Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Complete Streets topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MPO adopts Complete Streets update, endorses context‑based checklist and school-area coordination
Summary
The Hernando–Citrus MPO board accepted a revised Complete Streets policy and implementation guidance, including a shorter project evaluation checklist, nonmotorized facility gap updates and suggestions to integrate context class into local planning; board members pressed for prioritization and funding pathways for school-area sidewalks.
The Hernando–Citrus MPO board on June 4 accepted an update to its Complete Streets policy and implementation guidance that emphasizes context‑based solutions, a pared‑down project evaluation checklist, and coordination with local planning and school safety efforts.
Consultant Chris Keller (Benesch) told the board that Complete Streets is "an approach" rather than a single project type and urged the board to use context classification to determine what facilities are appropriate in each place. "It's not a certain project…it's an approach," Keller said, describing a revised checklist and appendices showing pedestrian and bicycle facility gaps by county.
The update documents roughly 46 miles of new sidewalks and 33 miles of bicycle facilities added in the previous five years within the MPO area and recommends integrating context class into local design decisions and the long‑range plan. Keller said the checklist was shortened to four pages to make it more usable for MPO and local staff rather than a burdensome, data‑intensive form.
Board concerns focused on cost, local priorities and the phenomenon of "sidewalks to nowhere." Council members and county commissioners asked how projects would be prioritized; staff and consultants said projects that are shovel‑ready, with right‑of‑way secured and preliminary engineering done, move up lists faster and are better candidates for Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School funding. Bob Esposito, MPO staff, reminded the board that the MPO receives roughly $510,000 per year for sidewalk/TA projects and that municipalities bringing local match or ready‑to‑build projects have an advantage in the competitive process.
On e‑bikes and low‑speed vehicles, Keller said state regulators and planners are still determining classification and that local planning should monitor trends rather than impose immediate restrictions. The board accepted the Complete Streets update and will use the revised checklist and gap analysis to guide project prioritization and future funding requests.
The board approved the Complete Streets update by unanimous vote (7‑0), and staff will finalize the document and integrate the checklist into MPO planning activities.
