CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland's streets are about to get friendlier for bicyclists, pedestrians and the environment.

City Council voted Monday to approve a law requiring that 20 percent of money spent on road projects go to features such as bike-only lanes, crosswalks, energy-efficient lighting and porous pavement. The law caps the extra cost at $1 million.

The Complete and Green Streets ordinance, effective Jan. 1, would cover all projects -- federal, state, county, city or private -- in the public right of way. An advisory committee can approve exemptions for safety, financial hardship and other reasons.

While cities across the country try to limit the environmental impact of roadwork or broaden access for cyclists and pedestrians, Cleveland will be one of only a few that does both, said Andrew Watterson, chief of sustainability for Mayor Frank Jackson.

Watterson said the law, part of the city's sustainability campaign, would reduce what the public pays for sewage treatment and electricity. He said it also will benefit the 30 percent of Clevelanders who don't have cars and an increasing number of bicyclists.

Jacob Van Sickle bikes at least once a week from his home in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood to his job at the nonprofit Slavic Village Development Corp., a five-mile, one-way trip. He called the law a "huge win" not only for enthusiasts like himself, but for the disabled and people who must bike or walk to work, shop and visit parks.

"It's just a win all the way around making it law that the city has to at least look at these things," said Van Sickle. He acknowledged concern that the advisory committee will be liberal in granting exemptions.

The city would bear the extra expense on roadwork it finances jointly with other government agencies. Jomarie Wasik, the city's director of capital projects, had no estimate of the cost to the city next year, said Maureen Harper, spokeswoman for Jackson.

If outside agencies or developers take on projects without city help, it's their responsibility.

The Ohio Department of Transportation supports the spirit of Cleveland's legislation but with a tight state budget it must stick to "reasonable and affordable accommodations," agency spokesman Steve Faulkner said.

"If the city wants something above and beyond that, that's something the city will pay for," he said.

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the region's planning agency, ranks road projects for federal funding in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Medina counties. The city wants NOACA to adopt policies supporting "complete and green" streets.

Watterson hopes NOACA will follow the lead of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, which ranks projects in Franklin,, Delaware and parts of Fairfield and Licking counties. The commission requires that all work include improvements for bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit.

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