20 years, 1600 Complete Streets policies 

Newly released maps show the rapid rate of Complete Streets policy adoption across the country from 2000 to 2020, showing a crystal clear progression of Complete Streets policies across the country. By the end of 2020, almost 1,600 communities across the country had demonstrated their commitment to providing safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, race, ethnicity, or mode of travel. 

Complete Streets Transportation

Hear how artists are tackling transportation issues during COVID

In partnership with Forecast Public Art, Smart Growth America held a webinar featuring the artists and transportation agencies who worked together as part of the second round of the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response initiative to address COVID-related transportation challenges.  After Ben Stone, director of Arts & Culture at Smart Growth America, and Mark Salinas, … Continued

Creative Placemaking Transportation

Our economic development team at work in Douglas, Arizona

We’re spending the rest of this summer talking about our data-driven, equity-focused approach to economic development and producing prosperous, resilient places—from the team that makes it happen. Catch up with the full series of posts, essays, and reports on this page. The economic development team at SGA often works with communities to identify strategies for … Continued

Economic development

Powerful new tool for helping local communities evaluate the potential benefits of Complete Streets projects

Today, the National Complete Streets Coalition and Smart Growth America are launching a new site to help local communities better model and evaluate the potential benefits of Complete Streets projects—measuring and proving their many economic, health, environmental, equity, and safety benefits—without ever turning over a shovel.

Complete Streets

Meet the new folks at Smart Growth America

We’ve had more than a few people join the Smart Growth America team in 2021. Read on to hear their backgrounds, why they think a smart growth approach matters, and maybe even pick up a book or podcast recommendation.

Advocacy

Work with the third Complete Streets Consortium Series wraps up in Missouri

The National Complete Streets Coalition completed work with Missouri-based partners for the third Complete Streets Consortium Series, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active People, Healthy Nation (SM) Initiative. The City of Kirkwood, City of Joplin, and Eastern Jackson County in Missouri have been participating in virtual workshop series—pivoted from in-person due to the COVID-19 crisis—over 18 months to develop safer, more equitable streets.

Complete Streets

The Champions Institute is back—meet the 20 local leaders joining the new cohort

The Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions Institute—launched in 2020—is our initiative to equip a hand-picked group of elected officials to effectively advocate for and support safer and more complete streets in their communities. Today, we are proud to announce the second cohort of champions: 20 local elected officials who will receive comprehensive training to help them become champions in their communities to promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations.

Complete Streets