As we usher out 2007 and look to 2008, here are a few recent victories from the policy front — some of which were finalized in just the last few weeks.
EPA Smart Growth funding restored
There won’t be coal in the EPA Smart Growth office’s stocking this year. Though the program had been threatened with a [...]
As long as local and state leaders in Georgia fail to grasp that Atlanta can’t pave its way out of traffic congestion, Atlanta could be in danger of becoming a case study in what may happen to a city’s business climate when an economic model based largely on growth and continual outward expansion hits the [...]
As we mentioned earlier this week, Gov. Spitzer in New York created a new smart growth cabinet via an executive order that will attempt to coordinate all state agencies’ spending and policies into a coherent vision for growth and development in the state.
Regional Plan Association’s Bob Yaro, which has been working for years behind the [...]
“New York’s economy and environment are inextricably linked. Quite simply, smart growth is smart business. As our economy and population grow, it is vital that we ensure the development of vibrant, livable communities.” – Gov. Eliot Spitzer (NY)
State governments have a crucial role to play in determining the course chosen for handling growth and development. [...]
Smart Growth America is looking to fill several internships and one full-time paid fellowship. (See the links at left)
The National Complete Streets Coalition is seeking a Complete Streets Fellow. This is a tremendous opportunity for a recent graduate to take on significant responsibility while learning about transportation reform issues and working directly with a variety [...]
The Energy and Climate page explores the connection between energy independence, climate change, and how it all relates to smart growth.
You can download the new fact sheet on “The Link to Energy Security and Climate Change” on that page as well.
Want to learn more about energy, climate change, and sustainability? We’ve got a couple of [...]
Just wanted to remind all of you about the Knowledgplex Experts (Online) Chat to introduce the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit today, Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 2 p.m. ET.
Read our last post about the chat to learn more if you’re interested.
What are complete streets?To learn more, visit www.completestreets.org or check out this quick illustration from AARP on what a complete street might look like.
What was simply a loose confederation a few years ago of bicycle, pedestrian, and safety advocates seemingly yelling into the wind has become an organized coalition making significant traction in policy and [...]
But they still have places to go, people to see, things to do. So how do they stay mobile once their ability to drive is gone?
As we’ve noted frequently, seismic demographic shifts are underway as America races towards 400 million in population. One of them is an approaching “senior tsunami,” with nearly 1 in [...]
It would appear that, at the very least, 1/5 of Radiohead has a good grasp on the relationship between building new roads and how they invariably fail at solving the congestion they were tasked with relieving. Singer Thom Yorke in the New York Times:
Signing a new major-label contract “would have killed us straight off,” he [...]
The narrative in the opening of this story on CNN.com encapsulates how more people are voting with their feet by increasingly seeking out walkable places — and what developers and builders need to do to meet the growing demand created by those who are looking for another option than the strictly car-dependent lifestyle of their [...]
Click to watch the video “A New Economic Engine: Energy in the 21st Century”
Be sure to check out a recently-added video from the Center for American Progress, titled “Capturing the Energy Opportunity: Creating a Low-Carbon Economy,” including an appearance by SGA executive director Don Chen.
This video is part of a series by CAP on [...]
In July of 2006, U.S. meteorologists and climatologists issued a statement while studying climate change and how it may be affecting the weather:
…the more urgent problem of our lemming-like march to the sea requires immediate and sustained attention. We call upon leaders of government and industry to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of building practices, and [...]
After just a 20 minute turn from #335, Hiawatha #338 heads back to Chicago with a heavy load of passengers. Photo by David Johnson and NARP
After losing money for the better part of the decade — even with generous government subsidies and protection — airlines returned to profitability over the last couple of years, but [...]
Thousands of people jam a light-rail station near I-485 Saturday afternoon. ©TODD SUMLIN Charlotte Observer Click for the slideshow from the Observer
We noted a few weeks ago that Charlotte voters renewed their committment to transit by an overwhelming margin, nixing the attempt by some anti-government types to scuttle a half-cent tax that funds transit in [...]
We’d like to alert you to this important annoucement from the Smart Growth Leadership Institute:
Join us for a Knowledgplex Experts (Online) Chat as we introduce the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 2 p.m. ET
The Smart Growth Leadership Institute, through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is releasing a [...]
While many news stories have carefully followed the price of oil over the last few weeks and months, many have missed the distinction that unlike the late 70’s, this price spike results from overwhelming demand, rather than an unnatural crimp in supply, as was the case with the embargo — the last time we saw [...]
