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Complete Streets Policy Evaluation Tool
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The Complete Streets Policy Evaluation Tool can be used by anyone—advocates, practitioners, policymakers, etc.—to evaluate existing or draft Complete Streets policies. This tool quantifies the Complete Streets Policy Framework and can help identify policy strengths, as well as areas the policy can be improved.

Instructions: First, download this spreadsheet by clicking "File > Download >." Evaluate your policy based on to what degree it meets the criteria located in column B. Award points as appropriate in column E . Notes can be added in column F (this is an area to note where the policy is meeting your criterion, questions you have, etc.) Points are automatically totalled by element.
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Complete Streets Policy Framework criteria Points AvailablePoints Awarded [policy name]
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1000Notes
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Element #1 - Establishes commitment and vision120
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1aThe policy is clear in intent, stating firmly the jursidiction's commitment to a Complete Streets approach, using "shall" or "must" language. This needs to be in the body of the legislation, not the "whereas" statement.x3
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The policy states the jurisdiction "may" or "considers" Complete Streets in their transportation planning and decision-making processes.or1
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The policy language is indirect with regard to their intent to apply a Complete Streets approach, using language such as, "consider Complete Streets principles or elements."or0
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1bMentions the need to create a complete, connected network.x2
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No mention.or0
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1cSpecifies at least one motivation or benefit of pursuing Complete Streets.x2
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No mention.or0
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1dSpecifies equity as an addition motivation or benefit of pursuing Complete Streetsx1
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No mention.or0
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1eSpecifies modes, with a base of four modes, two of which must be biking or walking.x4
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Policy mentions fewer than four modes and/or omits biking or walking.or0
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Element #2 - Prioritizes underinvested and underserved communities90
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2aThe policy establishes an accountable, measurable definition of priority groups or places. This definition may be quantitative (i.e. neighborhoods with X% of the population without access to a vehicle or where the median income is below a certain threshold) or qualitative (i.e. naming specific neighborhoods). x4
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No mention.or0
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2bThe policy language requires the jurisdiction to "prioritize" underinvested and underserved communities. This could include neighborhoods with insufficient infrastructure or neighborhoods with a concentration of people who are disproportionately represented in traffic fatalities.x5
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Policy states its intent to "benefit" people in the underinvested and underserved communities, as relevant to the jurisdiction.or3
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Policy mentions or considers any of the neighborhoods or users above.or1
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No mention.or0
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Element #3 - Applies to all projects and phases100
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For municipality/county policies:
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3aPolicy requires all new construction and reconstruction/retrofit projects to account for the needs of all modes of transportation and all users of the road network.x4
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Policy considers or mentions these projects as opportunities to apply the policy.or1
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No mention.or0
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3bPolicy requires all maintenance projects and ongoing operations, such as resurfacing, repaving, restriping, rehabilitation, or other types of changes to the transportation system to account for the needs of all modes of transportation and all users of the road network.x4
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Policy considers or mentions these projects as opportunities to apply the policy.or1
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No mention.or0
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For MPO/state policies:
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3cPolicy requires all new construction and reconstruction/retrofit projects receiving state or federal funding to account for all modes of transportation and all users of the road network.x4
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Policy considers or mentions these projects as opportunities to apply this policy.or1
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No mention.or0
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3dPolicy requires all maintenance projects and ongoing operations, such as resurfacing, repaving, restriping, rehabilitation, or other types of changes to the transportation system receiving state or federal funding to account for the needs of all modes of transportation and all users of the road network.x4
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Policy considers or mentions these projects as opportunities to apply this policy.or1
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No mention.or0
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For all policies:
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3ePolicy specifies the need to provide accommodations for all modes of transportation to continue to use the road safely and efficiently during any construction or repair work that infringes on the right of way and/or sidewalk.x2
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Element #4 - Allows only clear exceptions80
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4aPolicy includes one or more of approved exceptions - and no others.x4
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Policy includes any other exception, including those that weaken the policy.or2
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No mention.or0
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4bPolicy states who is responsible for approving exceptions.x2
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4cPolicy requires public notice prior to granting an exception in some form. This could entail a public meeting or an online posting with opportunity for comment.x2
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Element #5- Mandates coordination80
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For municipalities/counties:
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5aA municipality's or county's policy requires private development projects to comply.x5
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A municipality's or county's policy mentions or encourages private development projects to follow a Complete Streets approach.or2
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No mention.or0
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For MPO/state:
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5bA state's or Metropolitan Planning Organization's policy clearly notes that projects that address how they will account for the needs of all modes and users are prioritized or awared extra weight for funding and/or inclusion in transportation improvement plans (TIPs).x5
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A state's or MPO's policy mentions or encourages projects receiving money passing through the agency to account for the needs of all modes and users.or2
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No mention.or0
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For all policies:
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5cPolicy specifies a requirement for interagency coordination between various agencies such as public health, housing, planning, engineering, transportation, public works, city council, and/or mayor or executive office.x3
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Policy mentions or encourages interagency coordination.or1
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No mention.or0
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Element #6 - Adopts excellent design guidance70
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6aPolicy directs the adoption of specific, best state-of-the-practice design guidance and/or requires the development/revision of internal design policies and guides.x5
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Policy references, but does not formally adopt specific, best state-of-the-practice design guidance.or1
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No mention.or0
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6bPolicy sets a specific time frame for implementationx2
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No mention.or0
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Element #7 - Requires proactive land-use planning100
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For municipalities/counties:
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7aPolicy requires new or revised land use policies, plans, zoning ordinances, or other documents to specify how they will support and be supported by the community's Complete Streets vision.x5
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Policy requires new or revised transportation plans and/or design guidance to specify how transportation project will serve current and future land use, such as by defining streets based not just on transportation function but on the surrounding land use.or4
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Policy discusses the connection between land use and transportation or includes non-binding recommendation to integrate land use and transportation planning.or2
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Policy acknowledges land use as a factor related to transportation planningor1
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No mention.or0
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For MPO/state:
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7bPolicy requires new or revised long-range transportation plan and/or design guidance to specify how transportation projects will serve current and future land use such as by directing the adoption of place-based street typologies.x5
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Policy discusses the connection between land use and transportation or includes non-binding recommendation to integrate land use and transportation planning.or2
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Policy acknowledges land use as a factor related to transportation planning.or1
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No mention.or0
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For all policies:
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7cPolicy requires the consideration of the community context as a factor in decision-making.x3
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Policy mentions community context as a potential factor in decision making.or1
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No mention.or0
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7dPolicy specifies the need to mitigate unintended consequences such as involuntary displacement.x2
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Policy acknowledges the possibility of unintended consequences.or1
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No mention.or0
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Element #8 - Measures progress130
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8aPolicy establishes specific performance measures under multiple categories such as access, economy, environment, safety, and health.x3
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Policy mentions measuring performance under multiple categories but does not establish specific measures.or1
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No mention.or0
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8bPolicy establishes specific performance measures for the implementation process such as tracking how well the public engagement process reaches underrepresented populations or updates to policies and documents.x2
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Mentions measuring the implementation process but does not establish specific measures.or1
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No mention.or0
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8cPolicy embeds equity in performance measures by measuring disparities by income/race/vehicle access/language/etc. as relevant to the jurisdiction.x3
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Policy mentions embedding equity in performance measures but is not specific about how data will be disaggregated.or1
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No mention.or0
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8dPolicy specifies a time frame for recurring collection of performance measuresx2
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No mention.or0
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8ePolicy requires performance measure to be released publicallyx2