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What is a Complete Street?



In many communities across the country, streets have long been designed with one primary user in mind: the car. But what if our roads considered everyone? Drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, children, older adults, and people with disabilities? That’s the idea behind Complete Streets.


We were joined by Smart Growth America, who explained the importance of Complete Streets to us.


What Are Complete Streets?

Complete Streets are streets designed to be safe and easy for everyone to use — not just cars. That includes people who walk, ride bikes, use wheelchairs, take the bus, or drive. These streets are made to work for people of all ages and abilities.


Every street is different. A Complete Street in a busy city might have wide sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus stops. In a smaller town, it might just mean slower speed limits, more crosswalks, and better lighting. The main idea is to make the street safe and comfortable for everyone.


Key Features of Complete Streets


Some of the common elements found in Complete Streets designs include:

  • Sidewalks for safe pedestrian movement

  • Bike lanes or shared-use paths for cyclists

  • Crosswalks and pedestrian signals at intersections

  • Curb ramps and tactile paving for accessibility

  • Traffic calming features like curb extensions, medians, or narrower lanes

  • Bus pull-outs and transit shelters to support public transportation

  • Street trees and lighting to enhance safety and comfort


Why Are Complete Streets Important?


  1. They help keep people safe. Streets with sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes reduce accidents and injuries.

  2. They help people stay healthy. If it’s safer to walk or bike, more people will do it, which is good for their health.

  3. They give people more choices. Not everyone can drive a car. Complete Streets make it easier to get around without one.

  4. They help the environment. Walking, biking, or taking the bus creates less pollution than driving.

  5. They support local businesses. Streets that are easier to walk and bike on bring more people to stores and restaurants.


Networks, Not Just Policies

One of the unique things about Complete Streets is that it's not just about building a sidewalk here or a bike lane there. It’s about changing how transportation decisions are made. Many communities adopt Complete Streets policies, which require future road projects to consider all users from the start.


How St. Louis Adopted Complete Streets


St. Louis has a plan to make its streets better for everyone, and it’s called the Friendly Streets Initiative. The city began changing how it thinks about streets back in 2015, by updating its Complete Streets policy. That policy asked different city departments to work together on street planning. It also pushed for safer streets for walkers, bikers, and people using public transit.


In 2024, the city passed a new law called Bill 51. It created a group called the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, made up of city leaders and everyday people. This group meets every few months to help plan safer streets and listen to what the public wants.


What the City Is Doing


The Friendly Streets project includes several important improvements:


  • Better for Walking: The city is making sidewalks wider, shortening crosswalks, and adding safety spots in the middle of busy roads. These changes help people cross the street more safely.


  • Better for People with Disabilities: St. Louis has a plan to fix sidewalks, parks, and buildings so that people with disabilities can get around more easily. This plan is called the ADA Transition Plan.


  • Better for Biking: The city is building more protected bike lanes and connecting bike paths. Projects like the Tower Grove Connector and South Broadway Cycle Track help make biking safer and more fun.


  • Better for Drivers: Even drivers benefit from these changes. The city is working to slow down speeding cars, fix dangerous intersections, and add red light cameras to help prevent crashes.


  • Better for Neighborhoods: A project called Louisiana Calm Streets was finished in 2023. It added special sidewalks, traffic circles, and colorful markings on the street to make it safer and nicer for neighbors.


Why It Matters


With the Friendly Streets project, St. Louis is working hard to ensure that everyone—whether walking, biking, riding the bus, or driving—can travel safely and comfortably. These changes are helping create a city that is more connected, fair, and welcoming for all. And it all started with Complete Streets.


 
 
 

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