A Framework for Informing Complete Street Planning: A Case Study in Brazil

Abstract

The concept of Complete Streets prompts a re-evaluation of the road design paradigm of the past century, which prioritized vehicles over human-centered use. It seeks to integrate land-use planning with urban mobility, focusing on a safer, more accessible allocation of street space that supports diverse transportation modes, stimulates local economic development, encourages active mobility, and reinforces place identity while recognizing each street’s unique purpose. However, Complete Streets have competing planning demands that vary according to their context and capacity to serve different functions and users. Identifying these priorities and street types is crucial for managing the trade-offs between functions according to each street’s role. This article presents a framework for assessing a street’s purpose and guiding interventions, focusing on the first two of the three key functions of Complete Streets: place, movement, and environment. The proposed framework is flexible and objective while allowing qualitative and subjective insights to be integrated. The preliminary results align with the empirical analysis of street segments, indicating the framework’s potential for diagnosing and evaluating street completeness. The developed experiment helped identify the framework’s limitations and its value as a tool for urban planning and design.