A lot of the discourse about complete streets efforts focus on interventions for big cities or their suburbs, but this concentration overlooks the transformational impact that complete streets can have in small towns. The small city of Hopewell, Virginia has committed planning energy and resources towards improving active transportation networks in the city for the past five years with much success.

Hopewell, VA has a population just over 22,000 residents and is located 24mi southeast of Richmond. In 2015, the city passed the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) resolution in hopes of boosting the health of residents by providing them access to outdoor recreation and nutritious food. In addition to interventions like a new community food pantry and a monthly farmer’s market to improve food access, the city went all-in to improve options for outdoor recreation. In partnership with state and local partners, the city began construction on the 1,736ft Hopewell Riverwalk, which runs along the Appomattox River near its confluence with the James River. An extension to the Riverwalk is expected to begin construction in the spring of 2021.

The city’s commitment to walkability didn’t end there. In 2018, Hopewell adopted a Comprehensive Plan with miles of new biking and walking facilities. The plan includes a section calling out the benefits and importance of a complete, multi-modal transportation network.

With an existing network of well-connected and relatively congestion-free vehicular streets, Hopewell should concentrate its transportation efforts on completing its transportation network for all users. The most important concept for Hopewell’s transportation future is known as “Complete Streets”.

City of Hopewell 2028 Comprehensive Plan

Since the 2015 resolution, the city has shown a marked shift towards prioritizing projects that emphasize recreation, mobility, and active lifestyles. The improved connections between residential and commercial cores has enhanced the pedestrian conditions in Hopewell’s downtown and brought more foot traffic to the commercial center. The increased foot traffic came as a result of city investments towards better sidewalks, pedestrian signals, and curb cuts. The city has also been progressing on an ambitious bicycle improvement plan, funded in part through a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the Virginia DOT.

The proposed bike improvements are slated to begin construction in fall of 2021, following the conclusion of a public survey on the plan.

The City of Hopewell leaned into complete street planning and improving active transportation and was able to realize both economic and health benefits. Improving pedestrian conditions, particularly, have catalyzed downtown revitalizations in Hopewell’s historic center. Using Hopewell, VA as a case study shows how transformational investments in multi-modal transportation can benefit cities of every size.

To read more about the City of Hopewell’s complete streets efforts, read the original article in Greater Greater Washington.