Forming Complete Streets Coalitions Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, September 25,

2013
Cross-sector coalitions are powerful tools when working to pass and implement a state or local Complete Streets policy. By building partnerships with transit advocates, health stakeholders, economic development groups, environmental organizations and more, biking and walking advocates can multiply impact and ensure a great policy to build safe, accessible streets for all. On this call, national and local advocates discussed their hands-on experience building winning coalitions for Complete Streets.

Recap: Advice from Stefanie Seskin Deputy Director, National Complete Streets Coalition
Provided a brief overview of the Complete Streets Coalitions origins as a national task force with a single policy goal: getting Compete Streets legislation into the 2005 SAFETEA-LU legislation After SAFETEA-LU was passed, the Task Force turned its eyes to state and local issues. The National Complete Streets Coalition was formed in 2005 and includes a broad range of partners and broad content expertise and the ability to trigger change in a variety of places. Stefanie provided some general advice on forming a coalition, which is reflected in the Coalition Best Practices document, below. Highlights include: First step: create a power map Separate your messages and your messengers according to the different audiences youre trying to reach Balance content expertise and willingness to participate against reach and influence Be clear and transparent with your coalitions structure, goals, and next steps Stefanie also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of either formalizing into a coalition or working ad hoc Stefanie also discussed the challenges of moving on from a campaign-based organization to one focused primarily on implementation

Recap: Advice from Zia Brucaya Complete Streets Coalition Coordinator, Indiana Complete Streets Campaign
The Indiana Complete Streets Coalition was formed through a campaign to institute a Complete Streets policy in Indianapolis. Health by Design, a local health nonprofit, hosted a Complete Streets workshop in 2009. A city councilmember attended the workshop and agreed to sponsor the legislation in the city council. Health by Design and its partners spent the next 18 months conducting education and outreach, and formed a formal Work Group in 2011. They used resources (see Additional Resources) provided by the National Complete Streets Coalition to guide their process; they also devoted time to working out appropriate language for their legislation. After five months of serious campaigning and a few minor legislative setbacks, the Indianapolis Complete Streets policy was passed unanimously in August 2012. The National Coalition named it the top Complete Streets policy in the country for 2012, a fact that 1

Forming Complete Streets Coalitions Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Zia attributes to their use of the language recommendations provided by the National Coalition. The Coalition has now expanded to work on Complete Streets policies in local communities. Unfortunately, the Indiana state DOT opposed Complete Streets; however, the Coalition is seeing success in many of the local communities with which it has been working.

Additional Resources
Complete Streets Coalition Best Practices Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook Complete Streets Power Mapping Worksheet Complete Streets Workshops The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012 Health By Design Walkability Assessment Indiana Model Complete Streets Ordinance Worksheet