Designing Complete Streets

The City of Bridgeport has launched an effort to create a Complete Streets Design Guide. On this website you can read more about Complete Streets and the process of developing a Design Guide for Complete Streets in Bridgeport.

About

Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that aims to make streets more safe, convenient, comfortable, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of how they are traveling (i.e., foot, wheelchair, bicycle, scooter, vehicle, or bus). Complete Streets make it safer to cross a street, walk to stores, and bike to work. Complete Streets help buses to run on time and encourage safe driving behavior at intersections. These improvements will create a more connected city.
This website is dedicated to communicating the City of Bridgeport's commitments, actions, and accomplishments toward Complete Streets.

First Public Meeting + Take the Online Survey
September 9, 2020
City of Bridgeport Office of Planning & Economic Development
The first of two public meetings for Bridgeport's Complete Streets Design Guide took place online on September 3. Click on the image to the left to watch a video recording of the meeting. The initial presentation showcased four representative street typologies that were identified based on the unique characteristics of Bridgeport's streets. The Complete Streets Design Guide will provide street design and operation guidance for these street typologies. Next, participants were guided through an online survey to solicit feedback on the modes of transportation (pedestrian, bicycle/scooter, or bus) and complementary improvements (e.g., bus shelters, lighting, etc.) that should be prioritized for each street type.
Click here to learn more about the four street typologies and take the online survey.
Save the Date & RSVP: Online Public Meeting on Sept 3
August 5, 2020
City of Bridgeport Office of Planning & Economic Development
An online public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please join us in this conversation on how to make Bridgeport’s street network more safe, convenient, comfortable, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. The meeting will be conducted through Zoom. You do not need a webcam on your computer to participate. You also have the option of calling in to join the meeting. We are requesting participants to RSVP so we can gauge the level of attendance and so we can send you a meeting reminder. Click Here to Register
TO JOIN BY COMPUTER/TABLET: Click HereTO JOIN BY TELEPHONE: Call (929) 205-6099; the Meeting ID is 811 5862 2375
First Community Advisory Committee Meeting
July 21, 2020
City of Bridgeport Office of Planning & Economic Development
The first Community Advisory Committee meeting for the development of the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide took place on July 21, 2020. To view a recording of the video conference, click on the image to the left. The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee is to assist in promoting this effort to residents and other stakeholders and to provide input into the design and development of the work product.
Electric scooter company Lynx expands into Bridgeport
July 7, 2020
News 12 Connecticut
Learn about Bridgeport's Shared Mobility Pilot Program.
10 communities recognized for Complete Streets policies
May 2019
Smart Cities Dive
The National Complete Streets Coalition (NCSC), a program of Smart Growth America, recognized 10 communities that drafted and implemented the best Complete Streets policies of 2018.
photo by Laura Sandt, Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center (PBIC)

