News October 11, 2015

Urban Street Design Guide

Overview

Streets comprise more than 80% of public space in cities, but they often fail to provide their surrounding communities with a space where people can safely walk, bicycle, drive, take transit, and socialize.

Cities are leading the movement to redesign and reinvest in our streets as cherished public spaces for people, as well as critical arteries for traffic.

The Urban Street Design Guide charts the principles and practices of the nation’s foremost engineers, planners, and designers working in cities today.

 

About The Guide

A blueprint for designing 21st century streets, the NACTO Guide unveils the toolbox and the tactics cities use to make streets safer, more livable, and more economically vibrant.

The Guide outlines both a clear vision for complete streets and a basic road map for how to bring them to fruition.

More Updates

Creating Safer Spaces for Play: Tackling Air Pollution in Accra

June 11, 2025

Creating Safer Spaces for Play: Tackling Air Pollution in Accra

In collaboration with the Korle Klottey Municipality and with support from the Clean Air Fund, GDCI launched the Removing Pollution from Play project in late 2023, with the aim to tackle air pollution in school environments by implementing practical solutions, raising awareness, and empowering communities to advocate for cleaner air. In March 2025, the completed intervention was inaugurated, and the new safe play space now serves over 150 students in Accra.

The GDCI Reverse Periscope

April 8, 2025

The GDCI Reverse Periscope

Since its launch in 2023, cities around the world have embraced the reverse periscope as a playful tool to reimagine streets from a child’s perspective. From community walkshops to international conferences, the tool is helping spark deeper conversations about child-friendly design. Discover how practitioners are using it to shift perspectives—and shape safer, more joyful streets for kids.