Beyond infrastructure development: Fostering sustainable, urban development in cities across the globe

In a moderated panel discussion, hosted in New Delhi, India, several land use experts brainstormed how governments can advance people-centered communities that include green infrastructure as a central focal point of the community. Additionally, they examined the similarities between developing communities in the Global South and smaller communities in the U.S. Good communities don’t just … Continued

Land Use and Development

Request for proposals: Transportation artists-in-residence report design – Deadline Extended

Smart Growth America is seeking a qualified consultant to manage the layout and visual design for both a physical report and supporting digital presence detailing the findings from Smart Growth America’s work designing and supporting artist-in-residence programs at state departments of transportation and a virtual convening of transportation artists-in-residence. Deadline Extended: Proposals should be sent … Continued

Transportation

Advancing Equitable Development in Massachusetts

Thanks to generous funding by the Barr Foundation, SGA has been providing technical assistance over the last several months to two Massachusetts-based community organizations: Westside Legends of Pittsfield, MA and CultureHouse of Somerville, MA. These technical assistance partnerships with both community organizations are oriented around the goal of advancing equitable zoning reform and affordable housing … Continued

Land Use and Development Technical assistance

Safe streets are global—and it’s time for the U.S. to catch up

Whether they’re considered Complete Streets or silver zones, other parts of the world are reimagining how streets function and are designed. The U.S. is falling behind, so in order to spur hope and inspiration of what the future of mobility can look like across the nation, we look to what is being made possible in … Continued

Complete Streets

The Equity Summit returns *in person* in March 2024

Save the date for the Equity Summit Save the date for the 2024 Equity Summit: Meeting the Moment. The Summit gathers housing, transportation, and community development advocates and leaders to learn from one another and identify tools to advance racial equity through smart growth. The dynamic two-day program will be held in person for the first time on March 27-28, … Continued

Advancing Racial Equity

Inspiring progress: Reimagining development in Vermont

Smart Growth America partnered with Community Workshop LLC to work with Vermont decision makers as they reevaluate and reimagine their state’s Designation Programs. The recent Designation 2050 Design Summit helped advance this project to improve climate resilience and housing affordability. Last month, planners, state and local leaders, and business and property owners came together to … Continued

Land Use and Development Technical assistance

Are Complete Streets there yet? We’re just getting started

How do you measure the success of Complete Streets? Despite two decades of progress and the adoption of over 1,700 Complete Streets policies, the stark reality remains—countless local governments lack Complete Streets policies, unsafe roadways persist, and resistance to changing the status quo prevails. The movement’s goals are an uphill battle, but we’re prepared to dig in and continue fighting for the transformative shift to transportation planning that we’re seeking.

Complete Streets

Request for proposals: Telling the story of Complete Streets

Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking an experienced videographer to help us produce two (2) short videos that share the story of Complete Streets in rural America. Please submit proposals to Heidi Simon, Director of Thriving Communities, at [email protected] by Friday, November 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET (instructions below). Project Scope SGA is excited to … Continued

Complete Streets

Vision is a verb: Looking back at our first Complete Streets Power Hour

Our new webinar series brings together advocates and implementers to discuss how to advance Complete Streets in their communities. At our first Power Hour, we spoke with two implementers and one advocate from Minnesota about how they’ve gone about establishing a north star for Complete Streets in the North Star State. As it turns out, it’s all about the process.

Complete Streets Events

Brighter streets, safer streets: Improving pedestrian safety after dark

Pedestrian deaths are on the rise, with 76 percent of fatalities occurring at night. We know that the dangerous design of our roadways emphasizes speed over safety. Reduced visibility at night also drastically increases risk. Improved lighting can help keep pedestrians safe, but if we want long-term solutions, we need to reevaluate the priorities deeply embedded in our transportation infrastructure.

Complete Streets Transportation