a rendering of Hillsborough Street, showing what a complete streets looks like.

Raleigh Complete Streets

Public spaces and sustainable transportation networks


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Components Benefits Sustainability and Complete Streets

The City strives to create streets that are great public spaces and sustainable transportation networks. Complete Streets accommodate all modes of transportation, allowing bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, vehicles, as well as commercial and emergency vehicles to navigate City streets safely.

We listen to what residents have to say about the streets they live and travel on, by including community engagement during the design and construction phase of all our of streets and sidewalks projects.

Components

Roundabout at Hillsborough St and Brooks Ave. intersection

Benefits

How We Live

  • Unbiased mobility choices;
  • Accessible for all regardless of mode of travel and physical ability;
  • Amenities and infrastructure for all transportation types (i.e. Bike lanes, Bus stops, sidewalks, multi-use paths, vehicle lanes);
  • Community spaces;
  • Compliments architectural, economic, community, and land uses patterns throughout the City; and,
  • Brings together smart technologies and transportation (i.e. smart parking meters, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) systems, and Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS)).

Sustainability and Complete Streets

Environmental, social, and economic factors all play a role in sustainable development and creating ecologically sound, resilient societies. The Raleigh Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is broken down into buildings and energy, transportation and land use, and resilience strategies. The CCAP considers how to reach the emissions reduction target in a manner beneficial to all communities, present and future.

Complete Streets address multiple sections of the CCAP: transportation and land use, and resilience strategies. Through the implementation of Complete Streets, sustainability is promoted through community-centered development. The Complete Streets design promotes sustainability through environmental benefits, community support, and economic development.

An engineered, planted area in the median on Sandy Forks Road that collects and cleans stormwater runoff when it rains

Sandy Forks Road has three bioretention basins including one in the median.  

Environmental Benefits

The Complete Streets strategy supports environmental sustainability efforts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting greener practices.

Implementing alternative forms of transportation to street design creates safer and more accessible options for residents. Riding a bike in a bike lane, walking on a sidewalk, or using the bus instead of driving a car ultimately creates less greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable techniques are often used when constructing Complete Streets. By using warm-mix asphalt, fuel consumption decreases reducing the production of greenhouse gases. In addition, recycled materials, such as concrete, are used as base stone under roadway pavement. Did you know that asphalt is the world’s most recycled material?

Complete Streets also lower transportation costs over time through infrastructure such as roundabouts, which save energy when used instead of traffic lights. 

When constructing Complete Streets, sustainable features like Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) are often added to public streets. GSI promotes ecofriendly development and effective stormwater management to ensure that streets remain safe. Examples of GSI practices include: 

Finally, including more trees and green spaces when constructing Complete Streets helps decrease urban heat island effects and increase community aesthetical value. 

Community Support

Equity is central to the Complete Streets strategy. Streets are designed to be accessible to everyone regardless of mode of travel, age, or physical ability. Emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of those who’ve experienced systematic underinvestment, including:

  • Older adults,
  • People with disabilities,
  • Low-income neighborhoods, and
  • Minority communities.

In addition to prioritizing accessibility, Complete Streets also prioritize safety. Through community-oriented development, the emphasis is taken away from commuters and automobiles.

Complete Streets also support communities through traffic-slowing measures, including raised crosswalks and road diets, and other measures, including bike lanes and level sidewalks.

We care about what residents have to say about the streets they live and travel on, and how they can best be served.

Do you have feedback for us? Share any comments or questions here.

Economic Development

The Complete Streets strategy increases connectivity, which leads to economic growth and development. Increased foot traffic on public streets helps local businesses to thrive.

Complete Streets also boost property values and employment levels in surrounding areas.

 



Complete streets are a step towards a better future in the ways they promote sustainable development that benefits the environment, neighborhoods, and local economy.

Read more about climate change and other City-wide sustainability initiatives!

Contact

 

Transportation Department Assistant Director 
Kenneth Ritchie
Kenneth.Ritchie@raleighnc.gov

Sylvester Percival, PE
Roadway Design and Construction Manager
Sylvester.percival@raleighnc.gov

 

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Lead Department:
Engineering ServicesTransportation
Service Categories:
Roadway Design and ConstructionMobility Strategy and Infrastructure