The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) engaged Cambridge Systematics to research Complete Streets best practices and assess New Jersey’s existing Complete Streets activities. The Complete Streets concept is comprised of approaches to planning, designing, and operating roadways and rights-of-way with all road users in mind, making the transportation network safer and more efficient. NJDOT is a national leader for promoting and implementing Complete Streets policies. Their policy requires that roadway improvement projects include safe accommodations for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, and the mobility-impaired, supported by the NJDOT Roadway Design Manual. However, NJDOT finalized the Complete Streets policy in December 2009. Thus, the project involved coordination with internal and external Complete Streets stakeholders to identify notable gaps in the existing Complete Streets policy and update the Complete Streets components. This report starts with the results from a desk scan of best practices for Complete Streets policies and implementation elements, including an online search for national models; a review of relevant NJDOT and partner documents; and virtual interviews with internal NJDOT units, external partners, and a sample of DOTs for insight. The second section compiles the results of the gap analysis of the existing Complete Streets policy and practices for cohesive implementation. The gap analysis led to the recommendations that provided the basis for component updates. The 2009 NJDOT Complete Streets policy was updated to include expansion of the exemption criteria, provision of a wide range of Complete Streets solutions, standardized process to ensure thorough consideration of Complete Streets solutions, and an additional checklist for Limited Scope projects. Additionally, a Complete Streets Implementation Guide – Comprehensive Solutions Handbook was developed to help practitioners with the Complete Streets approach. All the updated components, including the Complete Streets policy, handbook, checklists, training recording, and other relevant resources are housed in an online central repository on NJDOT’s website and will be available to the public once the updated policy has been approved.NJDOT Research
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