Conference Themes

I. Incorporating Complete Streets Language into Policy

Canada has succeeded in creating a handful of Complete Streets policies while the United States boasts over three hundred. Complete Streets planning and design vary based on the size and other physical characteristics of a community or city, all with successful outcomes. There are many players involved in adopting policy, funding, and building complete streets from the private and public sector. Learn from their approaches and find the most appropriate one for your community.

•  What policy and practices surrounding Complete Streets have been implemented in specific communities?

•  How do approaches to Complete Streets work across city to neighbourhood to site scales and work with municipalities, transit organizations, planners, and developers? 

•  How is Complete Streets language and active transportation goals incorporated into policy implementation? How can policies be measured?

•  How can the community benefits requirements in official plans (e.g. Toronto’s Section 37) be used to create an engaging streetscape?

•  What is the most effective driver for adopting Complete Streets? Political will, policy changes, design guidelines, advocacy, or community engagement?

•  How have towns and cities of different sizes adopted Complete Streets?

•  How is transit, walkability, bikability, and livability addressed from the municipal perspective?

II. Complete Streets on the Ground

Updated engineering standards and design guidelines create streets that accommodate active transportation, the most vulnerable street users, and multiple modes. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to Complete Streets design.  The key to adopting Complete Streets is providing engineers and planners with updated tools to support implementation.

•  Updated street design guidelines and engineering standards that accommodate vulnerable street users, active transportation, and Complete Streets.

•  Best Practices and case studies of successfully implemented Complete Streets

•  What are the challenges and opportunities of Complete Streets in winter cities?

•  What are the impacts of Complete Streets design on safety, accidents, and injuries?

•  How have Flexible Design and Context Sensitive Solutions been successfully applied?

•  How are emergency vehicles, delivery vehicles, and taxis incorporated into these streets?

III. Building Community with Complete Streets 

Complete Streets have benefits beyond increased mobility, including social, economic, and environmental impacts. Stakeholder engagement and community consultation frequently guide the adoption of pedestrian, cyclist and transit oriented policies. After being implemented, these streets host a range of activities and become community gathering places. Walkable, bikeable, and liveable streets contribute to economic vitality and higher property values for businesses and residents.

•  How can active transportation, transit infrastructure, and inviting streetscapes be leveraged for the greatest impact on community and economic development?

•  Streets as places: Adding placemaking into the goals and design of Complete Streets

•  What are the financial costs and benefits of Complete Streets?

•  How can opposition to Complete Streets be successfully addressed or what are some lessons learned from failed attempts to implement Complete Streets?

•  How are context appropriate transportation solutions effectively generated through community engagement?

•  How are streetscape, walkability, and transit access incorporated into development investment?