Featured in Technology Today (Volume 37, Issue 2), a quarterly publication of the Louisiana Transportation Research Center.
Picture streets where everyone feels safe, no matter how they travel or who they are. That's the vision of Complete Streets—roads designed for everyone, regardless of age, ability, race, or income level. Over the last decade, more than 1,500 agencies across the U.S. embraced these inclusive street policies. Since Louisiana has joined the movement, a recent study led by LTRC’s Planning/Intermodal Research Manager Ruijie “Rebecca” Bian, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE., aimed to evaluate the impacts and effectiveness the Complete Streets policy of DOTD has had on the state.
Dr. Bian explained, “We know relatively little about how successfully these policies have been implemented. This study focused on exploring Louisiana’s experience, seeing if the goals were met and what areas need improvement.”
The study's goals were specific: to evaluate how the Complete Streets policy affected different DOTD projects; how the government adapted its rules, documents, staffing, and training to make the policy real; and how the policy impacted Louisiana's streets. The study covered a wide range of factors to understand how well the policy worked, focusing particularly on pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Researchers began by examining Louisiana’s policies, guidelines, and manuals to see how they changed over 10 years to fit the Complete Streets approach. They then looked at actual construction projects funded by the state between 2011 and 2020 to see if these changes showed up in practice. They investigated how often projects did not follow Complete Streets rules and why certain aspects, like sidewalks or bike lanes, were sometimes left out.
The research team developed a survey questionnaire and interview questions to collect stakeholders’ responses to the policy implementation, including assessment of policy comprehension and interpretation, perceptions of efficacy, and reflections on a decade of practice from a variety of viewpoints. “Stakeholders’ involvement is of vital significance to successful policy implementation. In addition, continuously engaging stakeholders in policy implementation evaluation is key to applying evaluation results successfully in practice,” explained Dr. Bian.
They also collected data from various sources to see how certain performance measures changed before and after these projects, considering both urban and rural settings.
This study uncovered some important insights. It highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to update guidelines and ensure they are followed consistently. It also pointed out gaps in people's understanding of the policy and suggested ways to spread awareness and improve training. The study showed that, while progress had been made, there is still work to do to ensure everyone is aware of and supports the policy.
“Overall, much progress has been made compared with where the state started in 2010. However, shifting agency culture to balance multimodal needs is a long-term process,” said Dr. Bian.
Moreover, the research led to concrete recommendations for improvements. It suggested updating data systems, providing clearer guidelines for designs, and emphasizing the need for more outreach and education. These recommendations aim to make Louisiana's streets even safer and more accessible for everyone.
The study's findings are not just limited to Louisiana; they offer valuable lessons for other places grappling with similar challenges. By reassessing and refining how we design and use our streets, we move closer to a future where transportation is safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of how they choose to move around.
Dr. Bian also explained, “Though this study was conducted for Louisiana specifically, the evaluation procedure, data sources, methodologies, and recommendations are expected to be applicable to other states and government agencies facing challenges in implementing Complete Streets policy.”
*This document, and the information contained herein, is prepared for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, and planning safety improvements on public roads, which may be implemented utilizing federal aid highway funds. This information shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 407.
Learn More
To learn more about this project, please read Final Report 679 and Technical Summary 679 or contact Dr. Ruijie Bian at 225-767-9163 or Ruijie.Bian@la.gov.