In this unprecedented crisis, cities and transit agencies are taking action to address the most critical impacts of the coronavirus and ensure essential services operate in their communities. With all the unknowns that this outbreak presents, best practices are still being established, and cities are finding that actions taken one day may need to be changed the next.
These are critical times for cities to learn from and support each other. As a global community, we stand together.
NACTO’s resources on COVID-19 response are supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Sign up for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ City Hall Coronavirus Daily Update for actions cities are taking in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery
The COVID-19 global pandemic altered every aspect of urban life in recent months. In response, city transportation officials around the world have quickly implemented new street design and management tools to keep essential workers and goods moving, provide safe access to grocery stores and other essential businesses, and ensure that people have safe space for social/physical distancing while getting outside. These evolving practices will shape our cities as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and are key to our long-term recovery.
Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery compiles emerging practices from around the world and includes implementation resources for cities and their partners. Recognizing the rapidly changing nature of this pandemic, Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery will be revised and expanded to include new strategies, address changing conditions, and provide the best possible information on each design practice.
As of June 16, 2020, Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery includes an introduction to using streets for recovery and response (pdf) and detailed implementation information about the following street strategies (all new or updated as of 6/25).
GDCI marks this World Children's Day with the release of two new booklets, “How to Engage Kids in Street Design” and “How to Evaluate Street Transformations Near Schools.”
In 2023, ten cities across four continents started designing their streets for kids. Collectively, the cohort reclaimed over 40,000 SqM of public space that prioritizes children and caregivers, engaged over 4,000 children in the process, and trained 140 practitioners.
Learn how street transformations designed for children can be scaled up and made permanent.
