Building Healthy, Climate-Resilient Communities

Complete Streets encourage people to choose more sustainable, active forms of transportation. In communities where walking and biking is easy, every trip is an opportunity to be active. Too few Americans currently get the recommended amount of physical activity. Only 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 high school students meet physical activity guidelines.

People are more active when they have pleasant and safe places to do so. Research shows people who live in walkable neighborhoods get 35–45 more minutes of moderate physical activity each week. People who ride transit tend to move more, taking 30% more steps a day than people who drive. Complete Streets elements, like sidewalks, crosswalks, bike paths and lanes, trees, lighting, and benches, can make a big difference.

Climate change is already impacting Minnesota and transportation is the #1 source of carbon pollution. Increasing biking, walking, and transit can help reduce carbon pollution. This can also create healthier communities by improving air quality and reducing extreme heat and precipitation impacts.