Modern city intersection blending elements of both American and Australian urban design.

Smarter Streets: What the US Can Learn From Australia's Innovative Road Design

Elliot Brynn in Climate & Environment July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how the Complete Streets approach in the US and Australia's SmartRoads are shaping the future of urban planning and creating safer, more inclusive cities."

For decades, road management prioritized vehicle movement and minimizing congestion. But now, there's growing recognition of the multiple roles streets play in society, including road safety, fair access, community spaces, and accommodating various road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. The Complete Streets movement in the United States and SmartRoads network operations planning in Australia represent this shift in how we design and manage our roads.

This article examines the progress of the Complete Streets approach in the United States and introduces the SmartRoads management framework developed in Victoria, Australia. The SmartRoads system classifies roads based on a multimodal Road User Hierarchy, identifies network issues using multimodal level of service (LOS) measurements, and compares potential operational or design solutions using Network Fit Assessment software.

Although created around the same time, these two approaches differ significantly. Yet, by learning from each other, both the United States and Australia can substantially improve how they manage and design their roads.

Complete Streets and SmartRoads: A Shared Vision for Urban Spaces

Modern city intersection blending elements of both American and Australian urban design.

Both Australia and the United States have recently shifted their approaches to road planning and traffic management. Traditionally, road design and traffic management emphasized efficient movement for motorized vehicles, often at the expense of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport. However, the mid-2000s marked a turning point in how road space was conceived and managed.

In 2005, the National Complete Streets Coalition was founded in the United States, advocating that streets should accommodate all users, regardless of age, physical ability, or mode of transportation. Simultaneously, in 2007, the Victorian state road authority (VicRoads) in Australia launched the SmartRoads Network Operations Planning (NOP) framework (7), which employs multimodal level of service (LOS) to manage the competing needs of different road users across the network.

Complete Streets: Focuses on safety, equity, and vulnerable road users, aiming to improve road safety and consider all road users. Walking and cycling are core modes, with transit considered to some extent.
SmartRoads: Emphasizes multimodal movement and congestion management, reducing conflict between modes. It includes walking, cycling, public transport, freight, and private vehicles.

While not universally adopted, these approaches have significantly expanded over the past decade. Complete Streets policies have grown from 31 agencies in 2005 to 1,232 agencies at the local, regional, and state levels in 2016 (8). The SmartRoads framework, initially applied in Victoria, has influenced Australian national guidance (9) and is being adopted in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Network Operations Planning (NOP) has also been implemented in cities like Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch, and Wellington in New Zealand.

Learning from Each Other: A Path Forward

The SmartRoads and Complete Streets approaches developed concurrently in Victoria and the United States, addressing the challenge of better managing road networks. Although originating from similar needs, the outcomes differ significantly. The institutional, historical, and cultural settings contribute to these differences, highlighting a valuable opportunity to improve practices in both regions.

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary goals of the Complete Streets approach in the United States?

The Complete Streets approach in the United States primarily aims to improve road safety and ensure equity by focusing on vulnerable road users. It seeks to accommodate all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transport, irrespective of their age or physical ability. This approach emphasizes safety and accessibility for everyone.

How does Australia's SmartRoads framework differ from the Complete Streets approach used in the United States?

The SmartRoads framework in Australia places a strong emphasis on multimodal movement and congestion management. Unlike the Complete Streets approach, which focuses more on safety and equity for vulnerable users, SmartRoads seeks to reduce conflict between various modes of transportation, including walking, cycling, public transport, freight, and private vehicles. It utilizes a multimodal level of service (LOS) to manage the competing needs of different road users across the network.

What is the Road User Hierarchy within the SmartRoads framework, and how does it influence road design and management decisions?

The SmartRoads system classifies roads based on a multimodal Road User Hierarchy. This hierarchy prioritizes different types of road users to inform decision-making in road design and management. By understanding which modes of transport are most critical on a given road segment, planners can allocate resources and implement strategies that best accommodate those users while minimizing conflicts and improving overall network efficiency.

What is Network Fit Assessment software and how is it used in the SmartRoads framework?

Network Fit Assessment software is employed within the SmartRoads framework to compare potential operational or design solutions. It enables road managers to evaluate how well different interventions align with the goals of the SmartRoads system, considering factors like multimodal level of service and the Road User Hierarchy. This helps in selecting the most appropriate and effective strategies for managing road networks.

How can the United States and Australia learn from each other's approaches to road design and management, considering the differences between Complete Streets and SmartRoads?

Despite their differences, both the Complete Streets and SmartRoads approaches address the common challenge of managing road networks more effectively. The United States can learn from SmartRoads' emphasis on multimodal movement and congestion management, potentially integrating these aspects into Complete Streets initiatives to create more efficient and balanced urban spaces. Conversely, Australia can adopt Complete Streets' focus on safety, equity, and vulnerable road users to ensure that SmartRoads not only improves traffic flow but also prioritizes the well-being of all community members.