1. 2013 NJ Complete Streets Summit
The Importance of Context in
Institutionalizing a Local Complete Streets
Policy: Chatham Borough Case Study
Susan G. Blickstein, PP/AICP, PhD
10/21/2013

2. Overview
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Funded by ANJEC Grant
Steering Committee
Policy Plan
Importance of local CONTEXT in plan and
policy preparation and implementation

3. Chatham Borough
• Southeastern Morris County
• 2.4 square miles/9,000
residents
• Built-out community with
downtown core
• RETROFIT IN DEVELOPED
CONTEXT (ROW constraints).

4. Key Elements of Policy Plan:
More than a Resolution
• Vision Statement & Goals
• Policy Language (Resolution)
• Complete Streets Measures – general design
guidance based on local context
• Educational Program Recommendations
• Roadway Project Checklist
• Performance Measures

5. Vision Statement
“ Develop strategies, policies and goals that
promote individual and community health and
sustainability through the provision of
transportation options that encourage physical
activity while preserving and enhancing the
existing assets of Chatham Borough.”

6. Select Goals – CONTEXT
• Building on the historic, mixed-use downtown of
Chatham, plan pleasant and accessible places to walk,
cycle, and access transit.
• Enhance current walking and bicycling opportunities
through improvements that expand existing safe routes
to destinations.
• Promote walking, bicycling and transit use through
consideration of specific street safety needs of
children, older adults, and people with disabilities in
new and retrofit projects, especially those projects at
and near schools, community facilities, transportation
hubs, and the downtown.

7. Select Goals - CONTEXT
• Ensure that complete streets projects reflect and
consider the environmental, cultural, and historic
context of the Borough.
• Promote outreach and education to all street users
regarding mutual respect and rules of the road in a
multi-modal environment.
• Implement the complete streets policies to support
other local initiatives such as Sustainable Jersey
certification and SRTS.
• Involve residents and business owners in promoting
walking and cycling locally.
• Seek public input via surveys for certain types of
projects.

8. Local Checklist –
Streets/Crossings/Sidewalks

9. Local Checklist –
Streets/Crossings/Sidewalks

10. Local Checklist - Use
• Insert checklist

11. Local Checklist – Contextual Factors

12. Local Checklist - Safety

13. Performance Measures
1. Safety & Use
2. Improved Accessibility for Users of All Ages &
Abilities
3. New Infrastructure and/or Retrofitted Streets
4. Consideration of Historic & Environmental Resources
5. Education Events & Community Outreach
6. Implementation of Sustainable Jersey Certification
Actions
7. Funding Support and Cost/Benefit Analysis.

14. http://www.chathamborough.org/c
hatham/Plans-Reports/Complete
%20Streets%20Policy%20Plan
%203-21-2012.pdf

15. Related Efforts that Reinforce CS Policy
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Local Traffic Committee
SRTS Efforts
Ordinance Changes
Checklist– Complete Streets measures
included in recent maintenance and
reconstruction projects
sblickstein@gmail.com
Susan G. Blickstein PP, AICP, PhD