Complete Streets Work Group Interim Report Issued

For the past 5 months, the Complete Streets Work Group has worked toward accomplishing its legislated mandate to have an interim report ready for Dr. William D. Ankner, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, to review, modify as needed, and present to the Senate and House Committees on transportation, highways and public works no later than January 31, 2009. Our work on this phase of the project is complete with the issuance of the Complete Streets Work Group Interim Report. Attached below is a PDF version of the document. Please feel free to download it, read it, discuss it, and bring it to the attention of your state senator and representative. This is not a done deal by any means; the legislature must adopt the document for it to take force. We need the support of as many legislators as we can muster to help ensure Complete Streets is adopted in Louisiana during the 2010 legislative session. A very important part of this report is the recommendation to "continue to foster the relationships between public health organizations, advocates and transportation professionals by convening a permanent Complete Streets Advisory Committee (CSAC) or Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), which meets quarterly, to support and steer the implementation process." [emphasis added - ed.] This would be a major step forward for Louisiana and all those who travel on foot or by bicycle in our state. Please do what you may to support this crucial document's adoption by the state legislature during the 2010 session. Look for periodic updates as they become available.