Carbondale commissioners back a Complete Streets resolution outline, call for implementation plan and trustee briefing

Commissioners of the Bike, Ped & Trail Commission spent the majority of a January 2025 meeting discussing a proposed Complete Streets resolution and how it should accompany the town’s MAP (Mobility/Action Plan) when presented to the Board of Trustees.

Commissioners described the resolution as a policy framework rather than a project list: it would commit the town to adopt Complete Streets principles and provide accountability, measurement and departmental coordination when implementing the MAP. Several commissioners urged that the cover letter to trustees explicitly say one reason for adopting a Complete Streets policy is that it creates accountability, measurable outcomes and codified procedures so the MAP’s recommendations are implemented, not merely filed.

Concerns raised during discussion included the resolution’s current vagueness, the risk of asking trustees to approve a non-specific ordinance without a clear plan for producing the underlying policy, and the practicalities of who would write the policy. Commissioners suggested including sample Complete Streets policies from other towns as an exhibit so trustees can see what a finished policy looks like, and recommended assembling a working group—two or more representatives from commissions, relevant town departments and possibly a consultant—to draft the policy and return it for formal approval.

Commissioners noted MAP itself recommends creating a Complete Streets policy and an implementation plan; the commission members said they expect the implementation plan to set project-selection criteria, prioritize demonstration projects and provide phasing (e.g., year 1, year 2) with measurable benchmarks. They offered two suggested demonstration projects (Hendrick and H Street), discussed the need to use demonstration projects to inform adjacent work and stressed the importance of communicating progress to retain public trust.

The commission agreed to prepare a letter and merged exhibits (combining a shorter AI-assisted draft with a longer draft) and to submit written comments for the trustees’ packet by Thursday before noon so trustees can consider them at their meeting the following Tuesday. Commissioners acknowledged that the trustees may change MAP content; the commission requested an early agenda slot to brief trustees and proposed the formation of a multi-agency working group to draft implementation steps.

Because of time constraints, the commission did not finalize the resolution language at the meeting and agreed to continue edits: several commissioners said they would work together after the meeting to merge the exhibit drafts and return a revised package to the commission before submission to trustees.

Quotes from the meeting: "Complete Streets is not a plan ... it's a structure, a set of policies, procedures ... to follow to help frame up the plan," Commissioner David said. Commissioner Rick urged the group to "assemble a group" to develop policy and implementation steps. Commission members also noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation guidance was used in drafting parts of the cover letter and exhibits.

The commission planned to return with a revised letter and exhibits for submission to the trustees' packet and to request an early agenda time to present their recommendations.