Complete Streets | City of Mill Creek

What is a Complete Street?

A complete street provides appropriate accommodation for people who use multiple modes of travel, including driving, walking, rolling, and riding transit. A complete street accommodates persons of all abilities, while promoting safe operation for all users.

How do Complete Streets connect our community?

By linking neighborhoods to schools, parks, businesses, and transit hubs, they strengthen daily mobility and support a healthier, more vibrant community. When streets are designed for all users, they become places where people can move confidently, interact more easily, and access the opportunities that matter most.

How does the City know which streets need to be more accessible?

The 2024 Comprehensive Plan included a City-wide assessment of priority routes for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians, allowing the City to see how community members utilize key corridors around town.

Learn more about the 2024 Comprehensive Plan here.

Complete Street Program Goals

Environment - Walking, biking, rolling, and riding public transit are better for the environment than driving. They create fewer emissions and pollution and can also help other areas, such as stormwater management.
Economy - Complete Streets not only reduce crashes and costs associated with deaths and injuries, but also boost employment levels, property values, investment from the private sector, and net new businesses.
Health - Complete Streets encourage daily physical activity and recreation, improving both physical and mental health. People in walkable neighborhoods are 1.5 times more likely to engage in adequate levels of physical activity, and 0.76 times less likely to have obesity.
Community - Complete Streets foster vibrant public spaces and a stronger sense of community and social connection. Complete Streets and active transportation are linked to greater social interaction with neighbors, lower depression rates, increased independence for children, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Safety - Designed for all users, Complete Streets slow traffic, prevent crashes, and reduce severe injuries and deaths.

Complete Streets Projects include:

Silver Crest Drive

Silver Crest Drive has been recognized as a key route for updates because of its proximity to multiple schools and City parks, yet it also has several gaps in the transportation network. Future improvements are likely to include bike lanes, additional sidewalks, and cycle tracks.

This project is currently in the preliminary 30 Percent Design phase.

Trillium Boulevard

As a collector road, Trillium Boulevard sees heavy traffic through daily use of vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. After many years of use, the roadway has worn down to a condition that it will need to be replaced. This now gives the City the opportunity to update the roadway and surrounding sidewalks to include safer and more accessible amenities.

This project is currently in the preliminary 30 Percent Design phase.

You can listen to City Council meetings regarding roadway design on the City's YouTube channel here.

Complete Streets Key Features

Sidewalks - Sidewalks that are wider and separated from the roadway provide increased safety to pedestrians and ADA access. Improved sidewalk systems increase pedestrian comfort and use.
Planter Strips - Planter strips provide a buffer between vehicles and pedestrians. Studies have found buffer areas between motor vehicles and non-motorized users have increased safety and increased use and comfort for non-motorized users.
Bike Lanes - Providing a dedicated bike lane increases safety and user comfort in the corridor. Protected bike lanes separated from the vehicle travel-way has increased safety and can be part of a City wide dedicated bike network.
Reduced Lane Width - Reducing road lane widths to 10 feet or less in urban areas significantly improves safety by encouraging slower, safer driving speeds, and reducing crash rates.
Raised Intersections - Raised intersections create a safe, slow-speed crossing and public space at minor intersections. Similar to speed humps and other vertical speed control elements, they reinforce slow speeds and encourage motorists to yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk. Decorative concrete adds additional visual aids for drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians at high use road crossings.

Have Questions?

Email communications@millcreekwa.gov for more information.