In their annually-released report, Smart Growth America scores the strongest Complete Street policies from across the country. Complete Streets policies are a jurisdiction’s formal commitment to fund, plan for, construct, operate, and maintain their streets so they are safe for all users, regardless of age and ability.

Notably, Massachusetts was called out for its Complete Streets Funding program, which incentivizes jurisdictions (communities) to adopt and implement Complete Streets policies—one reason why more than 60 of the 157 scored policies this year by Smart Growth Alliance came from the Commonwealth.

In the report’s scoring, four Massachusetts communities ended up in the top 30 nationally: Holliston, Provincetown, Hopedale, Richmond and Northbridge.

Communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly can consider Complete Streets policies as part of built environment improvements. More information on the MassDOT Complete Streets funding program is available here.

More info on the subject from Smart Growth America, including past reports and case studies, is available here.