Lessons Learned from Recovery Act Show Superior Job Creation from Spending on Public Transportation WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new analysis by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Smart Growth America, and U.S. PIRG shows that in the first ten months of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), investments in public transportation have created twice as … Continued
Smart Growth America coalition member TransForm has developed a certification program called GreenTRIP to encourage building the kinds of places we need to reduce our carbon emissions. The certification program rewards developers and municipalities that reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. It acts as a complement to the LEED for Neighborhood Development program (LEED-ND), one that focuses specifically on the place transportation occupies in sustainable land use.
According to the HNTB America THINKS transit survey, nearly 9 in 10 (87 percent) Americans who have access to public transportation where they work or live take advantage of it. In addition, almost 7 in 10 (69 percent) Americans feel there are many times when public transit is a better option than driving, and nearly three in ten of them choose higher gas prices (29 percent) and convenience (29 percent) as the biggest motivators for riding public transportation.
This report by T4America explores what livability means in a smaller towns and cities. According to the report, “some would have us believe that livability is a foreign concept for our small towns and rural areas. The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. This collection of 12 case studies provides examples of how small cities, towns and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities.”
This report by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), “focuses on smart growth strategies that can help guide growth in rural areas while protecting natural and working lands and preserving the rural character of existing communities.”
A report by EPA Smart Growth that explains, “commercial strip corridors are a common sight in American towns and cities, but many are experiencing disinvestment, resulting in vacant, abandoned, and underused properties such as abandoned gas stations and obsolete retail strip centers.” This publication, “provide[s] communities with guidance on how they can revitalize these commercial corridors to accommodate economic growth, reuse land already serviced by existing infrastructure, and reflect the unique character of the town or city where they are located.”
Reconnecting America, Enterprise and the National Housing Trust have released a collection of case studies, “examining what cities are doing to ensure that affordable housing isn’t lost as cities pursue transit-oriented development. Preserving Affordable Housing Near Transit: Case Studies from Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and Washington, D.C. describes ways metropolitan areas are addressing preservation challenges and opportunities, and identifies the strategies and tools communities can use to preserve affordable housing in transit-rich neighborhoods.”
This transit funding “cheat sheet” has bulleted descriptions and brief case studies for a variety of current and potential funding mechanisms for transit including sales taxes, gas taxes, vehicle fees and value capture.
Just before the holidays, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) settled two long-running ADA lawsuits, agreeing to spend $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to repair and improve state-controlled sidewalks, crosswalks and park-and-ride facilities.
A few weeks ago, we asked what you loved about your communities. As promised, we’re highlighting some of the best or most engaging answers – though not chosen through any rigorous process. There are plenty of really interesting comments about interesting places all over the country. If you haven’t done so, check out all the … Continued