Complete Streets

Complete Streets

What is a Complete Street?

A Complete Street is designed to meet the needs of all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers, while considering varying ages and abilities. The goal is to create a well-functioning street network that supports a high quality of life for residents and visitors.

Each street is unique, and the approach to creating a Complete Street varies depending on the context and character of the area.

Complete Streets Policy

In June 2018, Greater Sudbury became only the 6th municipality in Ontario to officially adopt a Complete Streets Policy. (PDF, 157 KB)

Benefits of Complete Streets

  • Encourage people to walk, bicycle and take transit,
  • Better physical and mental health outcomes for people of all ages,
  • Reduce the chance of injury or death,
  • Support a better balance between motorized travel and other uses,
  • More space for landscaping, which contributes to healthier air, more shade, better stormwater management and makes our city more resilient to the effects of climate change
  • Desirable cities with a high quality of life.

Businesses want to locate and stay where streets are attractive. Residents put down roots where they can walk and bike, or socialize with fellow street users.

Complete Streets Design Guidelines

The City of Greater Sudbury has developed Complete Streets Design Guidelines, a set of consistent principles and tools to guide the design, implementation, and maintenance of Complete Streets across the city. These guidelines aim to:

  • Encourage designs that balance transportation needs for all modes of travel

  • Focus on enhancing road safety for all users

  • Address the transportation and placemaking functions of surrounding areas

These guidelines are based on a comprehensive review of the city’s road network, considering land use, context, and functional road classifications. From this review, various cross-sections were developed to accommodate the needs of different transportation modes in various environments.

The guidelines offer a flexible approach to street design, tailored to the needs of each neighbourhood—from quiet rural roads to busy downtown areas. Key changes include narrower traffic lanes to slow vehicles, wider sidewalks for pedestrians and mobility devices, and more space for bike lanes and greenery. Public input was instrumental in shaping the guidelines, with strong support for safer bike lanes, improved sidewalks, and better transit access.

Background Information

See previous reports and presentations delivered to the Operations Committee of Greater Sudbury Council on the topic of Complete Streets: