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Smart Growth Streets and Emergency Response
A fundamental aspect of smart growth development is the design of the street network. To make the roadway system safe and inviting for pedestrians, cyclists, and others, smart growth street design is typically characterized by narrower widths, tighter turning radii, and the provision of street trees, sidewalks, and on-street parking. Narrower streets can also help communities reduce stormwater runoff and meet their water quality goals.
However, in many places across the country, as developers and city officials try to design these types of streets, they are finding that local fire/emergency response officials will not approve them. Emergency responders express concern that the narrower streets may impede access and maneuverability for their vehicles, which may increase response time. In some instances, communities have been unable to move forward with smart growth plans because of emergency response concerns.
EPA is working on finding ways to reconcile these competing goals so that developments with narrow street designs can work well for residents and be approved by emergency response officials.
To begin to clarify the issue and highlight some success stories, EPA funded the Local Government Commission
to develop fact sheets and case studies.
-
LGC's Emergency Response and Narrow Streetspage has more information
about the issue.
- The "Traffic Calming and Emergency Response (PDF)" (4 pp, 1.2 MB, About PDF)fact sheet discusses ways to retrofit streets and be responsive to emergency
response needs.
- The "Street Design and Emergency Response (PDF)" (4 pp, 1.4 MB, About PDF)fact sheet summarizes good street design strategies and tools and is intended
for emergency response officials involved in reviewing smart growth
developments.
- LGC's Emergency Response and Traditional Neighborhood Street Designpage contains case studies that show how three cities have handled
smart growth street designs and emergency response concerns.