Complete Streets

What's New

City Council

The Complete Streets Policy was approved by City Council on May 22, 2013. The policy and accompanying guidelines will encourage a holistic approach to roadway design in order to develop a network of roadways that are safe, attractive, comfortable and welcoming to all users.

Designing New Neighbourhoods, Edmonton’s Future Residential Communities Policy was approved at the same time. The guidelines for this policy will influence the physical structure and layout of our new neighbourhoods.

Complete Streets Guidelines for Council

Where We Are Today

The Complete Streets Guidelines will be used for planning, designing and constructing streets in new neighbourhoods. They will also guide the design and reconstruction of streets in existing neighbourhoods.

Next steps for the Complete Streets projects team will be the implementation of several complete streets pilot projects over the next few years. Three pilot projects have already been indentified as priority; including one in a greenfield, a neighbourhood renewal and an arterial renewal.

About the Project

Complete Streets is a new approach to planning and designing Edmonton’s transportation system that moves away from the traditional, mobility-based approach. It’s based on the idea that how a street is designed should reflect the surrounding areas context, its land use, and its users.

Complete Streets are streets for everyone. They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, truck drivers, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street.

Any street can be a complete street, from a pedestrian-only area to a freeway. Complete Streets form integrated and connected networks of streets that provide efficient and high quality travel experiences.

Complete Streets Guidelines for Edmonton

When it comes to roads, one size does not fit all. The guidelines will help the City implement its Transportation Master Plan, The Way We Move, by integrating transportation and land use, and encouraging active transportation. The guidelines will also provide features for all modes, including accommodation of trucks and buses in new and existing rural, suburban, and mature areas.

Principles of Complete Streets

Ideas generated from consultation and public input, in April 2012, helped develop the Complete Streets principles for the City of Edmonton. These principles provided a basis for decision making as we developed the Complete Streets Guidelines and will be the basis for the Complete Streets Policy statement.

• Provide travel options for all users and trip purposes in a safe, accessible, context sensitive way in all seasons.
• Form a network of streets that together accommodate all users and allow for efficient and high quality travel experiences.
• Be adaptable by accommodating the needs of the present and future through effective space allocation for the many functions of the street.
• Contribute to the environmental sustainability and resiliency of the city.
• Consider both direct and indirect costs, as well as the value of the roadway and the adjacent real estate.
• Be vibrant and attractive people places in all seasons that contribute to an improved quality of life.

Project History

May 2013

The Complete Streets Guidelines and an accompanying policy were recommended to City Council by the Executive Committee on May 13, 2013.

February 2013

In February, the project team held public meetings to give Edmontonians an opportunity to provide input on the Draft Complete Streets Guidelines. The public were encouraged to provide feedback on the Draft Complete Streets Guidelines by joining an online discussion which is now closed. See what Edmontonians had to say about the progress of the guideline below.

Online Discussion - closed

Display Boards

Fact Sheet

The meetings were held in collaboration with another City of Edmonton project: Designing New Neighbourhoods.

For more information:

Stephanie McCabe