FAIRHOPE, Alabama—The “before” photograph shows a typical two-lane road in Orange Beach, but an “after” artistic rendering shows that same location with a roundabout, sidewalks, bike lanes, covered bus stop and scenic landscaping.

That South Alabama roadway comparison is featured on the home page of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute of Port Townsend, Wash., whose director, Dan Burden, will be in Fairhope tomorrow for a discussion of “complete streets” policies, such as those passed by Orange Beach, Daphne and Fairhope in Baldwin County, and Mount Vernon, Chickasaw and Mobile across the bay.

His presentation will also include a tour of downtown intersections in Fairhope, “with an eye for how they can be made safer for all users,” said Charlene Lee, program director for Smart Coast.

Encouraged by that local nonprofit group, Fairhope was the first in the state to pass such a policy, which requires the city to consider construction practices that provide for “safe access for all users, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation…when undertaking construction, reconstruction and repair of our roadways.”

After Fairhope adopted the “complete streets” resolution in September 2009, Smart Coast was successful in helping the other South Alabama cities pass similar policies.

Fairhope’s recent million-dollar-plus repaving of downtown streets, and pending re-striping of bike lanes, is the occasion of Burden’s coming to town this week, Lee said. His visit is sponsored by Smart Coast, the city of Fairhope, and the American Association of Retired Persons, which has also been working with Alabama cities to pass “complete streets” policies, according to an AARP news release.

“It will be so important and useful for Fairhope to set a good model of how they do implementation related to ‘complete streets,’” Lee said yesterday. “The reality is this is the first repaving that has gone on in the city since the ‘complete streets’ policy was passed. So, this is a perfect time to really look at how to incorporate more users into the mix and make it safe for all.”

Burden’s WALC Institute is a nonprofit group that works to create “healthy, connected communities” through a variety of approaches, including teaching about “best practices” and strategies for successful civic engagement and implementation, according to its website.

“He knows his stuff,” Lee said of Burden. “His presentation will give the public a chance to hear from someone who is very skilled and engaging. And the public will also an opportunity to give input on how they want Fairhope to continue to make our community more livable for everyone.”

Burden will give his “complete streets” presentation from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wed., Jan. 4, at the Fairhope Municipal Complex. For more information, contact Gay Watson with AARP at (334) 954-3064 or gwatson@aarp.org.