This question is something we are thinking about as we plan the future of De Soto, Kansas, home of the $4 billion Panasonic North America EV Battery Facility. Kansas City is a major freight hub, and the future of our economy depends upon the efficient movement of goods. The stakeholders we engage support a better transportation system for bicyclists and pedestrians provided by complete streets. While complete streets can enhance safety and accessibility for many users, they can also have both positive and negative impacts on the ability to move freight, depending on how they are designed and implemented.
Complete Streets Positive Impacts on Goods Movement:
Improved Safety: Complete streets often include features like crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and designated bike lanes, which can enhance safety for all road users, including freight operators. Fewer accidents can lead to smoother freight movement.
Reduced Congestion: Encouraging alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, and public transit, can reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road, potentially decreasing overall congestion and making it easier for freight vehicles to navigate through traffic.
Economic Benefits: Complete streets can attract more people to commercial areas, leading to increased business activity and potentially benefiting freight operators who serve those areas.
Accessibility: Properly designed complete streets can improve access to commercial and industrial areas, making it easier for freight trucks to reach their destinations.
Complete Streets Potential Negative Impacts on Goods Movement:
Space Allocation: Designing streets to accommodate multiple modes of transportation can sometimes reduce the available road space for freight vehicles. This can lead to narrower lanes, less curb space for loading and unloading, and potential challenges for large trucks.
Reduced Speed Limits: Complete streets often have lower speed limits to prioritize safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Lower speed limits can slow down freight traffic and increase travel times.
Conflicting Movements: In some cases, the inclusion of bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure can create conflicts with freight operations, such as delivery trucks needing to cross bike lanes or navigate through pedestrian-heavy areas.
Parking Restrictions: Complete streets may limit on-street parking, which can affect the ability of delivery trucks to access businesses for pick-ups and drop-offs.
To maximize the benefits of complete streets while minimizing negative impacts on freight movement, city planners and transportation authorities need to carefully consider the specific needs of freight operators in their design and implementation. Involving them as stakeholders can be very challenging.
Overall, the impact of complete streets on freight movement will depend on the local context, the design choices made, and how well the transportation system is integrated to meet the needs of all users, including freight operators.