EPAs Complete Streets Technical Assistance helps communities set

investment priorities, draft policies, and develop strategies to make their streets greener, as well as safe and appealing to all users, including drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. For more information about EPAs Complete Streets Technical Assistance, please visit: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm.

Green
Complete Streets
What do they do?
Multiple Transportation Uses Catalyst for Redevelopment Improve Water Quality Reduce Stormwater Flow Reduce Urban Island Effect Enhance Pedestrian Safety Reduce Carbon Footprint Beautify Neighborhoods Green, Complete Street Example: Features from before-and-after photos above include walking paths, bike racks, benches, narrower driving lanes to help slow the speed of cars, and more efficient parking. Permeable pavement along with bioswales (long, linear rain gardens) capture and filter stormwater and use it where it falls to help beautify the street.

Green, complete streets can enhance a streets appearance, reduce adverse impacts of the built environment, and increase an areas development potential.

Links for more information:

EPA and Smart Growth: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth EPA and Green Infrastructure: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/ index.cfm Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm American Planning Association Complete Streets Implementation Guide: www.planning.org/research/streets

Green, Complete Street Example: Features from before-and-after photos above include narrower driving lanes, designated bike lanes, neighborhood street banners, street lighting under the tree canopies, and wider sidewalks (especially at corners). This streetscape design is also enhanced by rain gardens that slow and filter stormwater runoff.

Green streets enrich city streets by adding lushness and color to the concrete and asphalt hardscape. These roadside gardens add natural beauty to otherwise barren spaces. Furthermore, Green streets help clean the air and cool the city, while providing food and habitat for migratory birds and pollinators.
New York City Global Partners Best Practice: Greenstreets: Greening Roadways

Green
Catalyst for Redevelopment

Complete Streets
Reduce Stormwater Flow and Improve Water Quality
Green, complete street infrastructure can include a range of natural and built approaches to stormwater management: Rain gardens Bioswales Permeable paving Benefits of these strategies include: Filtering stormwater Letting stormwater absorb into the ground Reducing the strain on the citys stormwater system

Green, complete streets can boost an areas development potential by: Increasing opportunities for businesses through more pedestrian traffic Enhancing safety, walkability, and aesthetics for pedestrians Increasing property values Calming traffic Focusing on community values

These photos from Kansas City, Mo., (top) and Greensburg, Kan., (bottom) show how green infrastructure solutions can be incorporated into the amenity zone of the street right-of-way.

Multiple Transportation Use

Complete streets provide a variety of safe transportation modes including: Pedestrian Bicycle Transit Automobile

Reduce Urban Island Effect Beautify Neighborhoods

Green, complete streets also: Increase amount and variety of vegetation Introduce alternative materials and orientation for roads and sidewalks Improve pedestrian experience Green, complete street design techniques and infrastructure reduce urban heat by: Decreasing impermeable surfaces areas and increasing vegetative cover Lessening the amount of radiation absorbed by concrete surfaces Lowering energy demands needed to cool urban areas

Reduce Carbon Footprint

Green, complete streets encourage a shift in the way people choose to commute through: Safer pedestrian environments Beautified streetscape Narrower driving lanes Bike lanes