SWEAC Launches "Complete Streets In A Box" Toolkit
Thursday, 03 May 2012 20:26
SWEAC Launches "Complete Streets In A Box" Toolkit
Collaboration with Tri-State Transportation Campaign results in valuable resource for local governments
The Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (SWEAC), in collaboration with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, is pleased to announce the creation of a "Complete Streets In A Box" toolkit. Creating this toolkit and making it available to Westchester municipalities was identified as a high priority action at SWEAC's January 28th Sustainability Forum which brought together elected officials, municipal staff and sustainability committee members from SWEAC municipalities and beyond.
The toolkit includes various resources to help municipal officials and citizens interested in safer street design: a powerpoint presentation that explains what complete streets are; a model policy—created with Westchester in mind—that can be used as a template for communities interested in adopting their own policy; copies of the already-adopted policies from Lewisboro and New Rochelle; and links to additional information that can help communities build a better understanding of how complete streets can help build more livable communities.
The toolkit can be found online at: http://www.sweac.org/complete-streets-in-a-box-toolkit.html. We hope these resources will help support municipal adoption of Complete Street policies in municipalities throughout the area.
The full press release follows:
For immediate release: April 25th, 2012
Contact: Rob Baron, Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium
P: 914-275-5556, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Veronica Vanterpool, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
P: 212-268-7474, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Groups Release “Complete Streets in a Box”
Includes Model Policy for Westchester Communities
SWEAC, in collaboration with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, has created a "Complete Streets in a Box" toolkit to support the adoption of complete streets policies by Westchester municipalities.
The toolkit includes various resources to help municipal officials and citizens interested in safer street design: a powerpoint presentation that explains what complete streets are; a model policy—created with Westchester in mind—that can be used as a template for communities interested in adopting their own policy; copies of the already-adopted policies from Lewisboro and New Rochelle; and links to additional information that can help communities build a better understanding of how complete streets can help build more livable communities.
The toolkit can be found online at: http://www.sweac.org/
complete-streets-in-a-box-toolkit.html.Complete streets are roads that are designed for all users, not just cars. They are safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel for everyone, regardless of age or ability—motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders. With simple changes to the way roads are viewed and designed, municipalities can make sure that everyone is safer, no matter where people are going or how they're getting there. These are changes that can be made affordably, without being an unfunded mandate on a municipality.
In February 2012, New York State's new complete streets law went into effect and now all transportation projects that receive state and federal funding must consider using complete streets design features. In Westchester, it is important that local communities follow suit, and consider adopting local policies that encourage a full complete streets network in our region.
“Many Westchester communities have asked us for exactly what this tool-kit will provide—a leg up in the effort to change how we view our roads and our communities,” stated Peter McCartt, SWEAC's Advisory Board Chairperson. “People want to be able to get out of their cars, they want to have the option of a greener way to get around. Safer streets are the first step to more sustainable communities.”
“Road networks don’t begin and end at municipal boundaries,” said Veronica Vanterpool, Associate Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “By encouraging a cohesive approach to road design and policy, this toolkit can help Westchester communities all get on the same page—moving towards safer streets and greener, healthier options.”
SWEAC, the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, is a collaboration of municipally-appointed citizen committees addressing energy and other sustainability concerns in Southern Westchester. The transportation committee of SWEAC has adopted two primary advocacy goals this year: encouraging communities to adopt complete streets policies, and speaking out on the need for transit on the Tappan Zee Bridge. The following municipalities are consortium members: Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown, Tuckahoe, White Plains, and Yonkers, and participation is growing. Tri-State Transportation Campaign is a non-profit policy organization working for a more sustainable transportation network in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Tri-State was actively involved in the drafting and advocacy for the statewide complete streets law and has helped communities across the state to adopt local policies.
