Livable Streets Principles
The Livable Streets concept is a design approach for streets to be planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities, regardless of their mode of transportation. The City Council has established priorities for guiding decisions and investments to improve the quality of life of our residents. One of these priorities, which is also reflected as one of planokc’s Big Ideas, is to develop a transportation system that works for all residents.
Implementation of this goal requires a consistent and thoughtful approach to making investments in our multi-modal transportation network incrementally over time. City departments or City entities (Committees and Commissions) should consult this plan when creating or modifying ordinances, programs, and projects that affect the design of streets.
This chapter defines guiding principles and ideal standards for Livable Streets, but recognizes that physical constraints, context, and character of the surrounding built and natural environment require flexibility in application and implementation. The overarching goal is to ensure all users of the transportation network can travel safely, reliably, and independently, while also having adequate access to all transportation modes. Where accommodations for all users cannot be made, reasonable effort should be made to identify adjacent alternative routes and/or methods of travel.
