The City of Baltimore’s Complete Streets Bill became a law on December 6. This legislation is the most progressive, equity-focused Complete Streets ordinance in the country.
Councilman Ryan Dorsey and the Baltimore Complete Streets Coalition introduced the Complete Streets Ordinance in July 2017 to increase safety and mobility and help curb reckless driving. It will:
- Ensure streets are designed for people and safety first.
- Create a process for more robust community input on street design.
- Ensure that the benefits of safe and complete streets are shared among all residents.
- Create a body to oversee the implementation of the policy.
“As a part of the Baltimore Complete Streets Coalition, the American Heart Association is committed to addressing barriers that prevent people from reaching their optimal health,” said Dr. Seth Martin, Executive Board Member of the American Heart Association, Greater Maryland and Associate Professor of Medicine and Cardiology of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Passing complete streets will make it safer for walkers, bikers, and public transit users to get around town. This law will support a more physically active, heart healthy Baltimore. As a medical doctor, I also appreciate how improving multiple modes of transportation can assist my patients in getting to medical appointments and increase access to care. Most importantly, this is a policy that is rooted in equity and is one of the strongest policies to date.”
This policy was developed with input from residents and community leaders to improve health, safety, and mobility for the people of Baltimore. This includes the Complete Streets Coalition, comprised of AARP, Safe Route to School National Partnership, Bikemore, Associated Black Charities, No Boundaries Coalition and many more partners. A full list is available here: https://www.baltimorecompletestreets.com/coalition/.
“Now that our complete streets policy is signed into law, our work begins. Our coalition and advocates will continue to engage community members, inform the development of the complete streets manual, and work closely with our city agencies to ensure equitable implementation across Baltimore City. Thank you to Councilman Ryan Dorsey, for his leadership and our coalition partners for carrying the torch for complete streets,” said Tracey Brazelton, Executive Director for the American Heart Association Greater Maryland.” We also thank the Baltimore City Council and Mayor Catherine Pugh for their support in ushering this into law.”