On June 3, 2024, the City of Richardson adopted its first Complete Streets Policy outlining the vision and intent of Complete Streets in the community and how it will apply and be implemented. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will help provide oversight and accountability for the Complete Streets Policy to assess progress and effectiveness.

What are Complete Streets?

Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach aimed at creating a network of roadways that accommodate and prioritize the needs of all users. Complete Streets are thoughtfully planned, designed, and built to accommodate people of all ages and abilities safely and comfortably, such as pedestrians (inclusive of those using assisted mobility devices), cyclists, transit users, motorists, as well as freight, emergency responders, and delivery bots. A Complete Streets Policy sets forth an agency’s commitment to and implementation process for integrating Complete Streets concepts in transportation planning decisions and roadway design.

By adopting a Complete Streets policy, the City of Richardson aspires to developing a comprehensive multimodal transportation system that facilitates safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient mobility for all people and travel modes. The Policy acknowledges streets have varying roles, functions, and levels of activity depending on the context of the surrounding land use and neighborhood.

Learn more about Complete Streets and best practices from the Complete Streets Coalition.

Vision and Intent

The City of Richardson endeavors to developing a comprehensive multimodal transportation system. Through the implementation of this Complete Streets Policy, the City will consistently plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain all transportation facilities within the public right-of-way to enable safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient mobility for all people and travel modes. This includes people traveling as pedestrians, by bicycle, by transit, and by motor vehicle (including commercial vehicles and emergency responders) such that people of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a street.

This Policy directs City decision-makers to consider all transportation system users, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable road users, when making decisions regarding transportation and land use planning. The City shall work to advance Complete Streets to the greatest extent possible, with a focus on ensuring safe access for people of all ages and abilities.

The following guiding principles will be considered to implement Complete Streets in the City: 

1. Serve all users and modes. Develop a transportation network that is context-sensitive and prioritizes safety, accessibility, comfort, and convenience for people of all ages and abilities within the roadway context.
2. Increase transportation and mobility options. Consider walking, biking, rolling, public transit, and other alternative or emerging transportation modes within transportation planning initiatives, project programming and design, and construction activities.
3. Establish a connected multimodal transportation network. Expand and enhance the existing transportation network by completing missing links to connect key destinations. Project designs should proactively identify and rectify modal gaps or shortcomings, striving to strike a harmonious balance where all modes are served.
4. Coordinate land use and transportation. Create a balanced, modern, and integrated transportation system capable of serving current and future travel demand by taking a proactive approach in considering mobility and accessibility for all modes during land use planning as part of the Comprehensive Plan.
5. Enhance community health and quality of life. Establish a transportation system that supports community design that promotes physical activity, social connection, and a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle. Consider the effects of the transportation system on the natural environment to help reduce air and water pollution.