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Thanks in part to local advocates, Tennessee has a new, strengthened bike-ped policy that puts complete streets into practice.

Just this week, Gerald Nicely, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, signed the short but sweet directive that requires state officials “routinely integrate bicycling and walking facilities into the transportation system as a means to improve mobility, access and safety of non-motorized traffic.”

The folks at Bike Walk Tennessee were the first to cheer. Pat Clements, the group’s president, says advocates have been emphasizing that Tennessee’s previous, 2004 bike-ped policy was “too easy to ignore.” In announcing the good news about Nicely’s signature on the new policy statement, Jessica Wilson, the state’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, recognized the important role of advocates, who provided specific feedback and helped to spur the needed changes.

The timing was certainly fitting. The board of Bike Walk Tennessee had just gotten acquainted with some very high-ranking folks. “We met with Governor-elect Bill Haslam’s policy staff on Friday, as more or less an introduction,” Pat says. “Complete Streets policy was one of several items we communicated to them. A day later, this policy was signed.”

So what’s in there worth celebrating? “It’s a key change in Tennessee roadway policy,” Pat explains, highlighting the following five points.

• It requires not only Tennessee DOT to follow the policy, but contractors, consultants and local governments managing TDOT projects.
• It requires local, regional and state organizations implementing projects with state money to follow the policy.
• It requires the state to consider local bike/ped plans when resurfacing state roadways within their jurisdiction.
• It points to and requires design in accordance with national FHWA and AASHTO standards for bike/ped facility design.
• It specifies that road resurfacing shall not degrade current walking and biking levels.

Download the full policy or read more on Bike Walk Tennessee’s blog.