A NEW ERA FOR URBAN STREETS AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

WHEREAS, streets and public rights of ways comprise roughly one-third of any urbanized area; and

WHEREAS, streets are the defining characteristic of urban life and economic exchange; and

WHEREAS, urban infrastructure supports metropolitan economies which generate roughly 90 per cent of U.S. gross domestic product; and

WHEREAS, increased employment density correlates with increased economic productivity; and

WHEREAS, over two-thirds of Millennials report that walkability is an important or vital community feature, nearly half demand to be near transit; and

WHEREAS, the urban street and network design is the single largest determinant of walkability and transit operational efficiency; and

WHEREAS, thoughtfully well designed streets that accommodate a variety of travel modes and performance landscaping can increase local competitive advantages, decrease energy consumption, storm water runoff, and vulnerability to climactic changes, and reduce operating and maintenance costs; and

WHEREAS, there is renewed interest in urban areas initiating and implementing new policies that encourage broader uses of streets that can safely accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users,  and automobile users; and

WHEREAS, over 500 complete streets policies have passed in communities large and small to help communities consider choices and options; and

WHEREAS, over 60 urban areas are designing and incorporating urban circulator projects such as streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit in urban corridors once designed only for the automobile to increase both choice and economic productivity,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls for a new era of urban street design that promotes dense economic activity, choices in transportation options, and enhanced environmental performance.