FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2013
Ten cities make the list of top Complete Streets policies in the nation
National coalition ranks 125 policies passed in 2012
CONTACT: Craig Chester, 202-207-3355 x215,
Washington, DC – Nearly 130 cities, states and regions passed policies in 2012 to make streets safer and more convenient for all Americans. These communities are part of a growing movement for “Complete Streets,” which gained incredible momentum in 2012.
In a new report released today, the National Complete Streets Coalition identifies the 10 best policies passed in 2012. The Coalition examined each policy passed last year and scored them based on 10 elements of an ideal Complete Streets policy. The top policies are:
2 / Hermosa Beach, CA / 7 / Oak Park, IL
2 / Huntington Park, CA / 8 / Trenton, NJ
4 / Ocean Shores, WA / 9 / Clayton, MO
5 / Northfield, MN / 10 / Rancho Cucamonga, CA
“The policies passed in 2012 are some of the strongest we’ve seen,” said Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “The communities included in this year’s analysis have done a stellar job drafting strong, comprehensive policies to create streets that work for everyone.”
Indianapolis, IN’s Complete Streets policy garnered the top score in the country, with a total of 89.6 points out of a possible 100.
“We’re very proud of our efforts in the past few years to make Indianapolis more walkable, bikeable and connected,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.“The strength of our Complete Streets plan is its clear commitment to achieving a vibrant, healthy city. Now, we’re working to make our plan a reality with safe and accessible transportation options for all residents.”
Overall 488 Complete Streets policies are now in place across the country, in 48 states as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
“This ranking is intended to celebrate the communities that have done exceptional work in the past year,” said Roger Millar, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, “as well as to give other communities an example to follow in writing or amending their own Complete Streets policies. We hope thesepolicies serve as models for towns and cities across the country.”
See more information about the winning policies and evaluation criteria at
The National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America, seeks to fundamentally transform the look, feel and function of the roads and streets in our community, by changing the way most roads are planned, designed and constructed. Complete Streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to consistently design with all users in mind, in line with the elements of Complete Streets policies.
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring better development to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods.
For additional information, visit
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