Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can find some of the most commonly asked questions about the Complete Green Streets program.
What is Complete Green Streets?
Complete Green Streets is an approach to planning, designing and building streets for all users, including people walking biking, driving and taking transit, as well as a process for making investments in infrastructure that supports city sustainability. Complete Green Streets emphasizes a safe, connected, sustainable and equitable transportation network and public right-of-way for everyone regardless of where they live, how they get around or their age or ability.
A complete street is one that maximizes safety and ensures a connected network for travel for walking, transit, biking and driving. A complete street prioritizes people’s safety and is critical to eliminating serious and fatal crashes.
A green street integrates storm water control and management within the right-of-way as critical components of a street design, ensuring the street remains usable and safe for all people, even during storm events. Green Streets also incorporate tree canopy into the decision-making process for street projects.
What is the purpose of the Compete Green Streets Guide?
In 2009, the City of Madison reaffirmed the City’s commitment to Complete Streets in Resolution 09-00997 and directed staff to follow to the extent possible Complete Streets concepts. However, the policy alone did not provide adequate guidance for implementing Complete Streets consistently over time.
The Complete Green Street Guide provides a consistent process for planning, designing, building and operating streets – including the sidewalks, terraces, roadway and everything in between – in a way that reflects our community values and increases safety and equity. The Guide provides a framework for the City, its partner agencies and private developers in designing and constructing Complete Green Streets. The Guide will also help residents and community groups understand the process of street design and better advocate for safe and sustainable streets.
The Guide provides:
- A process centered in community values
- Clear direction on priorities
- Defined street types to use as a starting point for design
- Explicit equity framework and transparent process
- Flexible tool that will evolve over time
What will a project following the Complete Green Street Guide look like?
The Complete Green Streets Guide is a framework and process for street design, there is no single design for a complete green street. The final design would depend on the street type, the specific street priorities as well as the constraints of the right-of-way.
The Guide will move street design in a direction that will make it safer and more comfortable to walk, bike, and use transit while also decreasing fatal and serious motor vehicle crashes. Investments in green infrastructure and additional tree canopy will be incorporated into street projects where they can make a difference in sustainability, leading to a more resilient and livable city.
How is equity incorporated into the Complete Green Streets Guide?
Through the engagement process, intentional efforts were taken to ensure the voices of low-income residents as well as people of color were a part of the project feedback. With each of the three phases of engagement, specific focus groups were organized to gather that feedback.
Based on the feedback, the Complete Green Streets Guide includes an enhanced process for parts of the City designated as Equity Priority Areas. Projects in Equity Priority Areas will include additional engagement, collaboration across departments to better address neighborhood concerns and reduce overall engagement efforts, enhanced feedback on project approvals, and a review of project outcomes for equitable impacts. These steps are part of a Complete Green Streets project checklist to guide project work and to ensure documentation exists to review outcomes for projects across the City.
Where can I learn more?
The City of Madison Complete Green Streets website