U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced The Complete Streets Act of 2009. The goal of this bill is to encourage the development of streets that safely support different modes of transportation including automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.

S. 584: A bill to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways.

H.R. 1443: Complete Streets Act of 2009: To ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways.

Not only will the implementation of Complete Streets reduce accidents among the user groups, as already demonstrated in communities that have already adopted this legislation on a local level, it will also make greener options such as walking and bicycling safer and more realistic to more people, which will lead to a decrease in pollution. These greener options are also another way of successfully addressing America’s obesity epidemic.

This legislation keeps one principle in mind: that our transportation system should work for all Americans… and not be focused solely on cars.¹

By diversifying our roadways, we can provide real alternatives to travel by car. The strength of this legislation is that it recognizes that we face very real challenges today, many of which are interwoven. By opening up our roadways to pedestrians and cyclists, we can help ease the congestion on our nation’s roads. In doing so, we will make progress fighting air pollution and global warming, and we will take strides toward improving the health and protecting the safety of people across our country.²

- Rep. Matsui, of Sacramento, California, which has a local complete streets policy.

When Americans choose to leave their car at home and walk or ride a bike to school or work, they are making a healthy decision. We need to ensure streets, intersections and trails are designed to make them easier to use and maximize their safety. This legislation will encourage Americans to be more active, while also providing more travel options and cutting down on traffic congestion.¹

- Sen. Harkin of Iowa

If you would like to support this bill, please take the time to ask your member of Congress to help complete America’s streets. This link will take you to the following form letter that you have the option of editing and personalizing:

Support S. 584, The Complete Streets Act of 2009

I am writing to encourage you to co-sponsor The Complete Streets Act of 2009 (S. 584) introduced by Senator Harkin. This important piece of legislation would ensure that future transportation investments made by state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the road – motorists, transit vehicles and riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Congress has already indicated its support for complete streets. A provision in the recently enacted energy bill states a “sense of Congress” that complete streets provisions should be adopted. This legislation clarifies what a complete streets policy should include and makes it part of the transportation planning process at the state and MPO levels.

Please show your support by contacting Richard Bender (Richard_Bender@harkin.senate.gov) or Jenelle Krishnamoorthy (Jenelle_Krishnamoorthy@harkin.senate.gov) in Senator Harkin’s office to co-sponsor S. 584, The Complete Streets Act of 2009.

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1 Senator Harkin, Rep. Matsui Introduce Complete Streets Act of 2009

2 U.S. Senate and House Introduce Bill to Make Streets Safer and Encourage Healthier America