Over the past three years, Smart Growth America (SGA) has worked with the City of Monroe, Louisiana to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in a previously underinvested downtown neighborhood. Monroe’s participation in SGA’s Champions Institute in 2022 led to ongoing engagements, including in-person technical assistance, access to in-person convenings, grant support, and advice on … Continued
Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking an experienced individual or firm to provide design and graphic support for the 2025 edition of our Best Complete Streets Policies report. Proposals should be submitted to Dustin Robertson at drobertson@smartgrowthamerica.org by 03/19/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Project Goals and Scope of Services Smart Growth America is currently drafting … Continued
Tren Maya is an exciting new railway in southern Mexico that I recently experienced firsthand. The project holds lots of promise, but has also faced criticism and controversy. My trip prompted me to explore the potential of the train as a means of transportation–does it offer a viable way to move people around, including those … Continued
The National Complete Streets Coalition is gearing up for their 2025 Best Complete Streets Policies report. This report will recognize communities across the country that are working to make their streets safer, healthier, and more equitable. It will also provide guidance and good practices for other communities that would like to adopt or strengthen their … Continued
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, a time to recognize the numerous dangers, indignities, and inconveniences that pedestrians face every day in this country. It is also a time to imagine and plan how to do things differently. One city that is taking steps toward becoming a better place for pedestrians is Durham, North Carolina.
As someone who cares about making our streets healthier and safer, I’m always on the lookout for innovative practices and strategies. And as a Hoosier, I’m always eager to highlight these things when they happen in Indiana. With that in mind, let me tell you about tactical urbanism in Indianapolis. Tactical urbanism refers to low-cost, … Continued
One major misconception we encounter in our work is that smart growth principles like Complete Streets, public transit, and mixed-use development are just for big cities and don’t apply to small towns. But over the years, we’ve seen countless examples of rural places that used these strategies to great benefit. I recently traveled to such a place–Brattleboro, Vermont.
Land use and transportation are inherently intertwined. For example, even a strong network of bike lanes or sidewalks will not be used if people have to travel long distances to get from one destination to another. Although land use and transportation should be considered an inseparable pair, we often find that many people have difficulty connecting them.
The number of people hit and killed while walking in Buffalo, New York has decreased by 50 percent since 2018, thanks to the efforts of local advocates and city officials to prioritize safety over speed.
How do you know if a community is benefiting from passing and implementing a Complete Streets policy? Our new guide offers strategies for effectively measuring the impact of Complete Streets. Download the full report (pdf) What happens after your community passes a Complete Streets policy? How do you know if you are achieving your community’s … Continued