Complete Streets Tucson

Photo rendering of protected bike lane on north 6th Ave in Tucson

 

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WHAT ARE COMPLETE STREETS?

TUCSON'S POLICY 

COORDINATING COUNCIL 

RESOURCES

 

DRAFT STREET DESIGN GUIDE

The Final Street Design Guide is now available!

The Guide provides design guidance to city staff and project teams on how to design and construct transportation projects in a way that forwards the intent of the City's Complete Streets Policy. 

WHAT ARE COMPLETE STREETS? 

"Complete Streets" is an approach to transportation planning and design that guides the development of a safe, connected, and equitable transportation network for everyone - regardless of who they are, where they live, or how they get around. Adopting a Complete Streets policy, formalizes a city's intent to consistently fund, plan, design, construct and operate an interconnected street network for all anticipated users and transportation modes. 

Smart Growth America Video

WHAT DOES A COMPLETE STREET LOOK LIKE?

The complete streets approach is not a one-size-fits-all solution and it recognizes that all modes cannot receive the same type of accommodation on every street. The overall goal is that everyone can safely and comfortably travel throughout the network. 

Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI)

COMPLETE STREETS MAY INCLUDE...

Cars stopping for man on bicycle at the enhanced bike and pedestrian crossing on 5th St & Euclid in Tucson
Sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, and bike routes along busy roads

 

Rendering of future bicycle boulevard on Greenway Drive. Treatments include speed bumps, 20 mph signs, shade trees, traffic circle
Shade trees and traffic calming features on quiet neighborhood streets

 

Complete streets demo project at 6th Ave & 7th St in Tucson. Brightly painted intersection murals, man working on computer at public table and chairs, bicyclists riding through intersection
Inviting public spaces for people to walk, bike, and interact

 

Sunlink stop in front of the Mercado Annex with Sentinel Peak in background. Designated bike lane, shaded stop, accessible curb ramps.
Accessible, comfortable transit stops along high capacity transit corridors

 

HOW CAN COMPLETE STREETS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY?

Complete Streets help produce better health outcomes by reducing air pollution and allowing people to safely walk and bike. They help spur economic growth by decreasing transportation costs and connecting people to their jobs, neighborhood businesses, churches, healthcare providers, and schools. They strengthen communities by empowering youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities to be mobile. ​ 

 

COMPLETE STREETS FOR TUCSON

Each year, close to 4,000 Tucsonans are injured - and more than 50 people lose their lives - while traveling on city streets. We are committed to changing this.  With direction from Mayor and Council, Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) staff drafted a Complete Streets Policy in collaboration with Living Streets Alliance, the Complete Streets Task Force, and input from additional community stakeholders. 

 

APPROVED ADOPTED POLICIES

Tucson Mayor and Council adopted the Complete Streets Design Guide by Ordinance No. 11885 on November 23, 2021.

Tucson Mayor and Council adopted the Tucson Complete Streets Policy by Ordinance No. 11621 on February 5, 2019.

 

VISION & INTENT

The City of Tucson views all transportation improvements as opportunities to foster a vibrant, healthy, equitable, interconnected, accessible, environmentally-sustainable, and more livable city where everyone can move about safely, comfortably, and with dignity. The City's Complete Streets Policy shall guide the development of a safe, connected, and equitable transportation network that promotes enhanced mobility for people of all ages and abilities including, but not limited to, people walking, biking, using transit, driving, using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  1. Safety – Complete Streets provide a safe travel experience to all and designing Complete Streets is a safety strategy to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.  

  2. Accessibility – Complete Streets serve people of all ages and abilities.

  3. Equity, Diversity, And Inclusivity – Complete Streets elements are implemented equitably and inclusively throughout the city.

  4. Land Use – Complete Streets incorporate context sensitive, flexible design approaches and consider the surrounding community’s current and expected land use and transportation needs in an interconnected manner.

  5. Environment – Complete Streets preserve and protect Tucson’s environment and increase health by providing opportunities for active transportation (walking, biking, etc.) reducing vehicle miles traveled, and decreasing pollution caused by motor vehicles.

  6. Economic Vitality – Complete Streets help spur economic development by supporting business and job creation and by promoting resiliency in the workforce through access to multiple mobility options. 

 

COMPLETE STREETS COORDINATING COUNCIL

Tucson's Complete Streets program is overseen by a public committee, known as the Complete Streets Coordinating Council (CSCC). The CSCC is composed of 20 Tucsonans who review transportation projects, help prioritize transportation investments, and provide public oversight over complete streets implementation.

Interested in becoming a member of the CSCC? You can apply to be a member here

Complete Streets Coordinating Council Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of the month, starting at 5:30 p.m. Meetings will be held virtually until further notice. 

For upcoming Complete Streets Coordinating Council meetings and records from previous meetings, please visit: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/clerks/boards?board=130

 

RESOURCES

2020 SMART GROWTH AMERICA COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

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