians, or cyclists are involved. And it is inequitable in the sense that it is personally expensive to own and maintain a private vehicle, leaving the less wealthy with few and inefficient transportation options. Additionally, relying on private vehicles for peoples’ transportation needs impacts the livability of the public realm and has important negative environmental effects. This is a complex issue which requires multi-faceted solutions.
One of those solutions is called “complete streets”. At its core, the complete streets approach aims to balance the transportation system to move from one that is car-dominated to one where other modes of transport such as walking, wheeling, and public transport are efficient, safe, and universally accessible. In a general sense, complete streets seek to accomplish this through design rather than prescriptive rules (such as vehicle speed limits). Examples of such design elements can include sharper turning radii at intersections to encourage slower vehicle speeds, physically separated cycle lanes, bus- only travel lanes, and wider sidewalk widths. Complete streets also consider streets as key public areas and a great opportunity to promote placemaking and social interaction. In addition, there are observable economic benefits to streets where safety, attractiveness, livability, and transportation choices have been improved, including reduced crime prevention and accident costs and increased sales tax .
The first step in encouraging a move towards complete streets is having a city policy that requires them and underlines the required design elements. Calgary adopted its current Complete Streets Policy in 2014. The initial purpose of adopting a complete streets approach in Calgary was to “place a greater emphasis on the pedestrian environment, bicycle infrastructure, accessible design and street trees” .
Plans for a policy update
In 2023, The City of Calgary is preparing to update its Complete Streets policy and supporting guidelines. It can be observed that the 2014 Complete Streets Policy produces inconsistent and sub-optimal outcomes. Observations include:
Completed redevelopment projects of existing streets show inconsistent application of the policy objectives.
The conspicuous omission of the Complete Streets Policy in the consultation processes for recent street redevelopments on the City’s Engage website.
The development industry’s concerns with the street cross-section design and approval process of the existing policy and guidelines.
This leads to the question: are these sub-optimal outcomes a result of the policy and guidance developed by the City?
Comparing Calgary’s Policy with current best practice
As part of my Master of Public Policy through the University of Calgary, I did my capstone on exploring this very question. I approached it by doing a cross-jurisdictional analysis of selected Complete Streets Policies to recommend any potential improvements to Calgary’s policy framework.
A thorough review and analysis of Edmonton, New York City, Oslo, and Minneapolis’ policy frameworks were synthesized into a list of trends, best practices, and approaches. Calgary’s own policy framework was then reviewed and compared to this list.
All in all, Calgary’s existing complete streets policy framework stands up well against today’s best practices. What it comes down to is prioritizing follow-through and implementation. Improvements can be made to ensure that Calgary has the very best possible complete streets approach, but overall, the City can be proud of the work it has done so far.
Key recommendations include:
The most important step that the City can take in ensuring future success is to invest time into developing a citywide commitment to following through on the Complete Streets implementation strategy.
The policy should feature an implementation plan to train City staff directly affected by the policy framework, as well as an accountability plan to ensure that proper procedures are being followed.
The City should establish a dedicated committee of both internal and external stakeholders to oversee implementation.
Improve ease of use by creating one single-source Street Design Manual of all directions, rules, and guidance for the construction and redevelopment of streets and roads. Currently, guidance and policy is spread out over multiple documents.
A City commitment to reviewing the wider network if a priority element cannot be accommodated on a particular street. Complete Streets policies should focus on ensuring that transportation networks for all street and road users are kept complete in the face of potential gaps due to space limitations or other trade-offs.
Conclusion
The City of Calgary stands to benefit in many ways from establishing and fully implementing a world-class complete streets policy framework. This includes reducing infrastructure costs by designing a transportation network that suits all users at the outset, safety and social benefits from lowering traffic speeds, expanding mobility options, improving air quality, increasing opportunities for physical fitness, and designing more attractive communities. Here’s hoping that the City gets it right.
Sebastien T. Bergeron. is a Master’s student at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.