El Centro Municipal Code Art. V Complete Streets

The purpose of this article is to ensure that streets in El Centro provide safe, comfortable, and convenient access throughout the city for users of all ages and abilities, including people who walk, bike, drive, and use public transportation, as well as emergency responders and people operating commercial or freight vehicles, which in turn will support the health, safety, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality of the city.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)

Complete streets - A public or private roadway that is designed and operated to enable safe, convenient, and comfortable mobility and access for users of all ages and abilities, including people who walk, bike, drive, and use public transportation, as well as emergency responders, people operating commercial or freight vehicles, and other roadway users.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)

(a) Complete streets principles shall be incorporated into the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of all new public streets, including retrofit/reconstruction of existing streets, except as indicated in section 23-74.

(b) As feasible, complete streets elements shall be incorporated into existing public streets, including repurposing unneeded roadway pavement to provide complete streets design elements such as bicycle lanes, traffic calming measures, or landscaping.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)

(a) Roadway projects and activities are exempt from requirements to include complete streets design elements when:

(1) Federal, state, or local laws or policies prohibit the project or activity;

(2) The cost of installing complete streets elements would be excessively disproportionate to the benefit to roadway users;

(b) Exceptions to complete streets requirements may be granted by the public works director with written approval documenting the need for the exception.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)

(a) When required by section 23-73, new and existing streets shall incorporate complete streets design elements, which may include:

(1) Traffic calming tools, such as roundabouts, traffic circles, median islands, chicanes, speed cushions, bulb-outs, chockers/neckdowns, parklets, and/or other tools included in the general plan mobility element or section 23-62(j);

(2) Pedestrian infrastructure, such as sidewalks, curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian beacons, advance stop bars, pedestrian scrambles, or countdown signals;

(3) Bicycle infrastructure such as striped or buffered bicycle lanes, bicycle parking, or bicycle signals;

(4) Parkway elements, such as landscaping, street trees, street furniture, wayfinding signage, outdoor dining, trash and recycling receptacles, or public art;

(5) Public transit stops with amenities such as shade structures and seating;

(6) Native landscaping or other sustainable design elements; or

(7) Other infrastructure and amenities to support mobility for users of all ages and abilities.

(c) The design and implementation of complete streets elements shall take into consideration the unique needs of each neighborhood.

(d) Complete streets design shall be based on current national and state guidance for street design, construction, and operation such as the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guides, the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUCTD), the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) design guides, the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) design guides, as well as local policies and plans such as the Imperial County Regional Active Transportation Plan, the City of El Centro mobility element, City if El Centro Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School Plan, and the Downtown El Centro Design Standards. Innovative and nontraditional designs may be incorporated when they provide a comparable level of safety and utility for users.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)

City departments shall coordinate in the design and implementation of complete streets, and as appropriate work with the County of Imperial, Caltrans, and adjacent cities to incorporate complete streets principles into the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of city roadways.

(Ord. No. 24-03, § 8, 9-17-24)