Complete Streets in Niagara
A complete street is a street where multiple modes of transportation, such as bicycles, transit, cars and pedestrians are accommodated.
The committee helps to advise and make recommendations ensuring clients receive the highest quality of care.
Benefits of a complete street
The development of complete streets can create a variety of different benefits and opportunities for communities, such as:
- Increased investment into local businesses
- Improved community health through new opportunities for physical activity
- A better sense of community
- Increased property values
- Universally accessibility and more equitable spaces for public participation
- Sharing culture (public art, monuments, history, music)
- A reduction in vehicle traffic and carbon emissions
A more detailed overview of the opportunities complete streets can offer Niagara can be found in the Complete Streets discussion paper.
Complete Street Visualizations
Before-and-after visualizations of what a complete street could be:
Complete Streets Model Policy Handbook
Queenston St. in St. Catharines was selected as the subject of a complete streets visioning workshop on Dec. 8, 2012.
The purpose of the workshop was to engage local residents and interested persons on the subject of complete streets and how the concept could be applied.
Participants were provided with an overview of the project and were led on a walking tour of the study site. After the walking tour, participants worked in teams to discuss their vision for the street.
The collaborative visions for Queenston St. included:
- An improved pedestrian realm
- Two one-way bicycle paths
- Two traffic lanes with no impact on traffic movement
- Improved transit facilities
- On-street parking on the north side of the street
- Additional crosswalks
- Street-trees
- Patios on select properties
- Future private development
A more detailed overview of the vision and the workshop can be found in the workshop booklet.
Complete Streets Model Policy Handbook
The Complete Streets Model Policy Handbook was created as a resource to assist Niagara municipalities in the development of complete streets.
The handbook contains:
- Model Official Plan policies
- Model objectives and definitions
- Performance indicators
- Links to information, programs and funding resources
- Information on local improvement charges
- Overview of the environmental assessment process
- Suggestions for engaging the public
- Images of streets in Niagara reimagined as complete streets
These model policies are adaptable to fit official plans, secondary plans or transportation master plans.
© Niagara Region - 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7 - Phone: 905-980-6000, Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215
