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Complete Streets

Page updated 11/17/23

A community or agency that adopts a Complete Streets (CS) approach to transportation planning is making a commitment to planning, designing, and maintaining their street system for all users.  It ensures safe access, convenience, and comfortable travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. CS make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work.

SNHPC Complete Streets ToolkitA maintenance update to the 2015-16 Complete Streets Toolkit was finalized in fall 2023.

The SNHPC CS Toolkit (available for download by clicking the image at left) includes the following:

  • An overview of Complete Streets – what they are, their history, and community examples in NH and beyond
  • A review of the SNHPC regional effort to incorporate complete streets in project planning with community stakeholders
  • Planning and policy section that includes the benefits of complete streets, policies in our regions, and rural, suburban, and urban examples
  • Design and engineering examples for a variety of needs such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, accessible accommodations, and transit
  • And a section on the 2016 SNHPC Pilot Programs in the towns of Deerfield (below), Francestown, and Windham

SNHPC staff use a hand-painted crosswalk to demonstrate pedestrian safety in Deerfield (Oct. 2016)
SNHPC staff use a hand-painted crosswalk to demonstrate pedestrian safety in Deerfield (Oct. 2016)

A TAC Complete Streets Subcommittee has also been formed and was first convened in September 2023. It is composed of SNHPC staff, DPW, economic development representatives and NHDES. The purpose of the subcommittee is to guide SNHPC staff in the development of a Complete Streets Policy Template for our member communities as well as prioritizing Complete Streets projects in the region.

SNHPC staff participate on the New Hampshire Complete Streets Advisory Committee (CSAC). The purpose of CSAC is to advise the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) on policies, programs and recommendations to support bicycling, walking, and transit as safe, convenient, economically and environmentally beneficial forms of transportation and recreation. CSAC is also envisioned to serve as a forum for exchange of information, ideas, and resources related to bicycling, walking and transit among NHDOT, other state agencies, local and regional planners, and community organizations.

For more information on Complete Streets, please see the fact sheet and toolkit below.