At HUD the bill would cut overall funding by 35% compared to FY 2013, including a 50% cut to Community Development Block Grants and a 30% cut to the HOME Investment Partnership Program. The bill would also zero out funding for HUD’s Office of Economic Resilience, created just this year. President Obama’s FY 2014 budget proposed $75 million in funding for that office.

In response to the proposed bill, Geoff Anderson, President and CEO of Smart Growth America, issued the following statement:

“The cuts included in this bill would have a devastating impact on communities across America

“Rural, suburban and urban places alike all rely on DOT and HUD programs to support their local economies. The cuts proposed in the House’s bill would make it harder for these communities to spur private investment, create jobs, revitalize downtowns, and increase the supply of affordable housing in virtually every state.

“In particular, the lack of funding for HUD’s Office of Economic Resilience—which helps communities support planning efforts to expend job opportunities and improve the quality of life for families—would cripple the work of many communities that are rebuilding their economies. The type of integrated regional planning spurred by this program helps communities, the federal government and most importantly the taxpayer get the greatest return on investment.

“Cuts to programs like the Community Development Block Grants mean many cities and towns will have difficulty funding local economic development initiatives, homeownership programs and other critical services. These grants are the lifeblood of community improvement for thousands of cities and towns, and the proposed 50% funding cut to the program will mean fewer resources for communities that need them the most.

“Congress is facing many challenges this year, but cutting programs that enable local communities to generate economic development would be an enormous setback to our economic recovery.”

On May 21, Hopkins, Minnesota adopted a Complete Streets policy. Hopkins, a densely populated town in the Minneapolis area, will be home to 3 light rail stations in the next few years, Creating safe walking and bicycling connections to those stations are paramount for the city team. The policy draws from national and state best practices, includes specific exemptions and next steps for implementation. Read more >>

The Albany, New York City Council passed Complete Streets legislation on June 3. After two auto-pedestrian accidents in the last year, one of them fatal, community stakeholders and councilmembers want to improve safety for all citizens. “This is about considering all users of the road,” noted Alderwoman Leah Golby, who proposed the law. “It’s time for our code to reflect the way people live today.” The ordinance applies to “all street construction, reconstruction, resurfacing or repaving projects that are undertaken by the City and not covered under the New York State Complete Streets Law.” Read more >>

The Common Council of White Plains, New York adopted a Complete Streets resolution on June 3. The resolution directs the City’s Department of Public Works to “consider all modes of travel within its projects” and includes specific exceptions. Read more >>

The California Department of Transportation issued a status report on implementation of the agency’s 2009 Complete Streets policy. Of the items in its Implementation Action Plan, Caltrans has made significant progress or completed 70%, with just 20% not yet begun. Highlights from the last year include a revised Highway Design Manual, a new Main Streets Guide in final review, and the beginning of new training opportunities. Program silos, inconsistent training, and a lack of decisions on performance measures are noted as challenges.

Lee County, Florida continues with its Complete Streets implementation work, focusing recently on the Tice neighborhood. Working directly with residents, many County agencies and organizations held two days of bilingual walking audits, lively group discussions, and design workshops, gathering invaluable information about resident needs, concerns, and desires for their streets. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Planning Organization applied for a TIGER V grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help implement a portfolio of Complete Streets implementation projects.

Evansville, Indiana began construction on its first project under a Complete Streets policy. When completed in July 2014, Oak Hill Road between Pigeon Creek and Lake Drive will feature bicycle lanes, sidewalks, dedicated left-turn lanes, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and storm sewers.

The Regional Transportation Commission and the City of Las Vegas are beginning work on several projects that follow the region’s Complete Streets policy. First Street and Garces Avenue will be reconstructed over the next few months to include facilities such as wider sidewalks, improved landscaping, bike lanes, and street light upgrades.

Willow Avenue in Hoboken, New Jersey is up for a redesign that follows the city’s Complete Streets resolution. To be done in conjunction with a resurfacing project, the City proposes adding a median, bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, and back-in angled parking.

The Complete Streets Partnership in Malone, New York is discussing ways to implement the community’s 2012 Complete Streets policy, pointing to recent success in repainting Elm Street to create new street parking and better manage traffic.

