This program, “recognizes noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan transportation planning, programming and service delivery.”

From the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the resource explores how “Americans traditionally consider housing affordable if it costs 30 percent or less of their income. The Housing + Transportation Affordability Index, in contrast, offers the true cost of housing based on its location by measuring the transportation costs associated with place.”

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.”

The purpose of this study, conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, “is to identify and evaluate options for transportation funding in Minnesota during the next 20 years. As directed by the Minnesota Legislature, the study investigates the ability of existing sources of revenue to meet current and future transportation needs.”

This report by Environment America, “details the dramatic growth of public transportation in 2008, and the corresponding energy and environmental benefits. These details are viewed in light of fewer miles driven in most states last year. It also documents transit growth across the country continuing into this year, highlights future potential benefits and outlines ways to improve the state of public transportation.”