Bringing Complete Streets to Rural Communities

In a piece in Smart Growth America, Abigail Araya reminds readers that Complete Streets and pedestrian infrastructure are not exclusively urban needs.

Araya quotes a recent SGA report that makes the case for a Complete Streets approach to rural roads as one way to reduce road deaths and build thriving, multimodal rural communities. According to the report, “as rural areas account for 49% of all traffic deaths (while only 19% of the population lives in these areas), decision makers must prioritize pedestrian design that put safety at the forefront.”

The report points out that of the 18 projects that received federal  Rural Transportation Surface Grants for 2023–2024, just two included a Complete Streets approach. “However, while some pedestrian design features were tacked on to these projects, they ultimately follow the default approach to road design, prioritizing vehicle speed and throughput over the safety of other road users.” 

The report concludes that a few piecemeal design components aimed at pedestrians and cyclists are not enough to end road deaths and create truly multimodal systems. “Following a Complete Streets approach means prioritizing the safety of all road users and designing for safety over speed.”