Page 49 - TT mag April 2024 Digital Edition

URBAN DESIGN

“Complete Streets”

are Creating Safer, more Sustainable Cities in Brazil

Urban development in many cities around the world prioritizes making space for cars
over pedestrians, cyclists or public transportation. In Brazil, this led to an average of
more than 30,000 annual road crash fatalities nationwide by the turn of the century, as
well as high levels of congestion and pollution. But in the last 20 years, fatalities have
started to decrease, and city centres have become more vibrant, cleaner and resilient.

At the heart of these changes is implementation of the “Complete Streets” concept.

any local narrow sidewalks and numerous Between 2016 and 2017, before
governments aim car crashes, João Alfredo Street the redesign, 60 crashes were
to reduce traffic wasn’t any different from other reported on the street, with a
crashes only by streets in the central area of Porto total of 18 injured and one death.
changing drivers’ Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande After the new infrastructure was
M and passengers’ do Sul in southern Brazil. In 2019, installed, between 2020 and
behaviors through things like seatbelt- the street received a complete 2022, the number of crashes
and helmet-wearing campaigns. This redesign. The goal was to make dropped to 26 (-56%), and the
approach puts the onus on individuals the mixed-use street safer and number of injured fell to 7 (-61%),
rather than the city to make streets more welcoming during the day for with no fatalities, according to the
safer. Complete Streets changes the hundreds of school children, and city records.
paradigm, emphasizing the creation at night for the many people who
(or redesign) of streets that are safe, enjoyed going out to restaurants Challenges for Complete
accessible and enjoyable for individuals and nightclubs.
of all ages and abilities. Streets Implementation
The transformation was done in
By providing infrastructure such several stages. First, the city painted Although Complete Streets often
as bike lanes, broader sidewalks, and installed curb extensions and receives a lot of acceptance after
benches and green spaces, Complete roundabouts and existing ones were implementation, that’s not always
Streets encourages active modes of redesigned. The curb extensions the case when new projects are
transportation and reduces dependency shortened the distances for crossing announced. Common opponents
on private vehicles. It’s also a good the street, while roundabouts include drivers who want as much
strategy for implementing traffic calming reduced speed in the intersections. road space as possible, business
measures that reduce car speeds, thus owners fearful about the loss of
improving road safety. Additional crossing lanes for parking spaces and also politicians
pedestrians were also painted by & decision makers who are afraid of
WRI Brasil worked with Brazil’s the city and the posted speed limit
National Front of Mayors, Bloomberg was reduced from 40km per hour losing votes.
Initiative for Global Road Safety and to 30km, an important change Also, being holistic, Complete
many other partners to support especially for improving the safety Streets projects tend to rely
the implementation of 28 different of children and the elderly. on budget and decisions from
Complete Street projects throughout multiple city departments, such as
the country in the last five years. On the following stages, new Transport, Mobility, Environment
Taken here is one case study that street furniture was installed with and Public Works. However, this
illustrates these transformations: vegetation, including litter bins provides an opportunity for a shift
and benches made by alumni in urban planning that promotes
João Alfredo Street, from a social project in the other important solutions, such as
neighbourhood. The street was
Porto Alegre: Creating a made safer by design. Spaces transport-oriented development
and the adoption of nature-based
Livable Space where people once passed by solutions for climate adaptation.
became places for socialization and
With scarce road signage, rest for individuals and groups. Source: WRI TT

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