ikeWalkKC’s efforts to change the built environment and policy landscape in the Kansas City region and beyond to support a culture of active living. His work includes helping to cultivate statewide coalitions for active transportation in Missouri and Kansas, as well as supporting the successful campaign for a Complete Streets ordinance in the city.
Michael also supports BikeWalkKC’s community outreach and communication efforts, working to bring attention to the deaths of vulnerable road users in the metro area and educate the public about ways to make their voices heard on issues involving alternative modes of transportation. Michael has been a unique voice and critical leader in his community and region, advocating for and educating on the power of complete streets in communities of all sizes.
Follow Michael and BikeWalkKC on Instagram and Twitter.
Celeste Gilman, Strategic Policy Administrator, Active Transportation Division, Washington State Department of Transportation
Andrea Garland has used her expertise, creativity, energy, and passion throughout her career, including in her current role at the Regional Commission to overcome the obstacles and inertia that stand in the way of making our community’s streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. As a traffic engineer with the City of Roanoke, Virginia, she showed the initiative to seek out, and apply for funding to secure infrastructure and education projects, such as bike lane striping, road diets, and pedestrian safety campaigns.
Andrea accomplished all this while in a position that could easily have focused on supporting the status quo; instead, she challenged leadership within her department and the City with strong arguments, well-considered plans, and paths to funding for several complete streets projects. Andrea also engages with key leaders in Roanoke’s Hispanic community on topics of pedestrian safety and design. She was recently recognized for her role in paving the way for more Latina women to be involved in STEM careers.
Connect with Andrea on Linkedin, and follow Ride Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Wanda Cruz, Healthy Communities Program Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, New York
Senator Marco Liias, Senator Rebecca Saldaña, and Representative Jake Fey were instrumental in passing one of the most significant investments in Washington State history with Move Ahead WA (MAWA). This robust transportation package directs billions of dollars for transit, bike/pedestrian infrastructure, and many significant programs that create better access to transportation and safe streets in the state.
The package marks a watershed moment in Washington’s transportation policy, with historic investments in climate mitigation, preservation, maintenance, and safety. Additionally, the bill codifies Complete Streets requirements at the state level and encourages the development of a system that provides safe, convenient access for all.
Connect with Senator Liias, Senator Saldaña, and Representative Fey on Twitter.
Danielle Larkin, St. George City Councilwoman, Utah
Patrick Hollister is an invaluable advocate for active transportation and healthy outcomes in Minnesota and has assisted in the development of transformative transportation projects for local communities, particularly in rural communities. Over the last several years, he has collaborated extensively with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) staff, local elected officials, and local staff in the region to increase nonmotorized transportation for communities, most notably by supporting a complete streets approach.
His unique ability to garner support during project predesign, collaborate with local partners and secure grants have aided in the completion of many complete streets projects and significantly impacted the health, safety, and wellness of Minnesota communities.
Learn more about PartnerSHIP 4 Health and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Anna Zivarts, Director of Disability Mobility Initiative Program, Disability Rights Washington
During Emiko Atherton’s tenure as director of the National Complete Streets Coalition from 2015 to 2020, she helped guide the coalition through a sea change that shifted the focus of local policy work to include equity and implementation. She also assisted in the conception and operation of the coalition’s Safe Streets Academies, which were created to test out creative approaches to safer street design in order to develop skills in creative placemaking and community engagement and then put these skills into practice.
Emiko has continued to bring pedestrian safety into the spotlight as a powerful spokesperson in national media about the crisis of people being struck and killed while crossing the street. With a particular emphasis on the racial disparities within those killed, Emiko is helping to reframe the narrative around improving equity.
Connect with Emiko on Linkedin.
Nissa Tupper, Transportation, and Public Health Planning Director, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Kelly Brock is a servant leader and complete streets changemaker who has played a critical role in transforming the City of Casselberry into an area that prioritizes sidewalks, bike lanes, and public spaces by advocating for safer street design and better policy. Dr. Brock has worked as a city engineer for over 15 years and has overseen the completion of several complete streets projects, with many more in the works. He was instrumental in the development of the city’s healthy community complete streets policy and multi-modal transportation master plan. Which recently set a goal of becoming Central Florida’s most walkable, bikeable, and rollable city by 2040.
He also works to improve his community beyond Casselberry’s boundaries by serving on the Board of Directors of Bike Walk Central Florida, an Orlando-based bicyclist and pedestrian advocacy group focused on enhancing crosswalk safety and accessibility.
Learn more about the City of Casselberry’s transportation program, projects, and events here.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to highlight the exceptional Complete Streets efforts of leaders and communities around the country in preparation for the release of the new edition of our Best Complete Streets Policies report in spring 2023!