This Month: Public Discussion on Philly's New Complete Streets Handbook

The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) and the Streets Department recently released a draft of the Philadelphia Complete Streets Design Handbook (the Handbook) for public comment. The Handbook lays out the preferred street designs and management practices that should provide all travelers with safe and convenient streets.

The MOTU is hosting three Complete Streets Handbook Discussions in the month of September. Two are for the Development & Design communities and one is being held for the general public.  

• MOTU encourages professionals involved with Community or Real Estate Development to attend the Sept 10th meeting (11am – 12:30pm)
• MOTU encourages professionals involved with Design or Engineering to attend the Sept 12th meeting (11am – 12:30pm)
• MOTU encourages members from the general public to attend the Sept 24th meeting (6 – 7:30).

All Discussions will be held at Room 1450 of the Municipal Services Building (1401 JFK Blvd).

The Handbook will be used by City and State agency staff, design professionals, private developers, community groups, and others involved in the planning, design and operation of streets in Philadelphia. The Handbook will inform all projects that impact the public right-of-way in Philadelphia, including construction of new streets and improvements to existing streets. The Streets Department and Planning Commission will review projects for consistency with the Handbook and to make sure Philadelphians can travel across this city safely, no matter what mode of travel they choose.

The Handbook includes:

• project review checklists documenting how these designs and practices are applied to new, reconstructed, or redesigned City streets;
• a catalogue of existing local policies and design standards related to streets, sidewalks, intersections, and other elements in the public right-of-way;
• recommended policies and practices for issues not currently addressed. 

The Handbook is available for review on the Streets Department’s website and can be downloaded here
http://philadelphiastreets.com/handbook.aspx.

The open comment period will close October 1st. 

Communities interested in learning more can request a briefing from the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities. All comments and questions should be directed to Ariel Ben-Amos (ariel.ben-amos@phila.gov –1401 JFK Blvd, Suite 1430, Philadelphia, PA 19102). RSVPs are encouraged by not required.