Complete Green Streets

Streets in Madison move people, but are also our largest public spaces. Neighbors, business owners, bicyclists, transit users, and the health of our streams and lakes all have a stake in how that public space is allocated. Should valuable street space go towards parking or bike lanes? Bus lanes or street trees? Rain gardens or sidewalks with café dining? The answer likely varies in different situations, but how do we make those decisions? The Complete Green Streets project will develop a decision process and tools to help consistently achieve community goals and streamline the decision-making process.

Sections:

  • Principles of Complete Green Streets

Complete Streets are for everyone, no matter who they are or how they travel. There is no one design of a Complete Street but instead each street considers the specific context of the community, neighborhood and street. A complete street is designed and operated in a way that prioritizes safety, comfort and access to destinations for all people who use the street.Green streets are part of healthy, equitable urban design that views streets as vital public spaces. Incorporating green elements in to streets improves mental and physical health through better air quality, valuable shade and beautification and contact with nature in areas where access to parks is limited. Green infrastructure is also part of designing for resilience and is critical for climate change mitigation and adaptation.