In February 2021, Ely DeSandoli, an intern at The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT), published this report: Complete Streets in The 15 Minute City.
This report is about the 15 Minute City, a new urban planning concept, and how Complete Streets can be an effective strategy for achieving it. Where the 15 Minute City is about the importance of interesting destinations, Complete Streets ensure that the short journey to reach these destinations is safe and comfortable. The street itself is a destination!
The following topics are covered:
- principles of the 15 Minute City, and what makes it different
- a case study of a Canadian city (Ottawa) that uses it as a policy strategy for growth management within its 2021 Official Plan
- describes four ways that the 15 Minute City and Complete Streets can help each other: 1) infrastructure: safety, 2) infrastructure: neighbourhood context, 3) livability and sociability, and 4) increased economic activity
- critiques and drawbacks (ignoring the suburbs, gentrification concerns)
