Walpole recognized by national group
Walpole’s newly instituted policy for safer street design recognized by national group as one of the ten best in the country
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, today released the Best Complete Streets Policies of 2018 which recognized the hard work by the Town of Walpole to draft and institute a new Complete Streets policy, naming it one of the ten best in the country passed in 2018.
Walpole joins a long list of 1,477 communities that have adopted Complete Streets policies as of the end of 2018, making a commitment to moving people, not vehicles, as the highest priority for the local transportation network.
“Policies like the one passed in Walpole are urgently needed,” said Emiko Atherton, director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “The number of people struck and killed while walking has increased by 35 percent in the last decade nationally, at the same time that overall traffic fatalities have gone down. The good news is that we already have the solution: designing and building streets that are safe for everyone who needs to use them. A strong Complete Streets policy is the first critical step toward making that a reality across the country, and we applaud Walpole for their hard work on passing its Complete Streets Policy”
Lead by Maggie Walker, P.E. the Town Engineer with assistance from the local Complete Streets Committee members and Bill Scully, P.E., the consultant from Green International Affiliates, the Policy is intended to encourage safe, connected travel options for all users. As Maggie points out, “While improvements and changes to our transportation system will require some time to fully implement, having the Policy keeps the thoughts and principles in our minds as we perform our day to day tasks”.
Streets are a vital part of livable, attractive communities. Everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, race, or ethnicity, ought to have safe, comfortable, and convenient access to community destinations and public places–whether walking, driving, bicycling, or taking public transportation. A Complete Streets approach integrates people and place in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of our transportation networks. This helps to ensure streets are safe for people of all ages and abilities, balance the needs of different modes, and support local land uses, economies, cultures, and natural environments.
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, is a non-profit, non-partisan alliance of public interest organizations and transportation professionals committed to the development and implementation of Complete Streets policies and practices. A nationwide movement launched by the Coalition in 2004, Complete Streets is the integration of people and place in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation networks.
Smart Growth America envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.