National Complete Streets Coalition

National Complete Streets Coalition
Name	National Complete Streets Coalition
Formation	2005
Type	Nonprofit advocacy organization
Headquarters	United States
Parent organization	Smart Growth America

National Complete Streets Coalition is an advocacy initiative founded to promote street design that safely accommodates users of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists. The Coalition grew from collaboration among urban planners, public health advocates, transportation engineers, and civic organizations seeking reforms in transportation policy and land use practice. It operates within a network of national and local partners to advance model policies, technical guidance, and implementation support.

History

The Coalition emerged in 2005 amid converging efforts by Smart Growth America, American Public Health Association, American Planning Association, Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to respond to challenges highlighted by events such as the rise of Vision Zero campaigns, the resurgence of New Urbanism, and research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on physical activity. Early milestones included development of model policy language informed by design guidance like the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and cases from municipal adopters such as Portland, Oregon, New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Seattle. The Coalition’s work intersected with federal initiatives including the Federal Highway Administration programs, the Safe Routes to School movement, and funding streams shaped by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and later surface transportation legislation like the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.

Mission and Principles

The Coalition’s stated mission centers on advancing street networks that support multimodal mobility, public health, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. Core principles echo guidance from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the U.S. Green Building Council: complete streets should be designed for users of all ages and abilities, integrate with public transit systems such as those run by Metropolitan Transportation Authority, promote safety consistent with Vision Zero strategies, and support equitable outcomes championed by organizations like the NAACP and AARP. Policy templates align with statutory frameworks including state-level codes influenced by groups such as the National Governors Association and municipal charters from cities like Boston and San Francisco.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs include model policy development, technical assistance, performance measurement, and advocacy campaigns. The Coalition publishes toolkits drawing on standards from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, case studies from the National Association of Counties, and design examples from the League of American Bicyclists. Initiatives have partnered with foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and philanthropic programs run by the Ford Foundation, while training and certification efforts coordinate with institutions like Rutgers University, University of California, Berkeley, and professional bodies including the Society of American Engineers and American Institute of Architects. Pilot projects have been implemented in collaboration with regional transit authorities like Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and municipal agencies including Denver Public Works.

Policy and Advocacy

The Coalition’s advocacy tactics include drafting model ordinances for adoption by state legislatures and city councils, lobbying during reauthorization of federal programs such as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, and providing testimony before committees like the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. It works alongside coalitions including America Walks, Transportation for America, Rocky Mountain Institute, and Alliance for Biking & Walking to influence capital programming at agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. Legal and policy research is informed by precedents from landmark local efforts in Cleveland, Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Impact and Outcomes

Measured outcomes reported by the Coalition and partners include increases in walking and biking mode share in cities like New York City and Portland, Oregon, reductions in traffic fatalities consistent with Vision Zero goals in municipalities such as San Francisco and Seattle, and economic assessments mirroring findings from studies by Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. Documentation links complete streets adoption to improved access to healthcare providers, schools participating in Safe Routes to School, and transit hubs like Union Station (Los Angeles). Evaluations often cite data from the National Household Travel Survey and safety analyses using crash data compiled by state departments of transportation including California Department of Transportation.

Partnerships and Funding

The Coalition’s work is supported through partnerships with national nonprofits, municipal governments, academic research centers, and philanthropic funders. Major partners include Smart Growth America, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and municipal agencies such as New York City Department of Transportation and Portland Bureau of Transportation. Collaborative research has involved universities like University of Michigan, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Columbia University, while implementation grants have leveraged federal programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and foundations connected to the Bloomberg Philanthropies network. Funding models combine foundation grants, government contracts, and fee-for-service technical assistance to localities.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States