A presentation made in 2009 by Nicholas de Wolff, Chair of the subcommittee on Transportation and Urban Design, City of Burbank, California. (an abridged version (only 39 slides) has since been uploaded)

1. Livable BurbankLivable Burbank
The Key to Making Our City
the Easiest and Most Pleasant
Environment to Navigate

2. The challengesThe challenges
 For Local Cars
◦ Gas prices
◦ Traffic Flow
◦ Safety
◦ [what else?]
 For Bicycles
◦ Cars
◦ Parking
◦ Safety
◦ [what else?]
 For Public Transportation
◦ Community adoption at large scale
◦ Cost overruns
◦ Connectivity
◦ [what else?]
 For Pedestrians
◦ Cars, bicycles, scooters, public transportation
◦ Narrow or non-existent pavement
◦ [what else?]
 For everyone
◦ Air quality
◦ Congestion
◦ Livable streets
◦ [what else?]

3. The SolutionsThe Solutions
 For Cars
◦ Incentives for alternative fuel vehicles (Electric, Hydrogen, etc)
◦ [what else?]
 For Bicycles
◦ Protection from moving automotive traffic
◦ Usability
◦ [what else?]
 For Public Transportation
◦ Community adoption at large scale
◦ [what else?]
 For Pedestrians
◦ Increase Safety
◦ Increase Point-2-point Connectivity
◦ [what else?]
 For everyone
◦ Reduce Emissions
◦ Increase Mobility
◦ Traffic Calming
◦ Complete Streets
◦ [what else?]

4. Traffic Calming – Some DefinitionsTraffic Calming – Some Definitions
 Definitions of traffic calming vary, but they all share the goal of reducing vehicle
speeds, improving safety, and enhancing quality of life. Most definitions focus on
engineering measures to change driver behavior. Some focus on engineering
measures that compel drivers to slow down, excluding those that use barriers to
divert traffic. The following are some example definitions.
◦ INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS
Traffic calming involves changes in street alignment, installation of barriers, and other
physical measures to reduce traffic speeds and/or cut-through volumes, in the interest
of street safety, livability, and other public purposes.
◦ TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
Traffic calming involves altering of motorist behaviour on a street or on a street
network. It also includes traffic management, which involves changing traffic routes or
flows within a neighbourhood.
◦ MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND
Traffic calming consists of operational measures such as enhanced police enforcement,
speed displays, and a community speed watch program, as well as such physical
measures as edgelines, chokers, chicanes, traffic circles, and (for the past years) speed
humps and raised crosswalks.
I believe that Traffic Calming is the topic on which Sharon Springer is leading the discussion,
so I leave further comment and presentation to her, save to make the final point that Traffic
Calming and Complete Streets are, in my opinion, two halves of a whole
solution, the one addressing arterials (Complete Streets), and the other focusing more on
tributaries (Traffic Calming), with obvious overlap in some cases.

5. What is a Complete Street?What is a Complete Street?**
A Complete Street is safe, comfortable and convenient for
travel via automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit.

6. A Complete Street:A Complete Street:
Offers a full range
of travel choices

7. A Complete Street:A Complete Street:
Connects to a
network that offers
choices
Portland Cyclists
Commuting Video

8. A Complete Street:A Complete Street:
Is fully accessible
to all: kids, seniors
and people with
disabilities

9. A Complete Street:A Complete Street:
Supports &
contributes to life
in pleasant,
convenient
neighborhoods

10. A Complete Street:A Complete Street:
Serves transit

11. Why do we need to complete the streets?Why do we need to complete the streets?

12. Americans want to walk and bike moreAmericans want to walk and bike more
52% want to
bike more than
they do now.
“America Bikes” Poll

13. Americans want to walk and bike moreAmericans want to walk and bike more
55% would rather
drive less and
walk more
STPP Poll

14. About a third of Americans don’t drive:About a third of Americans don’t drive:
21% of Americans
over 65

15. About a third of Americans don’t drive:About a third of Americans don’t drive:
21% of Americans
over 65
All children under 16

16. About a third of Americans don’t drive:About a third of Americans don’t drive:
21% of Americans
over 65
All children under 16
Many low income
Americans cannot
afford automobiles

17. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
No room for bikes or pedestrians

18. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
No sidewalks

19. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
Too narrow to share with bikes

20. Too dangerous to cross on foot
Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:

21. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
No room for people

22. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
25% of walking trips
take place on roads
w/o sidewalks or
shoulders
Natl. Survey of Ped &
Bicyclist Attitudes &
Behaviors, 2003 BTS

23. Streets are inadequate:Streets are inadequate:
Bike lanes are
available for only
about 5% of bike
trips
Natl. Survey of Ped &
Bicyclist Attitudes &
Behaviors, 2003 BTS

24. Top pedestrian complaints areTop pedestrian complaints are
incomplete streetsincomplete streets
2002 Natl. Transportation
Availability & Use Survey

25. Top bicyclist complaints areTop bicyclist complaints are
incomplete streetsincomplete streets
2002 Natl. Transportation
Availability & Use Survey

26. Incomplete streets are unsafe.Incomplete streets are unsafe.
FMIS, NHTS, FARS
federal databases

27. Completing the Streets: Local ActionCompleting the Streets: Local Action
 What % of arterial
streets in Burbank
(CA)have bike
lanes?

