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
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.
| Complete Streets Policy Action | Status |
|---|---|
|
Report key Complete Streets performance measures and outcomes. Click here to read the latest 6-month report to County Council. This is the 54-month report and was published on September 13, 2024. See below for an archive of past 6-month reports. |
In Process |
| 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. | Completed |
| 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 latest version of the Equity Emphasis Area Index completed in 2023. Click here for the previous version of the Equity Emphasis Area Index completed in 2020. |
Completed |
|
Develop a system for evaluation and prioritization 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 |
Join our mailing list!
Get email updates on recent news, upcoming meetings/events, projects, and other initiatives from the Office of Transportation.
Complete Streets Resources
6-month County Council Reports Archive
- Click here to read the September 13, 2024 54-month report to County Council.
- 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.
Howard County Complete Streets Projects
To see descriptions of Howard County Complete Streets projects, click here.
Complete Streets Design Manual Exceptions for Capital Projects
The process for exceptions is stated under item 3 of the Complete Streets Policy.
List of approved exceptions:
May 2024 - Carroll Mill Bridge