Completing Rural Highways: Making the case in Massachusetts and Washington
State DOTs in Massachusetts and Washington used new tools and strong communication to make the case for Complete Streets projects.
Blog
Completing Rural Highways: Making the case
Gaining widespread support for Complete Streets projects can be a challenge. Agencies sometimes face resistance from within or they face opposition from local businesses and community members. Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative worked with practitioners to identify obstacles to making the case for Complete Streets and illustrate how their peers have found ways to overcome them.
New video: Aging in place with Complete Streets
A common misconception about investments that support walking, biking, rolling, and public transit is that the demand for these initiatives is limited to urban communities. Our new video, made in partnership with AARP, tells the story of Saco, Maine and how they’ve created greater connectivity for residents of all ages in Saco. Complete Streets create … Continued
New video: Complete Streets for small towns
Long car trips don’t have to be a part of daily life for small towns and rural communities. Complete Streets are a vital tool for ensuring that rural residents of all ages can get where they need to go safely, efficiently, and affordably—without having to rely on a car. In our new video, created in … Continued
Champion Spotlight: Fort Smith, AR
This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Reese Brewer, Director of the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). 26 people died while walking in the Fort … Continued
Champion Spotlight: Huntsville, AL
This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Larry Mason, Executive Director of the Huntsville Urban Bike Share Co-op. U.S. Highway 431, known as the “Highway … Continued
Champion Spotlight: Tempe, AZ
This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Hannah Moulton Belec from Tempe Bicycle Action Group. On March 29, 2024, a 15-year-old high school … Continued
TIFIA’s first transit-oriented development loan approval
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is an important priority of LOCUS to advance sustainable, equitable, walkable development in America’s metropolitan areas. To meet that goal, LOCUS has long advocated for TIFIA, an important tool to advance TOD, helping to secure a win through the passage of the FAST Act in 2015. Recently, the first loan was approved … Continued
A Community of Collaboration – The 2024 Champions Alumni Convening
Last month, we spent two days with Complete Streets Champion Institute alumni and community leaders to discuss strategies for implementing Complete Streets in our communities. The event served as an opportunity to connect elected officials, allowing policymakers from across the United States to build capacity, work together, and find solutions to their shared challenges with … Continued
Complete Streets Webinar: Lessons Learned from On-the-Ground Safe Streets Projects from Alaska to Connecticut
On Thursday, June 20th, at 1 p.m. EST, we’re hosting a webinar focused on lessons learned in creating and implementing Complete Streets policies. Register here. In this webinar, we’re focusing on the work from our Complete Streets Leadership Academies in Alaska, California, Connecticut, and Tennessee. The leadership academies are designed to increase capacity, improve relationships, … Continued