The Topeka City Council, by an 8-to-1 vote, has approved a resolution in favor of Complete Streets:
In designing future street projects, the city staff should integrate and implement “Complete Streets” concepts targeted at making roadways safe and accessible for everyone, including bicyclists and pedestrians, the Topeka City Council decided Tuesday night.
The council voted 8-1 to approve a resolution sponsored by Councilman Larry Wolgast that changed city policy by directing the staff to make that move to the extent financially feasible. The measure also made it the city’s goal to adequately finance the policy’s implementation.
The outcome of Tuesday’s vote “shows we are progressive and moving forward,” Wolgast told the council.
“The important point is that our transportation plan will be designed not for moving vehicles as quickly as possible, but by taking into consideration all who use streets,” he said.
This is great news!
Of course, they have, through the “to the extent financially feasible” phrase, left themselves plenty of wiggle room.
But the council seems to have the best intentions. Earlier in the month, the council “approved capital improvement plans calling for the city to borrow $100,000 through general obligation bonds in each of the next five years to pay to incorporate Complete Streets design elements into projects the city carries out using revenue from the half-cent tax.”
Back in April, voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fix its streets and other infrastructure. The revenue may be used to pay costs of “maintenance and improvements of existing streets, gutters, curbs, sidewalks, alleys and street lighting.” The tax went into effect October 1st.
Way to go, Topeka!
Learn more from the Topeka Capitol-Journal and completestreets.org.
Post tags: Complete Streets, Topeka
