Smart Growth America has documented the safety benefits of Complete Streets for more than two decades, but their economic potential is often overlooked. Their new report, “Complete Streets, Stronger Economies,” provides the first national analysis of these investments and examines their benefits for local businesses and community economic outcomes.

MassDOT is currently accepting applications for their Complete Streets funding program, and these efforts are common goals in age-friendly community action plans. The Smart Growth America Report provides additional incentive for communities to pursue this opportunity.

The report finds that communities investing in safer transportation systems see a wide range of economic benefits. These benefits include revitalized downtown areas, increases in sales, business growth, job creation, tax revenue, and property values, as well as cost savings from fewer traffic crashes and reduced physical inactivity. Additionally, the report’s findings make clear that adopting and scaling Complete Streets projects can help communities respond to challenging social, cultural, and economic conditions.

More information, including case studies, are available in the full report here.