What is a "Complete Street?"
“Complete Streets” is a transportation policy and design approach that aims to make streets more safe, convenient, comfortable, and accessible for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of how they are traveling (i.e., foot, wheelchair, bicycle, scooter, vehicle, or bus). Complete Streets can make it safer to cross a street, walk to stores, and bike to work. Complete Streets can help buses to run on time and encourage safe driving behavior at intersections.
The City of Bridgeport is also borrowing priorities from the Safe Routes to Schools program and the Vision Zero campaign, the goals of which are to increase pedestrian safety and reduce the number of all vehicular accidents in Bridgeport to zero. The City is combining the goals and strategies of all of these efforts into a Complete Streets Design Guide.
Does this mean that every street will have bicycle lanes and safer pedestrian crossings?
No. Not every street is appropriate for Complete Streets improvements. At the same time, there is no set formula for how to design a Complete Street. Every street is unique and the types of Complete Streets improvements that are possible and desirable can vary depending on the type of street, its dimensions, the volume and speed of traffic, and other factors. Also, funding constraints limit the amount of improvements that can be made to streets within any particular community. Therefore, it is important to determine which streets are most important to prioritize for the planning and design of Complete Streets improvements.
What are the potential benefits of Complete Streets?
Complete Streets provide a wide range of benefits to people and the environment. Complete Streets provide a safe environment for people to walk and bicycle more, which offers health benefits through physical activity. Complete Streets reduce crashes through safety improvements and creating safe accommodations for all modes of travel. Complete Streets improve or create new connections between neighborhoods and destinations such as schools and parks. Complete Streets help reduce congestion by providing more travel choices and by increasing the overall capacity of the transportation network. As a result, pollution is reduced and air quality is improved, benefiting people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Complete Streets provide children with more opportunities for physical activity and keep them safe. When sidewalks and bicycling routes are present and street crossings are safe, more children can safely walk or ride bicycles to school.
What commitments has the City of Bridgeport made toward Complete Streets?
Bridgeport formalized its policy of moving toward Complete Streets within Plan Bridgeport. The Plan directly calls for a Complete Streets approach to transportation planning and aims to increase usage of alternative modes of transportation. The standardized infrastructure designs that will be contained in the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide will help the City meet the Plan Bridgeport goals of increasing connectivity between neighborhoods and implementing 30 miles of bicycle trails by 2029.
Have other cities in Connecticut adopted Complete Streets policies or implemented Complete Streets projects?
Communities throughout Connecticut of all sizes, including cities such as New Haven and small towns such as Fairfield, have adopted Complete Streets policies. Many of these communities also have implemented Complete Streets projects.
Complete Streets is a national movement. The National Complete Streets Coalition promotes the development and implementation of Complete Streets policies and professional practices. The organization reports that more than 1450 agencies at the local, regional, and state levels have adopted Complete Streets policies.
What is the next step for Bridgeport regarding Complete Streets?
The next step is to produce a Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide. The purpose of this Guide is to provide Complete Streets design standards for City agencies, consultants, private developers, community groups, and other parties involved with Bridgeport’s streets.
What will be included in the Guide, and who is the intended audience?
The Guide will identify the city’s common street types and recommend Complete Street design concepts and best practices for each street type. The Guide will supplement existing engineering practices and requirements in order to provide customized Complete Streets design guidance for Bridgeport.
After it is completed, public and private entities involved in managing or implementing street improvement projects or restorations will be able to use the Guide to ensure that Complete Streets principles are considered in all projects. City agencies will have a reference manual during planning, design and implementation. Private developers will refer to the Guide to incorporate and support Complete Street principles. Elected officials can use the Guide when proposing improvements in their jurisdictions, and community groups can refer to the Guide to advocate for transportation and accessibility improvements on streets within their neighborhoods.
How can I stay informed about and involved in this process?
This website will be the central public portal of information for the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide. To provide input, please go to the Provide Input section of this website to use the Street Mapper online tool. This website also has a contact form in the Contact Us section through which you can submit a question, comment, suggestion, or idea about this effort in writing.
Announcements and project news for this effort will also be available on the City’s website and social media pages. Information on key events and outcomes will be posted through these channels during Guide development so that local organizations and news outlets can publish timely information for the Bridgeport community. In addition, two public workshops will be held during which residents and other interested parties will be able to learn more about the effort, evaluate proposed improvements, and provide feedback on the work.
What is the timeline for completing the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide?
We anticipate that it will take six months to complete the Guide, with a target completion date in December 2020.
Who is leading this initiative? What other agencies are involved?
This initiative is being led by Bridgeport’s Office of Planning & Economic Development. Through a request for proposals and interview process the Fairfield, CT office of NV5 was selected as the consultant to produce the Design Guide and project website, and to assist in the community engagement process.
Two committees will provide input and review work products. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is comprised of various City departments, MetroCOG and Greater Bridgeport Transit. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is composed of neighborhood groups, youth, business groups, and bicycling organizations.

June-Aug

Kick Off Project & Develop Palette of Street Typologies

As a first step, we will observe and photograph Bridgeport's street network and begin to develop typologies to categorize existing streets. Then we will meet with the Technical Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Committee to collect input on the condition, use, and improvement of the street network and on the street typologies.

Aug-Sep

Hold First Public Meeting

We will hold a public meeting to hear from residents of Bridgeport about how they use the street network and how it can be improved through Complete Streets improvements. Our team will present the street typologies under consideration and seek input to further refine and finalize them.

Sep-Oct

Develop the Design Guide

A draft of the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide will be completed by the fall. Input from the public and from the Technical Advisory Committee and Community Advisory Committee will be incorporated into the design recommendations.

Oct-Nov

Hold Second Public Meeting

During the second public meeting, we will present a first draft of the Guide, answer questions about its content, and make sure the input that had been received is accurately represented in the Complete Streets recommendations.

Nov-Dec

Post Final Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide

The Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide will be finalized and posted for reference. The finished Guide will be well-designed and illustrated.

Your Input

We want your input! The Street Mapper is an online tool through which you can provide input on and insights about traveling through Bridgeport's streets on foot, bicycle or scooter, or bus. The information will help us understand the way in which you travel through the city and determine parts of the city whose streets should be better designed to facilitate travel by walking, bicycle/scooter, and bus. Click on the button below to start.
If you would prefer to provide input to us in writing, please use the form in the "Contact Us" section below.

Go to Street Mapper

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or ideas about Complete Streets in Bridgeport, please fill out and submit the form to the right.

Website designed and maintained by NV5 - Connecticut LLC under contract with the City of Bridgeport

Designing Complete Streets

What is a "Complete Street?"

Does this mean that every street will have bicycle lanes and safer pedestrian crossings?

What are the potential benefits of Complete Streets?

What commitments has the City of Bridgeport made toward Complete Streets?

Have other cities in Connecticut adopted Complete Streets policies or implemented Complete Streets projects?

What is the next step for Bridgeport regarding Complete Streets?

The next step is to produce a Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide. The purpose of this Guide is to provide Complete Streets design standards for City agencies, consultants, private developers, community groups, and other parties involved with Bridgeport’s streets.

What will be included in the Guide, and who is the intended audience?

How can I stay informed about and involved in this process?

What is the timeline for completing the Bridgeport Complete Streets Design Guide?

We anticipate that it will take six months to complete the Guide, with a target completion date in December 2020.

Who is leading this initiative? What other agencies are involved?

Your Input

Thank you!