Strengthening Local Economies

Complete Streets are a good transportation investment. Complete Streets projects can cost less or be comparable in cost to other projects while increasing safety and mode choice. A Complete Streets approach can include inexpensive upgrades, like restriping and signal timing, to increase safety and convenience.

State highways commonly carry high-speed, regional traffic, and can also serve as main streets in small cities and towns. A recent study of small Minnesota cities suggests that Complete Streets projects may improve the economic activity of small cities. Cities with populations of 20,000 or less that included a Complete Streets reconstruction project showed a positive impact on property taxes when compared with similar size cities.