About the Campaign
Streets are vital public spaces. When designed well they connect communities, provide transportation options, improve public health, build a strong local economy, and create a sense of place. Unfortunately, Kansas City long ago prioritized moving car traffic quickly above all else. As a result many of the people, businesses, and livability left the center of the city.
Complete KC is a campaign, driven by a diverse coalition, to plan, design and implement a network of "Complete Streets" to better connect neighborhoods, improve quality of life, and restore sense of place. Let's re-imagine a community where everyone from 8 to 80 years old can move about their city and feel safe regardless of their mode of travel.
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What is a Complete Street?
Complete Streets are safe, comfortable, and convenient for all people regardless of their type/mode of transportation. Complete streets promote a culture of well-being through physical activity, economic opportunity, and a sense of community by getting us outside and engaged with our community.
Benefits of Complete Streets
Building Complete Streets is a proven strategy to increase bicycle ridership, walking rates, home values, and overall quality of life. And perhaps most importantly, Complete Streets improve public health, safety, and economic opportunity.
Let’s re-imagine a street network where everyone from 8 to 80 years old can move about their city and feel safe regardless of their mode of travel.
Road Diets: Reducing a four lane road to a three or two lane road with more bike/pedestrian facilities
- 3-5 MPH reduction in speed
- 3 lane streets can handle as much traffic as 4 lane
- Road Diets can increase car parking
- Can be very cheap when coordinated with routine resurfacing
Traffic Calming: The slowing of traffic by building speed bumps or other physical obstructions
- 92% decrease in retail vacancy on Hendersonville, NC Main St after traffic calming
- 25-50% of public space in cities is made up of streets and parking
- 50% reduction in violent crime in Dayton, OH following speed reductions and limiting access to alleys
Walkability: A measure of how friendly an area is to walking
- A one point increase in Walk Score increases home values by $700-$3000
- Retail properties with Walk Score of 80 are valued 54% higher than those with a Walk Score of 20.
- Retail properties with Walk Score of 80 have 42% higher operating income than those with a Walk Score of 20.
- People who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are 47% more likely to be active at least 30 minutes per day
Source: AARP.org/Livable