Just four months old, Philadelphia‘s Complete Streets Design Handbook has already been applied to several development proposals, resulting in more accessible bus stops, new street trees, and wider sidewalks. The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities is also working to update and clarify the document to make it easier to use.

Last month, Memphis, Tennessee Mayor A.C. Wharton officially announced the Complete Streets executive order he issued in January and the city’s plans for a network of protected bike facilities — 15 miles in the next two years.

Upcoming Hill Briefing on Complete Streets — On June 20 at 2:30 pm ET, the National Complete Streets Coalition and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute invite you to join local, state and national experts at a Congressional briefing to discuss national and local trends in Complete Streets policies. The briefing’s panel will feature U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), Lynn Peterson, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation; Danny Pleasant, Transportation Director, City of Charlotte, North Carolina; Angela Vance, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP West Virginia; and Geoff Anderson, President and CEO, Smart Growth America. A live webcast will be available for those unable to attend in person. Read more on our blog >>

Coalition Offers Workshop for Design Professionals — During the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting in Boston, the National Complete Streets Coalition will debut its new half-day workshop “Complete Streets Design Implementation for Professionals.” Intended for engineers, planners, and others involved in transportation design, the workshop will review technical Complete Streets design implementation tools and provide participants with the foundation necessary to more routinely create Complete Streets networks. The workshop will take place on August 4 at 8:30 am and will be facilitated by John LaPlante, Director of Traffic Engineering at T.Y. Lin International. Steering Committee members ITE and the he Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals collaborated to create this new opportunity. Professional credits are available. A registration fee of $250 applies. Learn more >>

AARP Talks Complete Streets — In a blog post, Executive Vice President of the AARP State and National Group Nancy LeaMond describes why AARP has been a long-time supporter of Complete Streets: it’s part of what they call “Great Places for All Ages.” Complete Streets ensure “convenient, safe and reliable options” to get folks where they need and want to go, regardless of their age. LeaMond opened The Atlantic’s Generations Forum, which featured Steve Clemons, Washington Editor at Large at The Atlantic, and Richard Florida, co-founder and Editor-at-Large of The Atlantic Cities discussing how architects, urban planners, and city governments can support and respond to the growing number of older adults in communities across the country.

Widespread Support for Transit Investments — According to a recent poll by the American Public Transportation Association, a Coalition Steering Committee member, nearly 74 percent of Americans would like to see their tax dollars help create, improve, and expand public transit. “We are experiencing this surge in support because citizens can see, touch, and feel the economic impact of investing in public transportation,” said APTA Chair Flora Castillo. Also calling for more transit: the conservative Free Congress Foundation. The “broad array of social and economic benefits” of public transportation ensure cities are vibrant and well-functioning; and thus, essential to states’ and the nation’s economic well-being.

Complete Streets Featured in Momentum Magazine — An article in the latest issue of Momentum Magazine discusses the progress of the Complete Streets movement at the national and local level. Writer Ted Johnson highlights the ways Complete Streets meets the needs of communities, attracting business and providing desired transportation options, and how elected officials have begun to support the concept.

Coalition Workshops Help Houston, Virginia Beach, Asheville. South Texas — Our workshop instructors have had a busy few months, working with four very different communities to achieve each one’s Complete Streets goals: Virginia Beach in April; Houston in May; and in June, Asheville, North Carolina and the Texas communities of Alice and Raymondville. Our workshops program, featuring four interactive full-day options to build local capacity at every stage of the Complete Streets process. Learn more on our website >>

Thank You New and Renewing Partners — The Coalition thanks its renewing Bronze-level Partner, the Local Government Commission. A big thank you, too, to our new Individual Partners: Beth Akeson and Shaun Underkoffler, who joins on behalf of the York City Bureau of Health. Learn more about support the Coalition’s work by becoming a Partner today.

Demand for TIGER Program Is Demand for Safe Streets — With over 560 applications in is the last round, demand for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER funding program remains strong. TIGER, which emphasizes multimodal projects that improve safety and the economy, provided dozens of communities with the funding they need to plan, design, and built projects that are safe and convenient for all modes and users since 2009. And more communities want in on the action. The total requested amount for this round of TIGER was $9 billion, nearly 20 times the $474 million allocated to the program, showing a nationwide demand for federal transportation funding streams that award multimodal, innovative projects.

Rise in Suburban Poverty Calls for Transportation Options — Confronting Suburban Poverty in America, a new book published by the Brookings Institute and authored by Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube, investigates the staggering rise in suburban poverty. In the last decade, poverty rates in suburban America grew twice as fast as in cities, leaving many Americans without adequate transportation options. In many suburban communities, transit is limited, jobs and homes are far apart, and the street network is designed exclusively for automobiles. To meet the needs of all residents, suburban communities must find ways to improve transportation networks through policy change, including implementation of Complete Streets.

Raquel Nelson Update — Three years ago, Raquel Nelson made nationwide news when she was charged with vehicular homicide for crossing the street with her child. A jury found the Atlanta-area mom guilty for her son’s death because she chose to do what many of us would have done — cross the street from a bus stop directly across from our home, rather than walk with several small children and arms of shopping bags an additional two-thirds of mile to a signalized intersection. That homicide charge was dropped this week, along with a potential three years in jail. While too many roadways are still built and operated without consideration for those on foot, bicycle, or transit, there’s good news from Georgia. The state Department of Transportation adopted a Complete Streets policy and is working with the local pedestrian advocacy organization PEDS to identify solutions for crossing the many busy roads in the Atlanta region.

Homebuyers Look for Transportation Options — Forbes reported on a recent rise in real estate agents who highlight the amenities for those traveling on two wheels to sell homes. In Washington, DC, agents are taking their clients out via bike, pointing out the street improvements such as bike lanes and paths and the regional bikeshare system that make cycling safer and easier than ever before. Agents in Boulder, Colorado report that many prospective buyers prefer bicycling to potential new homes and experiencing the healthy lifestyle options that Boulder provides.

Residents in Mobile, Alabama are calling on the state Department of Transportation to include faciliites for walking and bicycling safely across the I-10 Mobile River Bridge, which is proposed for construction. Supporters cite several examples of successful paths for non-motorized users along major bridges, including the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina and the Woodrow Wilson bridge in the Washington, D.C. region. Sign the online petition >>

Carlsbad, California was recognized by the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association for its Livable Streets Assessment, which helps city officials determine how best to provide safe streets for all users. Additionally, via the assessment, the city will be able to study other communities’ progress in implementing Complete Streets and adapt those methods for local use. Carlsbad is a leader in the region, having also been recognized by the San Diego Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers for its transportation work.

Fairfield, Connecticut is looking to Complete Streets to make walking, bicycling, catching a train safer and more convenient.

The Rapid, the transit provider for Grand Rapids, Michigan, is using peer-to-peer mentoring to educate the community’s aging population about their transportation options beyond the car, including vanpooling, fixed route transit, and others.

Joplin, Missouri is working the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redevelop 20th Street into one that is more pleasant and safe for walking and bicycling and able to better manage stormwater.

Reno, Nevada‘s Regional Transportation Commission is seeking citizen input to measure performance of several projects completed with a Complete Streets approach. Respondents are asked about satisfaction with transportation options, retail services, crime, and property values.

State lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a bill to allow communities to designate some low-traffic residential streets with a speed limit of 15 or 20 miles per hour. As Tri-State Transportation Campaign points out, allowing slower speeds is a key strategy for creating Complete Streets in rural and exurban roads, where sidewalks aren’t always warranted. The state Department of Transportation adopted a Complete Streets policy in 2009.

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Bloomberg administration has put forth a resiliency plan for New York City that includes transportation strategies to improve bus and commuter rail capacity, add new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and expand the bikeshare system. In the days following Sandy, record numbers of residents bicycled, walked, and depended on temporary transit services via buses and ferries to get around.

According to an article in Grist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania‘s new Mayor, Bill Peduto, will bring along an administration ready to implement Complete Streets, undertake an update to zoning code, and support transit-oriented development.

Houston, Texas mayor pro tem Ed Gonzalez, a member of Smart Growth America’s Local Leaders Council, is working for Complete Streets in the country’s fourth largest city. In a recent video, Gonzalez calls on the city to be mindful of all users and support an interconnected community. Gonzalez has championed Complete Streets in the city council. In April, he wrote an Op-Ed in the Houston Chronicle in which he called on the public to “think of common-sense ideas to improve mobility in each of our neighborhoods.”

Lynchburg, Virginia is working on a “Better Streets Policy” that will encompass efforts to provide safe facilities for all modes and users and a need to create more sustainable streets, with features such as natural stormwater management.

Incomplete Streets Death: Debbie Craven — Debbie Craven, 48, was killed after being hit by a car on Derry Road in Litchfield, New Hampshire on May 31. At the time she was hit, Craven was crossing Derry Road, a two-lane road that connects Craven’s home to commercial areas. In the surrounding area, Derry Road lacks basic pedestrian accommodation such as crosswalks, creating dangerous and fatal scenarios for residents.

Workshop: Complete Streets Design Implementation for Professionals — Offered in conjunction with the upcoming Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Annual Meeting in Boston, this half-day workshop will will review technical Complete Streets design implementation tools and provide participants with the foundation necessary to more routinely create Complete Streets networks. Professional credits are available. A registration fee of $250 applies. Learn more and register >>

Conference: ITS America Complete Streets Symposium — On July 25 and 26, join ITS America, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Chicago Transit Authority for a Complete Streets Symposium. Participants will learn firsthand about the latest developments in Complete Street technology, ITS solutions, and public space applications. Learn more and register online >>

Resource: Find It, Fund It — A new tool from Advocacy Advance makes it wasy to identify the federal transportation progam(s) that could be used to pay for many types of walking and bicycling facilities, projects, and programs. The tool also provides helpful information about each type of funding source, including what it is, how much funding is available, and who to approach for more information.

Report: Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an update of its 2001 report Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions Between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, reflecting the growing amount of research on the relationship between the built environment and the quality of air, water, land resources, habitat, and human health. Evident in the findings is that smart growth strategies, including transit-oriented development, Complete Streets, sustainable building practices, can positively influence our natural and human environments.

Guide: Public Participation Tools — The Local Government Commission has issued a free guidebook that identifies public participation tools to plan and build healthier communities. The guide is based in national best practices and includes tools such as community visioning, facilitated meetings, participatory budgeting, health impact assessments, and more.

Report: Pedaling Towards Equity — The League of American Bicyclists and the Sierra Club released a report exploring the changing demographics of bicycle ridership, the effect of safe cycling infrastructure on ridership, and the economic impact of transportation and health inequality. According to The New Majority: Pedaling Towards Equity, ridership rates among women, young people, and people of color have risen dramatically over the last decade — emphasizing the needs of Complete Streets for all users, regardless of their gender, racial or ethnic background, or economic status.

Report: Housing, Transportation and Community Preferences — A recent survey conducted by The Urban Land Institute and Belden Russonello Strategists LLC shows that broad and diverse groups of citizens prefer compact, mixed-use neighborhoods and over half of all adults would trade a big house for a shorter commute. These preferences, including those for walkable and transit-friendly neighborhoods, support the call for Complete Streets in communities across the country.

Discussion Board: Livable Communities — The Federal Highway Administration launched an online discussion board for peer-to-peer sharing and talk about a variety of elements related to creating more livable communities: providing transportation choices, encouraging access to jobs and affordable housing, promoting safer streets, and more. Participation is open to all and represents a range of related fields, including transportation, land use, housing, environment, and economic development.

Webinar: Accommodating Walking and Biking at Interchanges — On Tuesday June 25 at 2 pm ET, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center will broadcast a webinar on the soon-to-be-released Institute of Transportation Engineers Recommended Practice on Accommodating Pedestrians and Bicyclists at Interchanges. Speakers include Matthew Ridgway, Meghan Mitman, and Mariana Parreiras, of Complete Streets Partner firm Fehr & Peers. Register online >>

Report: How to Increase Bicycling for Daily Travel — Recognizing a gap between the number of bicycle trips made in the United States and number of trips made under two miles, Active Living Research released a new report on strategies to increase the number of trips made by bicycle. A comprehensive package of infrastructure, programs, and policies — such as Complete Streets — is likely to have the greatest effect.

Article: Complete Streets and Urban Design — In the Winter 2013 issue of Urban Design, Coalition founder Barbara McCann outlines the political and cultural facets of the Complete Streets movement. McCann emphasizes the need for better, more comprehensive planning as a key to successfully implementing Complete Streets.

“We care about everybody, not just high speed cars. We care about pedestrians. We care about people who have challenges with mobility.”
— Albany, New York Common Council member Leah Golby

“Much of what’s proposed is not any more expensive than maintaining status quo. In some cases, it’s just a matter of painting the stripes in different locations.”
— Birmingham, Michigan City Manager Robert Bruner

“[Complete Streets] doesn’t mean you need bike lanes and sidewalks on every street. It just means that you need to make it so people walking and biking are safe on that street.”
— Canandaigua, New York Councilmember Bill Taylor

“Designing streets with only cars in mind leaves the connection between how we move and how we live unrealized…We have to embrace our public space differently and look for opportunities to enhance them for all people that want to use them.”
— Carlsbad, California Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Jones

Bad Bridges Have Hidden Cost
The Washington Post – June 18, 2013
“That has an impact on the economy,” said David Goldberg, communications director for Transportation for America.

Could Increasing Complete Streets Decrease Pedestrian Deaths and Injuries?
Transportation Issues Daily – June 18, 2013
Yes, increasing the number of complete streets would almost certainly reduce deaths and injuries.

New Pentagon Mandate: Make Military Bases Livable, That’s an Order!
DC Streetsblog – June 18, 2013
As Rep. Blumenauer told the Smart Growth America-affiliated developers, the new UFC looks like something they would have written themselves.

Partnership for Sustainable Communities Marks 4th Anniversary with Twitter Town Hall
The White House – June 18, 2013
Our collaboration helps communities plan the housing, transportation and economic development they need as infrastructure for economic growth, helping them attract businesses and improve quality of life for residents.

House Releases $44B DOT, HUD Budget
The Hill - June 18, 2013
The amount for the agencies in the 2014 fiscal year is $7.7 billion less than their 2013 spending levels.

Local

New Tax District Brings Streetcars in Minneapolis One Step Closer
Minnesota Public Radio – June 18, 2013
The resolution adopted by the council’s budget and transportation committees would create a “value capture district.” Based on the assumption that properties benefit by being located along the streetcar line, the district is designed to capture the increased property tax value from those properties.

Advocates Outline Sustainable Transportation Priorities for New York City
Mobilizing the Region (NY) – June 18, 2013
Traffic deaths are preventable and are the number one cause of death for NYC children and number two for seniors.

Franklin Transit Routes are Free on Thursday: Dump the Pump Promotes Public Transportation Nationwide
The Tennessean – June 18, 2013
The latest APTA Transit Savings Report suggests that a two-person household that downsizes to one car can save — on the average — more than $9,700 a year in gasoline and other expenses associated with owning and driving a car.

Students: City Can Improve Walking and Biking Passages
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram (WI) – June 18, 2013
“The presentation shows that there are some wonderful opportunities to bike in town, but it also shows reaching some amenities just doesn’t work well the way our city is set up,” Schaffer said.

Anyone interested in streets that work for everyone, including Complete Streets advocates and design professionals, are invited to listen in and join the discussion. The video below will be live as of 2:20 EDT on Thursday, June 20. Join us here tomorrow to watch the briefing as it happens live.

In addition, join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #SafeStreetsAct. We’ll be sharing highlights of the briefing as it happens and encourage you to weigh in and discuss the issues too.

Want to learn more about Complete Streets? Click here for an overview of the National Complete Streets Coalition.

As part of Smart Growth America’s free technical assistance program for local governments, Smart Growth America’s Vice President of Policy Development and Implementation Bill Fulton gave a presentation on “Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health” to community members and government officials in Fairfax, VA on June 6, 2013.

In the above video, Fulton gives a thorough explanation of the connection between the built environment of an area and the fiscal health of the municipality. He discusses the unique set of demographic changes that make smart growth planning an imperative for communities aiming to be economically competitive. Traditional suburban communities like the City of Fairfax will particularly need to gear their planning to attract new residents and save money on infrastructure.

Click here to read more about our Fairfax workshop.

Cuyahoga County Courthouse Photograph courtesy OzinOH (via Flickr)

Cuyahoga County, OH officials and local residents met with representatives from Smart Growth America on May 1 and 2, 2013 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. The workshops aimed to give Cuyahoga County strategies to create a built environment that focuses on better and more accessible transportation options for all residents.

“Providing a multi-modal transportation network is a key component to Cuyahoga County’s guiding principles of designing a place-based development strategy. Under the leadership of County Executive Ed Fitzgerald, the County also recognizes the momentum of the City of Cleveland’s efforts to implement a Complete and Green Streets policy and embraces this opportunity to explore the concept of Complete Streets on the regional level,” said Glenn Coyne, Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

Cuyahoga County residents and local officials gathered for an introductory presentation by instructors from the National Complete Streets Coalition on May 1 that featured a broad overview of Complete Streets policies. Following the public presentation, the instructors and key stakeholders met to discuss how to keep Cuyahoga County a location that continues to be a livable and sustainable place. The stakeholders and instructors created a plan for a complete streets policy, and the instructors provided a next steps memo that outlines how the County should move forward.

In November 2012, Cuyahoga County was one of 22 communities selected by Smart Growth America to participate in the free technical assistance program. Stretching from Maine to Washington state, these 22 communities represent major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns alike.

The program, made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Three other nonprofit organizations—Forterra, Global Green USA and Project for Public Spaces—also received competitively awarded grants under this program to help communities get the kinds of development they want.

Learn more about the workshop, and Cuyahoga County’s accomplishments by reading through the documents below.

Workshop Materials:

• Complete Streets Tool Description (PDF)
• Evening Presentation (PDF)
• Cuyahoga County: Next Steps Memo (PDF)

How Communities Become Nicer Places to Live
National Association of Realtors – June 17, 2013
What smart growth really boils down to is simply making communities nice places to live even as population densities increase.

How Cities are Fixing America
The Daily Beast – June 17, 2013
Every major demographic trend that the United States is experiencing—rapid growth, increasing diversity, an aging demographic—is happening at a faster pace, a greater scale, and a higher level of intensity in our major metropolitan areas.

Conservative Think Tank: Invest in Transit to Boost Metros
DC Streetsblog – June 17, 2013
The conservative Free Congress Foundation says it’s time America got serious about investing in transit in its metro areas.

Smart Growth Development and How Facility Data Managers Make Buildings Greener
Microsoft Green Blog – June 13, 2013
The report demonstrates the practical application of smart development and the future of city planning—and clearly shows how compact smart growth can set the stage for smarter cities.

EPA Will Host Green Street Design Workshop and Meetings in Joplin, Mo.
Environmental Protection Agency – June 17, 2013
EPA will host a green street design workshop and meetings that will provide Joplin, Mo., with technical assistance to consider “green complete street” options.

Local

To Grow Up, Phoenix Must Grow Small
AZCentral.com – June 7, 2013
For the employers and employees Arizona must attract, the desirability of a new location can often be measured in blocks, not acres or square miles. The bicycle is a serious form of mobility, and walkability is highly prized.

City of White Plains Adopts “Complete Streets” Policy
White Plains Daily Voice (NY) – June 18, 2013
The City of White Plains adopted the policy and required the City’s Department of Public Works to “consider all modes of travel within its projects.”

Twin Cities Communities Must Adapt to Housing Trend
The Star-Tribune (MN) – June 8, 2013
Unstable gas prices, a desire to be closer to urban amenities and a preference among older and younger homeowners for smaller, easier-to-maintain lots appear to be driving the market shift.

The briefing’s panel will feature:

• Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
• Lynn Peterson, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Danny Pleasant, Transportation Director, City of Charlotte, NC
• Angela Vance, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP West Virginia
• Geoff Anderson, President and CEO, Smart Growth America

More than 500 jurisdictions at the local, regional and state levels are now using Complete Streets policies to build stronger economies and support healthier and safer communities.

Many of these communities are pursuing Complete Streets implementation to meet a growing demand among residents for transportation choices and homes and employment centers in walkable areas. Other communities are motivated by public health and safety concerns.

At the national level, though overall roadway deaths fell by two percent from 2010 to 2011, pedestrian deaths increased by three percent and bicyclist deaths by nine percent over the same period. Of the 47,000+ pedestrian fatalities from 2000 to 2009, 67 percent occurred on federal-aid roadways.

This briefing will explore the safety, health, and other benefits of Complete Streets, and how federal legislation can assist states and localities using this approach. It is free and open to the public. Please RSVP with EESI to expedite check-in. A live webcast will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Briefing details
When: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Time: 2:30 to 4 PM EDT
Where: 2253 Rayburn House Office Building; Washington, DC

Rhode Island’s grant will help the state plan for the effect of climate change on economic activity. Mississippi County will plan to maximize the economic benefits of new steel manufacturing jobs coming to the area by addressing future housing opportunities and infrastructure development. Kelso, WA and the EPA will focus on improving the public health of an industrial area south of the city’s downtown through infrastructure, job creation and economic development opportunities.

Kelso Station photograph courtesy alexabboud (via Flickr)

The EPA’s Smart Growth Implementation Assistance grants help communities, that would otherwise lack the capacity to do so, plan for development and improve regional economic resilience. The EPA prioritizes redevelopment for job creation, workforce housing and sustainable neighborhood design, community resilience, the strength of the local partners, and the ability to support existing local policy implementation processes in it’s selection of grants. The program has provided assistance for 49 communities though 36 grants since its inception in 2005.

The Smart Growth Assistance program is part of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a collaboration between the EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The Partnership has allocated more than $4 billion for communities across the United States. The Partnership works with communities to create more housing and transportation choices, and support neighborhoods’ sustained vibrancy by attracting new business. If you want to see grants like these continue, speak out to support the Partnership today.

How to Build a Resilient City (Budget)
Planetizen – June 14, 2013
As planners, we know this quite well thanks to a great new study published by Smart Growth America. Build a city in a low-intensity, sprawling pattern and you’ll end up with inefficient services and strained city budgets.

Ten Principles for Making High Density Cities Better
NRDC Switchboard – February 13, 2013
Getting the right city density – generally expressed in the US as people per square mile or homes per acre – to support sustainable and pleasant living is one of the trickiest problems we face as we address the future of our communities.

The Philosophy and Goals of New Chair of Senate’s Surface Transportation Subcommittee
Transportation Issues Daily – June 16, 2013
Warner has considerable experience with transportation issues, serving on Virginia’s Board of Transportation for four years. As Governor, Warner directed a “dramatic turnaround” of the state DOT.

Real Estate as Investment vs. Real Estate as City Building
City Block (DC) – June 16, 2013
[Fundrise] are selling the chance to help shape the city more than they are selling the chance to invest in it.

Local

Slow Growth, Old Infrastructure, Mean a Need for Innovation and Investment
New Jersey Future – June 13, 2013
Both these groups are seeking to live in compact, walkable communities, and where the workforce wants to be, the jobs often follow.

Testimony in Support of a Strategic and Balanced Bond Proposal
GrowSmart Maine – June 13, 2013
GrowSmart Maine is particularly enthusiastic about well grounded, thoughtful proposals which grow the economy in a sustainable manner while at the same time preserving our state’s unique character and quality of place.

Project Receives EPA Brownfields Phoenix Award
Tinker Take Off (OK) – June 13, 2013
[The award recognizes] the collaborative transformation success of the former automobile plant to an aerospace complex as one of the nation’s top environmental redevelopment projects.

Big Benefits for People Biking and Walking in New Safety Ordinance
Active Transportation Alliance (IL) – June 14, 2013
It will ensure that people biking and walking have the same rights in Chicago as they do under state law and help reduce the nearly 4,500 reported bike and pedestrian injury-crashes every year in our city.

Mason Make the Case
Hudson Reporter (NJ) – June 16, 2013
The Vision 20/20 Project was the recipient of New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Award for its comprehensive rehabilitation strategy.

Walking Through Royal Oak with Complete Streets in Mind
Royal Oak Patch (MI) – June 14, 2013
Everything needs to be on the table when considering a plan for Woodward that fosters mixed-use development, promotes walkability and allows people to drive less, he said.