Complete Streets in Brazil - Promoting a Paradigm Shift

Abstract

This report systematizes the implementation process, challenges, learnings, and results of complete street interventions in eight cities from different regions of Brazil. The document showcases the applicability of the complete streets concept in the Brazilian urban reality to promote positive impacts on people's quality of life. The work, coordinated by WRI Brasil, involves 21 authors, including WRI Brazil technicians, city agencies' representatives, and professors from the Network of University Professors for Complete Streets. The streets documented in the case studies of this report highlight the flexibility of applying the concept to different realities, scales, and contexts, reinforcing the importance of all complete street interventions, regardless of their size and scale. The complete streets approach seeks to undo the predominant culture in urban and transportation planning in Brazil, which prioritizes car flow. Complete streets are designed to provide safety and comfort to all people of all ages, using all modes of transportation. In 2017, WRI Brasil, in partnership with the National Front of Mayors (FNP), created the National Network for Low-Carbon Mobility, which concluded its first cycle with 21 member cities and pilot projects implemented in Campinas, Curitiba, Juiz de Fora, Niterói, Porto Alegre, Salvador, São José dos Campos, and São Paulo. These eight interventions are documented in this report, conducted with the support of Itaú.