Smart Growth Around America

One-third of Americans either can’t drive or choose not to. Yet, most communities around the country are
laced with roads that are inhospitable, at best, to people traveling by foot, bicycle, or public transportation. For older Americans, children, and people with disabilities, these kinds of streets are especially dangerous.

Complete streets dramatically change the fabric of a [...]

A new study, released by the Center for Housing Policy, compares housing costs in over 200 U.S. metropolitan areas with the wages earned by workers in 60 occupations — and finds that often, workers in key professions are unable to afford buying a house even after the recent drop in housing prices. Some in [...]

Freiburg-im-Brisgau – Quartier Vauban : commerces et immeuble Originally uploaded by adeupa de Brest

A walkable, car-free street in the upscale suburb of Vauban, Germany. The community has easy rail access into Freiburg.

With thrift the latest necessity in today’s economic struggles, people are not only trimming the fat from their budgets — they’re reconsidering what’s [...]

Pediatricians should help work against conventional suburban development (top) and for traditional neighborhoods (lower). Why? For starters, so kids can walk to school again. AAP’s Policy Statement includes this drawing by Duany, Plater-Zyberk. A version of the drawing is available at http://www.dpz.com/research.aspx, Diagram #25.

Yesterday, the American Academy of Pediatrics adopted a ground-breaking policy statement on [...]

2008_09_08_bos-ord-sna_069 Originally uploaded by dsearls

Randhurst Mall in Anaheim, California Mt. Prospect, Illinois with a nearly empty parking lot. Compare the size of the building to the size of the total lot.

In many places around the United States, the construction of the enclosed shopping mall sounded the death knell for historic downtowns and small town centers, [...]

The National Complete Streets Coalition is seeking a Federal Policy Fellow to work with a diverse coalition of prominent national organizations working for the adoption of complete streets policies across the country. Applications are due by May 26th.
We are looking for a go-getter that will help us advance our federal policy efforts by moving [...]

The Transportation for America campaign, of which Smart Growth America is a co-chair, debuted a new site today to help frustrated commuters and travelers to share their awful commuting stories — and learn about the connection that transportation policy and Congress have to the state of our transportation system. Check out the site, share your story, and tell your friends.

If you’ve been around the conversation on growth and development for any amount of time, you’ve undoubtedly heard someone bring up Arlington, Virginia. Arlington is the bit of Virginia just across the Potomac River from the monumental core of Washington, DC that leveraged the arrival of two Metro rail lines in the 60’s and 70’s to renew and revitalize their county into a prosperous, enjoyable and livable community that is a sought-after destination for employers, businesses, residents and visitors.

Photo credit WBZ

Facing staggering budget problems, government agencies everywhere are scrambling for funds. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is no exception—it has an estimated $165 million budget deficit. The MBTA has spoken of raising fares and cutting back services, including bus cuts, Boston subway cuts, and a 50 percent cut in evening [...]

Clips available on Planetizen’s site. Watch them there.

The way our communities have been developed for more than half a century — houses separated from schools separated from businesses separated from nearly everything else you need — didn’t just happen by accident. Though it’s been the status quo of development for more than 50 years, many [...]