Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-794
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Bicycles
Bikeways
Child safety
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Energy
Environmental Protection
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to transportation
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government statistics
Governmental investigations
Highway finance
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Metropolitan areas
Motor vehicle pollution control
Nonprofit organizations
Parking facilities
Pedestrians
Physical fitness
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Sports and Recreation
Student transportation
Traffic congestion
Traffic engineering
Transportation and the disabled
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Transportation safety
Urban affairs
Volunteer workers
Walking

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2005 - Amends Federal highway law to require each State transportation department to adopt a policy statement ensuring that the needs and safety of all road users (including the need for pedestrian and bicycle safety) are fully integrated into the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of the State's transportation system. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to take necessary actions to double the percentage of trips made by foot or bicycle while simultaneously reducing crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians by ten percent.
 
Requires the Secretary to allocate certain funds for research that directly benefits the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of the transportation system for nonmotorized users. Requires metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to certify, as part of the certification review of their bicycle and pedestrian programs, that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians (including people who use wheelchairs and people with impaired vision) have been adequately addressed by their respective long-range transportation plans, including a target level that doubles the percentage of trips made by foot and bicycle.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary and middle schools; and (2) a task force to study and develop a strategy for advancing such programs nationwide. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a nonmotorized transportation pilot program to construct, in four communities, a network of nonmotorized transportation infrastructure facilities (including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails) that connect directly with transit stations, schools, residences, businesses, recreation areas, and other community activity centers; and (2) develop specified statistical information on changes in motor vehicle, nonmotorized, and public transportation usage in those communities, and assess how such changes decrease congestion and energy usage, increase the frequency of biking and walking, and promote better health and a cleaner environment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3664)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate