What is Complete Streets?

Defining Complete Streets

“Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work.”
 
National Complete Streets Coalition

Complete Streets Vision

“To ensure that Howard County is a place for individuals of all backgrounds to live and travel freely, safely, and comfortably, public and private roadways in Howard County shall be safe and convenient for residents of all ages and abilities who travel by foot, bicycle, public transportation or automobile, ensuring sustainable communities Countywide.”
– From Howard County's Complete Streets Policy Statement

Complete Streets graphic cropped for website

Resolution and Policy

The Howard County Council unanimously adopted the Complete Streets Resolution CR 120-2019 on October 7, 2019. The scope of the policy covers all aspects of transportation projects, and details the actions to create opportunities for safer, more accessible streets for users of all ages and abilities. The policy provides guidelines for retrofits of existing infrastructure, capital improvements, and improvements as part of a subdivision and land development. It also includes guidelines for repairs and maintenance activities.

View the combined resolution and policy statement.

Photo of Oakland Mills cycle track, cropped for website use
Complete Streets Policy Action Status

Form a Transportation & Land Use Regulation Advisory Group to develop recommendations to align the County’s development code with the complete streets policy. Click here for more information.

In Process
Report key Complete Streets performance measures and outcomes. Click here to read the latest 6-month report to County Council. This is the 48-month report and was published on December 18, 2023. See below for an archive of past 6-month reports. In Process
Update the Design Manual to reflect Complete Streets policies, and provide training modules for users of the Manual. Click here to visit the Design Manual page and view links to each training module. Completed

Form a Complete Streets Implementation Team that guides the updates of the Design Manual. Click here for more information.

Completed

Incorporate equity into the policy’s performance measures; these performance measures are used to track implementation progress, prioritize projects, and evaluate designs through an Equity Emphasis Area (formerly known as Vulnerable Populations) Index. Click here for the Equity Emphasis Area Index completed in 2020.

Completed

Develop a system for evaluation and prioritzation of County transportation projects reflecting Complete Streets policies. Click here for more information.

Completed
Develop a community engagement plan that promotes an equitable and accessible decision-making process. Click here for more information. Completed
Revise the County's sidewalk policy to address the process for community notification and approval for sidewalk extensions. A revised policy was adopted in October 2020 by Executive Order 2020-16. Click here to read the full order. Completed
 

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Complete Streets Resources

Title

6-month County Council Reports Archive

Content
  • Click here to read the December 18, 2023 48-month report to County Council.
  • Click here to read the July 31, 2023 42-month report to County Council.
  • Click here to read the December 5, 2022 36-month report to County Council.
  • Click here to read the May 26, 2022 30-month report to County Council.
  • Click here to read the November 2, 2021 24-month report to County Council.
  • Click here to read the April 30, 2021 18-month report to County Council. 
  • Click here to read the October 27, 2020 12-month report to County Council on policy implementation. 
  • Click here to read the April 28, 2020 report about the first six months of policy implementation.
Title

Howard County Complete Streets Projects

Content

To see descriptions of Howard County Complete Streets projects, click here.

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