Boston's Complete Streets Advisory Committee held its first group meeting yesterday in City Hall to review and discuss proposed design guidelines for street reconstruction projects in the city.

"I am committed to creating world class streets in Boston that are healthy, green and smart. Streets define the character of our neighborhoods and are the common ground where people travel, meet and do business on a daily basis," said Mayor Menino.

The Complete Streets Advisory Committee is an important step in the ongoing initiative by Mayor Thomas M. Menino toward a more inclusive approach to the use of Boston's extensive and diverse road infrastructure. Appointed by the Mayor this summer, the Committee will focus on consolidating the several new features that the city has been implementing in ongoing right-of-way construction projects into a new set of design guidelines. In developing street design guidelines Boston will join the "livable streets" movement gaining momentum throughout the United States.

The ongoing work includes:

The inclusion of bicycle lanes in recently completed roadways such as American Legion Highway, North Harvard Street and Commonwealth Avenue, and in the design work for Massachusetts Avenue and Boylston Street (Fenway).

The use of environmentally-friendly storm water drainage techniques to reduce the impacts of new roadway construction such as at Peabody Square in Dorchester.

Installation of bus priority measures on Essex Street, Washington Streets (South End) and the Centre – South Street corridor in Jamaica Plain

Inclusion of scooters/motorcycles, electric car and vanpool parking spaces on Boston's streets.

Development of pedestrian friendly sidewalks and plazas at Edward Everett Square, Four Corners and along Broad and Causeway Streets.

Boston Transportation Department staff has held discussions with Committee members in recent months and has been working with a nationally recognized team of consultants since March, 2009 to develop a framework for the design guidelines. These guidelines will:

Accommodate all modes of travel equitably including pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, transit riders and persons with disabilities.

Incorporate design features such as rain gardens and use of low-maintenance materials to create sustainable and environmentally friendly streets.

Use cutting-edge technologies to make our streets "smarter" in using existing right-of-way capacity more effectively.

The Complete Streets Committee is comprised of neighborhood residents, local advocates as well as nationally known design professionals who have been participating in ongoing projects. Topic specific public workshops will be held during the Fall and Winter with the guidelines expected to be released in June 2010.

The Committee's work is being supported by a City public agency team including Boston's Transportation, Public Works, Parks, and Environment Departments and Boston Bikes. The BRA, Boston Public Health Commission, BWSC and the Elderly Commission are also participating.

"This is an opportunity to thoroughly review how city agencies design our streets. Once finalized, the guidelines will be officially adopted by the City and all right-of-way design work will be required to follow them," said Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin.