Incorporating Complete Streets Principles into Main Streets of America’s Rural Small -Towns: A Design Case Study in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Abstract

This research thesis suggests that Complete Streets principles, and other related current street design principles and best practices, can complement the National Main Street Center’s design approach for use in rural small towns. The addition of these principles would strengthen the design component for the Main Street approach. Since the scope of current street design guidelines and principles are so broad, targeting the key principles of these programs, provides an appropriate level of detail to add to the Main Street design process. The resultant design proposals, using an improved design framework, could be scalable in both cost and implementation to accommodate the needs and the means of rural small towns. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota is used as a case study to demonstrate how the principles and elements of this approach can be scalable and flexible to improve a selected small-town main street. Complete Street principles and related street design best practices are a useful first step for rural small-town Main Street designs.