VIDEO: “Not just a way to get from A to B”
Our newest video tells the story of how Tucson’s community is building both advocacy for and physical implementations of Complete Streets while putting equity at the center of the work.
Transportation
Looking back on the second year of MnDOT’s artist-in-residence program
Last week Smart Growth America’s Arts & Culture team hosted a conversation recapping the second year of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) innovative artist-in-residence (AiR) program. Transportation Equity Fellow, Marcus Young 楊墨 and MnDOT Strategic Partnerships Director, Jessica Oh shared their experiences, lessons learned, stories of navigating the pandemic, and goals for future programs.
What our staff heard at the 2022 Equity Summit
Last week, Smart Growth America hosted our second annual Equity Summit, with each of the three days curated and led by one of our three teams: land use and development, transportation and thriving communities, and economic development. With a phenomenal lineup of speakers, panelists, and Smart Growth America staff, there were plenty of tidbits of knowledge to take away from the Summit. Here’s what a few of our own staff heard.
So you’re joining us for the 2022 Equity Summit
What you need to know about joining the Equity Summit next week, answers to your frequently asked questions, and more!
Mammoth infrastructure bill is notable for its powerful precedents and significant shortcomings
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill awaiting the president’s signature is notable both for Congress’ most significant commitment yet to address climate change, and its general failure to do anything to fundamentally change the sources of the problem and reach the level of ambition required. This bipartisan infrastructure deal (the IIJA), approved by Congress on November … Continued
Request for proposals: Complete Streets videos
Smart Growth America is seeking an experienced videographer to help us produce 4-8 minute videos from (at least two, as many as three) specific cities telling a tight, simple story about their need to improve street safety, why and how they passed a Complete Streets policy, and the results they are seeing and/or hoping to see as a result.
More highways, more driving, more emissions: Explaining “induced demand”
Even if we hit the most ambitious targets for changing our cars and trucks over to electric vehicles, we will fail to meaningfully reduce emissions from transportation without confronting this simple fact: new roads always produce new driving. This costly feedback loop referred to as “induced demand” is the invisible force short-circuiting the neverending attempts to eliminate congestion by building or expanding roads.
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.
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
Looking for an internship this fall? We have them!
Smart Growth America (SGA) and its transportation program, Transportation for America (T4America), are looking to recruit a minimum of two interns to support their technical assistance, research, and advocacy work. Learn about the different projects below.