HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 123

(By Delegates Guthrie, Boggs, Caputo, Poore, Brown, Staggers, Miley, Manchin, Fragale, Mahan, Longstreth, Marshall, L. Phillips)

Requesting the Join Committee on Government and Finance to study the benefits and costs of requiring municipal governing bodies and the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to implement a complete streets policy.

    Whereas, A complete streets policy considers the needs of all transportation users and is implemented by including complete streets features, which ensure the safe usage of roads by all users; and

    Whereas, A complete streets policy is designed to uniquely adapt to and address the needs in the community context where a given transportation project is being considered; and

    Whereas, More than forty percent of pedestrian deaths in 2007 and 2008 occurred where no crosswalk was available, forty-seven percent of older adults reported they could not safely cross their main roads and forty percent said they do not have adequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods, and older pedestrians are disproportionately at risk of pedestrian fatalities; and

    Whereas, A complete streets policy would ensure that persons responsible for road design view all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers in West Virginia; and

    Whereas, A complete streets policy can foster a stronger sense of community and help local businesses; and

    Whereas, Nearly one-third of Americans do not drive and fifty-five percent would rather drive less and walk more but do not have the opportunity; and

    Whereas, Incomplete streets, designed with only cars and motorists in mind, limit potentially cheaper transportation choices by making walking, bicycling, and taking public transportation inconvenient, unattractive, or too dangerous; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Physical Activity Plan, of which the West Virginia Municipal League is a co-sponsor and which the West Virginia Senate formally supported, recommends as part of multiple sector strategies that a complete streets policy be considered because of the potential health and physical activity benefits; and

    Whereas, Morgantown, West Virginia adopted a complete streets policy in 2007, and, in 2008, earned a “Well City” designation from the Wellness Councils of America and was named West Virginia’s “Best Walking City” and the thirty-fourth best in the nation by Prevention magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association; and

    Whereas, It is costlier to implement complete streets features through retrofits than original construction; and

    Whereas, Complete streets policies have been adopted in at least sixteen states; and

    Whereas, Several complete streets features are currently considered by the Division of Highways, but such a policy is not codified; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the benefits and costs of requiring municipal governing bodies and the West Virginia Commissioner of Highways to implement a complete streets policy; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2013, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.