SAFE STREETS ACT OF 2013

The Safe Streets Act of 2013 is a legislative proposal designed to mandate that States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) adopt 'complete streets' policies to ensure transportation systems accommodate all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users.

• The legislation defines a 'complete street' as a roadway designed to safely accommodate all travelers, specifically mentioning public transit users, bicyclists, pedestrians of all abilities, motorists, and freight vehicles. It further defines 'complete streets policy' and 'complete streets principles' as laws or policies ensuring the needs of all users—including children, older adults, and people with disabilities—are addressed during all phases of transportation project planning and development.
• The Act requires States and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to implement complete streets policies within two years of the bill's passage. These policies apply to new federally funded road construction and modification projects, including design, planning, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and operations, provided they fit the local community context (urban, suburban, or rural).
• Certain projects are exempt from complete streets compliance, including those already substantially underway (at or beyond 30 percent design) at the time of passage. Other exemptions require senior manager approval and may be granted if the roadway prohibits specific users (such as freeways), if costs are excessively disproportionate to the need, or if the local population is too low to expect pedestrians, transit, freight, or bicyclists.
• The bill establishes oversight and support mechanisms, requiring the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate State DOTs and MPOs and requiring USDOT to report compliance status to Congress. Additionally, the Secretary must provide a report on best practices for implementation, collect data on non-motorized transportation and transit use, and develop a survey tool for identifying multi-modal capacity.
• The Act mandates the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to issue accessibility standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way. Until these are issued, States and MPOs are instructed to use existing Department of Transportation Standards for Accessible Transportation Facilities (49 CFR 37.9).

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2013). SAFE STREETS ACT OF 2013. https://www.eesi.org/files/cs-Safe_Streets_Act_of_2013-Analysis.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. SAFE STREETS ACT OF 2013. 2013. https://www.eesi.org/files/cs-Safe_Streets_Act_of_2013-Analysis.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=SAFE STREETS ACT OF 2013 |date=2013 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/cs-Safe_Streets_Act_of_2013-Analysis.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2013safe, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{SAFE STREETS ACT OF 2013}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2013}, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/cs-Safe_Streets_Act_of_2013-Analysis.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }