Congressmen Cohen and Auchincloss and Senator Markey Reintroduce Complete Streets Act

MEMPHIS, TN – This week, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was joined by Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) to reintroduce an improved version of the Complete Streets Act to the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill that would make roads safer and more accessible nationwide. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

The Complete Streets Act would improve pedestrian and traffic safety by ensuring states direct a portion of their federal highway funding towards the creation of a Complete Streets Program. A “complete street” provides safe and accessible transportation options for children, seniors, and people with disabilities by prioritizing infrastructure for pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit. Under the Complete Streets Act, eligible local and regional entities can use funds from their state’s Complete Streets Program for technical assistance and capital funding to build safe street projects such as sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and bus stops. The bill would also phase in a requirement for states to incorporate complete streets elements into all new construction and reconstruction.

“The United States is facing a national safety crisis on our roads. In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles, especially in Memphis,” said CongressmanCohen. “We need streets that can accommodate all means of transportation, from foot traffic and strollers to bicycles, cars, light trucks and 18-wheelers. Our new Complete Streets Act will transform communities and make it safer for everyone to travel on and adjacent to our roadways.”

Congressman Cohen hosted a roundtable discussion with local and state stakeholders on the Complete Streets Act in Memphis in October 2019.

“It’s time to reverse course in our country and bring the increasing number of roadway fatalities to a full stop,” said Senator Markey. “When we fund a complete street, we make a community complete with equitable, safe, and accessible transportation—all while reducing our reliance on gas-guzzling vehicles. I thank Congressman Cohen for his partnership in making sure that the roads we use every day work for all people.”

“Walking shouldn’t be dangerous,” said Rep. Auchincloss. “Pedestrian deaths are surging in the United States, and Congress must respond. Promoting Complete Streets helps ensure that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists operate safely. And the design and infrastructure of Complete Streets is not just safer – it’s also better for ambience, the environment, and retail.”

“Tragically, Nevada traffic fatalities in 2023 were among the highest our state has seen in nearly two decades,” said Rep. Titus. “As we continue working to connect communities through investments in transportation projects, we must also create safe roadways for all motorists and pedestrians. The Complete Streets Act promotes safety, accessibility, and climate friendly infrastructure across the country while helping communities build safe streets projects like protected bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, and more accessible roadway.”

“Traffic violence is a public health crisis that demands the full attention of our leaders. I’m proud to recognize that for New York City, 2023 was the second-safest year during the City's "Vision Zero" plan for pedestrians,” said Rep. Espaillat. “Street safety is critical to the overall health and wellness of our neighborhoods and communities, and we must continue to build on this progress and ensure that all pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, and drivers are safe during their everyday travels. The Complete Streets Act will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents during the planning and development phases of routes throughout our communities.”

Endorsing organization statements in support of the Complete Streets Act:

Benito Pérez, Policy Director at Transportation for America, made the following statement:

“Every person has the right to be safe when traveling on our roads, no matter how they choose to get around—but for people outside of a car, that’s often more of a pipe dream than reality. We applaud Senator Markey and Representative Cohen for their leadership in introducing the Complete Streets Act. By offering state-level grants to design and build Complete Streets, this bill provides a tangible step forward to improving safety, accessibility, and health outcomes for all road users.”

Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, made the following statement:

“Everyone should be able to safely walk or bike with their kids to the playground. The Complete Streets Act would give local governments access to the resources and funding to invest in safer roads in our communities. Too often that trip to the playground is blocked by an intersection too dangerous for families to cross, or streets without sidewalks for families to walk on. The League of American Bicyclists is proud to support this bill and thanks Congressman Cohen and Senator Markey for their leadership on this issue.”

The legislation is also endorsed by the National Complete Streets Coalition, Center for American Progress, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, PeopleForBikes, and the Livable Streets Alliance.

Under the Complete Streets Act:

• States would be required to set aside five percent of their federal highway funding to create a “Complete Streets” program.
• To access the funds, eligible entities would need to adopt a Complete Streets policy, participate in technical assistance, and create a prioritized plan for Complete Streets projects in their jurisdictions.
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) would be responsible for certifying that Complete Streets policies meet minimum requirements set out by the United States Secretary of Transportation.
• The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, States, and MPOs would be required to adopt design standards for federal surface transportation projects that provide for the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the surface transportation network, including motorized and non-motorized users, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation.