Congressman Cohen Leads Letter to Leadership Promoting Complete Streets Principles in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today led a letter with Senator Edward J. Markey and Representatives Adriano Espaillat, Ruben Gallego and Jake Auchincloss to House and Senate leaders requesting that "Complete Streets" principles be incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework now being negotiated.

Complete Streets refers to roads and streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders across a broad spectrum of ages and abilities. Complete Streets are generally easy to cross on foot, facilitate the use of assistive devices and enable people to reach multiple destinations without getting into a car.

In February, Congressman Cohen, Senator Markey of Massachusetts, and Congressmen Espaillat (NY-13) and Gallego (AZ-07) introduced the Complete Streets Act, to promote safer and more accessible transportation routes across the United States. Elements of the bill were included in both the House and Senate Committees' surface transportation reauthorization bills.

In their letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the legislators wrote in part:

"It is especially important to prioritize Complete Streets as we are facing a national safety crisis, with a disproportionate impact on Black and brown populations and in low-income communities. Over the past decade, this country has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Americans killed while walking…All Americans deserve the freedom to move safely. Luckily, we have the solutions to build safer streets now. We just need policies to make sure we implement these solutions. As you continue to negotiate provisions for inclusion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, we believe it is critically important to ensure that Complete Streets principles are included to help advance equitable and safe transportation solutions for road users of all ages and abilities."

See the entire letter here.

The letter was co-signed by Representatives Gwen Moore, Raúl M. Grijalva, Dina Titus, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Brian Higgins, Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, André Carson, Carolyn B. Maloney, Mark Takano, Nydia M. Velázquez, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Earl Blumenauer, Lloyd Doggett, Julia Brownley and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.