5,189 people were killed while walking in Florida between 2003 and 2012.
Florida is #1 in the nation on the Pedestrian Danger Index.
There are 10 elements of a comprehensive Complete Streets policy:
Streets that are planned and designed using a Complete Streets approach may include:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Transportation Element Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal 1. Increase the modal choices of citizens and visitors to the City of Orlando by implementing a Complete Streets approach to all future roadway design to address as many users as possible.
Objective 1.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall utilize a Complete Streets approach to transportation infrastructure improvements.
Goal 2. Apply Complete Streets policies to City of Orlando Transportation Projects.
Objective 2.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to all applicable transportation projects located within the Capital Improvement Program.
Goal 3. Enhance Commercial Corridors and Employment Centers within the Traditional City through the application of Complete Streets.
Objective 3.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to commercial corridors to enhance the economic viability of the area.
Goal 4. Enhance and promote bicycling within the City of Orlando through the application of Complete Streets.
Objective 4.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to construct safe and convenient bicycle facilities to accommodate cyclists of all ages and abilities.
According to the US Census 2009-2013 American Community Survey, the percentages below show the modal split in the City of Orlando as an unbalanced transportation system that leans heavily toward the automobile, which is not a sustainable model for the future growth of the region or the urban core.
- 78.3% of workers in the City of Orlando commuted to work by single-occupant vehicle
- Approximately 4.7% of workers in the City of Orlando used public transit
- 1.9% in the City of Orlando walked
- 0.6% in the City of Orlando used a bicycle to get to work
Orlando is establishing a formalized design guidebook and corridor selection for the implementation of Complete Streets in the City of Orlando, which will address these issues.
By adopting a Complete Streets policy, the City of Orlando will direct it's transportation planners and engineers to routinely design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access for the following:
- drivers
- transit users
- pedestrians
- bicyclists
Schedule:
- August 2015: Draft Policy
- September 2015: Municipal Planning Board Approval
- January 2016: City Council Formal Adoption of Policy Language
There are 10 elements of a comprehensive Complete Streets policy:
- Includes a vision for how and why the community wants to complete its streets
- Specifies that ‘all users’ includes pedestrians, bicyclists and transit passengers of all ages and abilities, as well as trucks, buses and automobiles.
- Applies to both new and retrofit projects, including design, planning, maintenance, and operations, for the entire right of way.
- Makes any exceptions specific and sets a clear procedure that requires high-level approval of exceptions.
- Encourages street connectivity and aims to create a comprehensive, integrated, connected network for all modes.
- Is adoptable by all agencies to cover all roads.
- Directs the use of the latest and best design criteria and guidelines while recognizing the need for flexibility in balancing user needs.
- Directs that Complete Streets solutions will complement the context of the community.
- Establishes performance standards with measurable outcomes.
- Includes specific next steps for implementation of the policy
Streets that are planned and designed using a Complete Streets approach may include:
- sidewalks
- bicycle facilities (such as protected bike lanes in urban areas)
- special bus lanes
- comfortable and accessible public transportation stops
- frequent and safe crossing opportunities
- median islands, accessible pedestrian signals and ramps
- curb extensions
- narrower travel lanes
- roundabouts, multimodal bridges
Advantages:
- Increases safety for all users
- Increases Economic Development potential for commercial corridors
- Increases livability
- Enhances destinations and employment centers
- Modifies transportation behavior
Disadvantages:
- Decreases on-street parking
- Increases infrastructure costs per mile
- Increases automotive delays
- Increases maintenance costs
Transportation Element Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal 1. Increase the modal choices of citizens and visitors to the City of Orlando by implementing a Complete Streets approach to all future roadway design to address as many users as possible.
Objective 1.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall utilize a Complete Streets approach to transportation infrastructure improvements.
- The City recognizes the definition of Complete Streets as roadways that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, freight, motorists and transit.
- The City recognizes that Complete Streets policies consider people of all ages and abilities, including children, teenagers, adults, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
- The City recognizes that not all streets have the same purpose or function in terms of movement and capacity. For example, the primary purpose of arterial roadways is different from that of local roadways in terms of the type of primary user served.
- The City shall designate each Complete Streets corridor within the Major Thoroughfare Plan located within the City’s Land Development Code.
- The City shall support the goal of Complete Streets by analyzing the land uses adjacent to the proposed roadway project to account for the primary users served.
Goal 2. Apply Complete Streets policies to City of Orlando Transportation Projects.
Objective 2.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to all applicable transportation projects located within the Capital Improvement Program.
- All new construction and reconstruction of roadways located within the City of Orlando will be planned, designed, constructed, and maintained to benefit all users, with consideration given to land use context, right- of-way availability and costs.
- The Public Works and Economic Development Departments will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach that combines best engineering practices with best planning practices in order to provide the community with the best roadway possible.
- The City of Orlando will continue to consider all elements of the right- of-way and utilize all applicable Complete Streets policies during the Public Works repaving and resurfacing program.
- The City of Orlando will thoroughly evaluate the construction costs for each type of facility proposed within the right-of-way in order to maximize the benefit to the community.
Goal 3. Enhance Commercial Corridors and Employment Centers within the Traditional City through the application of Complete Streets.
Objective 3.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to commercial corridors to enhance the economic viability of the area.
- Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to all applicable projects located within the traditional city.
- Roadway design through commercial corridors and main street districts shall be enhanced to accommodate comfortable and safe pedestrian and bicycle travel; transit ridership is heavily encouraged.
- Landscaping and amenities that provide shade and promote aesthetically pleasing environments shall be incorporated into Complete Streets projects.
- Public Art integrated into the streetscape will be considered to help identify unique areas of the City of Orlando including the main street, sports entertainment, and the central business districts.
Goal 4. Enhance and promote bicycling within the City of Orlando through the application of Complete Streets.
Objective 4.1 Throughout the planning period, the City shall apply Complete Streets policies to construct safe and convenient bicycle facilities to accommodate cyclists of all ages and abilities.
- Bicycle facilities shall be recognized as a viable transportation option and shall be treated equally in the design of Complete Streets corridors.
- Bicycle facilities within Complete Streets corridors shall be planned and designed to safely accommodate cyclists of all ages and abilities.
- No Complete Streets corridor shall be completely void of a designated bicycle facility.
- The model hierarchy of bicycle facilities within Complete Streets corridors shall be as follows: Off-Street Path/Protected Cycle way, Buffered Bike Lane, Bicycle Lane, Sharrow.