28. Completing the Streets: One ExampleCompleting the Streets: One Example
Boulder, Colorado has built all arterials as multi-modal
corridors for auto, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use.

29. Boulder, Colorado has built all arterials as multi-modal corridors
for auto, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use.
Completing the Streets: One ExampleCompleting the Streets: One Example

30. Complete Street - BeforeComplete Street - Before

31. Complete Street - AfterComplete Street - After
Click here to visit the 21st
Century Street Design Competition Web Site

32. Pro: A street cyclists can ride comfortably
Con: Single-stripe separation has been proven to work only on side streets with no auto parking lane,
or widened for commercial arterials (see next slide).
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

33. A commercial arterial with bike lanes & sidewalks
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

34. Pro: Grass verge allows for soft “fall zone” if bicyclist is forced off road
Pro: Differentiating color scheme of lane clearly identifies zones
Con: Cobbled lane makes for unnecessary discomfort for bicyclist
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

35. Pro: Exclusive lane
Pro: Buffered from all other traffic
Con: Only really works on one-way streets or wide boulevards
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

36. A street school children can safely cross
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

37. A commercial street with lots of activity
The many types of Complete StreetsThe many types of Complete Streets

38.  Kids going to school or
the ice cream shop on
their own
 Seniors comfortably
strolling and safely
crossing the street
 More bikes used for
utility and recreational
trips
 Fewer accidents and less
serious injuries
 A more smoothly
functioning road network
 Higher values for
adjoining properties
What you'll see when streets are completeWhat you'll see when streets are complete

39. Benefits: for safetyBenefits: for safety
(King/Ewing Report)
Designing intersections for
pedestrian travel can reduce
pedestrian risk by 28%

40. Europe has more bike-ped travelEurope has more bike-ped travel
Pucher, AJPH Sept
2003

41. ……And far fewer deathsAnd far fewer deaths
Pucher, AJPH Sept
2003

42. Benefits: for older AmericansBenefits: for older Americans
 50% of Americans
will be over 55 in
2030
 More than half of
older Americans
walk regularly.

43. Benefits: for older AmericansBenefits: for older Americans
 21% of Americans
over 65 do not drive
 More than 50% of
non-drivers stay at
home on a given
day because they
lack transportation
options.

44. Benefits: for encouraging healthy activityBenefits: for encouraging healthy activity
 Walking &
bicycling help
prevent obesity,
diabetes, high
blood pressure &
colon cancer.
 Residents are
65% more likely
to walk in a
neighborhood
with sidewalks.

45. 20% of Americans
have a disability
that limits their
daily activities.
Complete Streets
have curb cuts and
other features for
disabled travelers.
Complete Streets
reduce isolation
and dependence.
Benefits: for people with disabilitiesBenefits: for people with disabilities

46. Benefits: for reducing trafficBenefits: for reducing traffic
Of all trips taken in metro areas:
50% are three miles or less
28% are one mile or less
65% of trips under one mile
are now taken by automobile
Since this 2001 NHTS report, the number has grown dramatically…

47. Isn’t it expensive?Isn’t it expensive?
“The cost is incremental or minimal in terms of the overall construction
costs for a new facility.”
Whit Clement, Virginia Secretary of Transportation
“By fully considering the needs of all non-motorized travelers (pedestrians,
bicyclists, & persons with disabilities) early in the life of a project, the costs
associated with including facilities for these travelers are minimized.”
Jeff Morales, Former Director, CalTrans

48. Is this supported in design manuals?Is this supported in design manuals?
The AASHTO “Green Book”
“Because of the demands of
vehicular traffic in congested
areas, it is often extremely
difficult to make adequate
provisions for pedestrians.
Yet this should be done,
because pedestrians are the
lifeblood of our urban
areas..."

49. Most transportation experts agree this road is poorly designed
Is this supported in design manuals?Is this supported in design manuals?

50. Won’t this mean wider streets?
Many overly wide roads could use a “road diet”

51. What’s a road diet?
Classic road diet shrinks 4 lanes to 3 + bike lanes

52. What else does a road diet do?
Creates room for wider sidewalks

53. What else does a road diet do?
An inexpensive tool for retrofitting existing streets

54. Are street design standards enough?
This road meets minimum standards, but is sterile

55. Start with a stark, plain street
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

56. Narrow travel lanes, add a bike lane
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

57. Add a median, trees and some texture
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

58. Bring the buildings in closer
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

59. Make sure the buildings face the street
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

60. Bring in more buildings (infill)
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

61. The street now has a life!
Putting All The Pieces TogetherPutting All The Pieces Together

62. The Case For Buffered LanesThe Case For Buffered Lanes
CLICK HERE TO PLAY VIDEO

63. Bike Share ProgramsBike Share Programs
CLICK HERE TO PLAY VIDEO
CLICK HERE TO PLAY 1st
ANNIVERSARY VIDEO
CLICK HERE TO PLAY LAUNCH VIDEO

64. Further resourcesFurther resources
 Article about Complete Streets (who coined the term; cities
developing successful programs, etc)
 The Livable Streets Initiative Web Site
 GOOD Magazine Livable Street Web Site
* - In the interest of transparency, it bears noting that some of the slides in this presentation are direct copies of, or based upon, other presentations I have found on the internet.