Home > Planning & Engineering > Transportation Planning > Complete Streets

Complete Streets

About Complete Streets
In an effort to promote the use of all transportation modes and make Southern Nevada a more sustainable place to live, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is conducting a regional Complete Streets Initiative.

Complete Streets Design Guidelines for Livable Communities (PDF)

Policy For Complete Streets (PDF)

What is a Complete Street?

  • A road designed to be safe for all users.
  • Includes design features that aim to make streets pleasant places for all users.
  • Users include car drivers, transit riders, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, and bicyclists.

Complete Streets Benefits

  • Make walking, biking, and transit riding more attractive.
  • Improve travel options for groups that have limited access to cars.
  • Improve safety of various modes.
  • Increase the likelihood of physical activity.
  • Reduce air quality emissions.
  • Improve the economic situation for communities.
Show Complete Streets Study

The final report for the RTC Complete Streets Study was approved at the June 2012 RTC Board meeting. At the same meeting, the RTC Board adopted the recommended Complete Streets Policies, which are located in Chapter 3 of the report.

Stakeholders and Workshop Participants

  • RTC – Metropolitan Planning Organization, Transit
  • Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST)
  • RTC Transportation Access Advisory Committee
  • Nevada Department of Transportation
  • City of Henderson – Community Development, Public Works
  • City of Las Vegas – Planning, Public Works
  • City of North Las Vegas – Planning, Public Works
  • Clark County – Comprehensive Planning, Public Works
  • City of Boulder City – Community Planning
  • City of Mesquite – Planning
  • Southern Nevada Health District
  • Clark County School District
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Safe Community Partnership

Show Complete Streets Projects

Boulder Highway Express / Henderson & Downtown Express

Boulder Hwy
Before		 Stop After
After

Sahara Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project

Sahara Ave
Before		 Sahara After Rendering
After

Main / Commerce One-Way Couplet

The City of Las Vegas and the RTC are working on a number of projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the downtown area.  As an expansion of these efforts, the City has started to look at ways of improving Main Street for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders.

After reviewing options, including a consideration of traffic flow, it was decided that the conversion of Main Street to a one-way couplet would be a way of achieving both goals.  This had the added advantage of upgrading Commerce Street, which now just provides local access through an economically marginal light industrial area.  Under this concept, Main Street would become a two-lane northbound street with widened sidewalks and bike lanes, while southbound travel would use Commerce Street.  The result would upgrade the overall amenity of the area and meet the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists while also achieving a modest increase in the carrying capacity of the roadway.

Main St. Before
Before		 Main St. After
After

Show Online Resources for Complete Streets

National Complete Streets Coalition Website
America Walks: Benefits of a Walkable Community
The National Center for Bicycling and Walking Library 
Creatng Walkable Communities – A guide for local governments
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Complete Streets Checklist 
Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities