The New York State Department of Transportation has posted on its Smart Planning Program website three products designed to illustrate the link between transportation and land use planning and to educate communities about smart growth principles. The products include a PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview for municipal planning officials on the relationship between smart growth and transportation. The products also include two Smart Growth Checklists for municipal land use planning and proposed development projects. For more information, link to NYSDOT’s Land Use and Transportation Smart Planning website. (7-8-08)

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The American Planning Association has published a new reference guide to drafting and updating land use regulations titled 21^st Century Land Development Code. The guide presents a complete planning and law model code that integrates traditional Euclidean zoning with green codes, new urbanism, and smart growth and covers numerous issues, including transit-oriented development. The book and companion CD-ROM are available for purchase on the APA website. (5-13-08)

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The Urban Land Institute announced at its spring council meeting in Dallas the winners of the 2008 Awards for Excellence: The Americas competition, which recognizes projects for excellence in land use practice. The 10 winning projects fulfilled criteria such as community contribution, environmental protection and enhancement, innovation, and public/private partnerships. ULI also announced seven recipients of its semiannual community action grants for entrepreneurial programs that plan to improve urban grown in their communities. For more information, link to the 2008 Awards for Excellence press release and the Community Action Grants website. (5-9-08)

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A new report published by the Urban Land Institute with Ernst & Young maintains that the United States must overhaul its outdated regional infrastructure planning process or face a decline in global competitiveness. Infrastructure 2008: A Competitive Advantage, provides an overview of current and planned infrastructure investment around the world, with a focus on China, Europe, India, Japan, and the United States. According to the report, problems facing the U.S. include inadequate federal policy and guidelines leading to disconnected regional management approaches, an annual funding gap of at least $170 billion, and outmoded land use and infrastructure models. The report calls for more public/private partnerships to address the funding gap, coordination of land use and transportation planning at the state and regional levels, and new funding strategies. For more information, link to Infrastructure 2008: A Competitive Advantage. (4-29-08)

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The Conservation Fund has launched a new Green Infrastructure Community of Practice intended to serve as a collaborative network of organizations and agencies actively involved in some aspect of the green infrastructure approach to strategic environmental conservation. The fund requests that organizations submit information online about their activities, expertise, and resources in strategic conservation planning/green infrastructure. For more information and to join, link to the Green Infrastructure Community of Practice. (4-29-08)

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The Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Urban Land Institute hosted a congressional briefing on April 25, 2008, that considered the connection between transportation policy, urban development, land use planning, and their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The briefing focused in particular on trends toward increasing distances and time Americans spend driving due to changing land use patterns, transportation policies, congestion, and other factors and how those trends affect efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Presentations by several panelists and an audio recording of the briefing and Q&A session are available online. For more information, link to Growing Cooler: Federal Transportation and Development Policies for Climate-Friendly Communities. (4-25-08)

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The Environmental Protection Agency has published a new primer on vapor intrusion issues and redevelopment of brownfield sites. The primer presents an overview of how vapor intrusion can affect redevelopment and describes techniques for assessing vapor intrusion potential and mitigation. For more information, link to Brownfields Technology Primer: Vapor Intrusion Considerations for Redevelopment on EPA’s Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center website. (4-8-08)

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The Sustainable Sites Initiative is soliciting case studies that use sustainable land development and management practices. The organization requests projects that monitor and document the success or failure of sustainable practices, such as stormwater management, integrated design teams, habitat restoration, materials management and selection, and others. Projects do not need to be sustainable sites in all respects, but should be illustrative of sustainable practices. Submissions are due May 1, 2008. For more information, link to Case Study Submission. (4-1-08)

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PowerPoint presentations from the 7^th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference held in Feb. 7-9, 2008, in Washington, D.C., now are available online as .pdf files. For more information, link to the Smart Growth Network website. (3-18-08)

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The Environmental Protection Agency invites applications from public-sector entities that have used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially, and economically for the Seventh Annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. Applications are due on April 7, 2008. For more information, link to EPA’s Smart Growth website. (3-14-08)

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The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting applications from communities, regions, and state governments for technical assistance with incorporating smart growth techniques into their future development. For 2008 the agency intends to assist three to five communities with projects such as reviewing state DOT investments to support smart growth, coordinating smart growth design with active aging programs, or reviewing subdivision regulations to support complete street networks and compact development. EPA is particularly interested in projects that address challenges associated with increasing the supply, quality, or accessibility of affordable housing in a smart growth development context. Applications are due May 8, 2008. For more information, link to EPA’s Smart Growth Implementation Assistance 2008 Request for Applications. (2-25-08)

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The U.S. Green Building Council has developed an online Database of Public Policies that allows users to search existing public policies based on criteria such as level of government, date of passage, location, type of building, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and whether it is mandatory or incentive-based. For more information, link to the USGBC Database of Public Policies. (2-11-08)

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A new report published by the American Planning Association describes how the principles of environmental justice can be incorporated into land-use planning. The report, Fair and Healthy Land Use, cites an increase in lawsuits challenging the disproportionate effects of government decisions on low-income and minority communities. The report maintains that the principles adopted by grassroots environmental groups in opposing the siting of locally unwanted land uses in such communities are good planning principles: that individuals or neighborhoods should not be burdened by harmful environmental conditions, and that all persons should have the opportunity for meaningful participation in decisions affecting their community. The report is available for purchase on the APA website. (2-11-08)

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The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized seven communities and government agencies for outstanding community planning that implements smart growth and active aging principles as part of its inaugural Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards. EPA presented the 2007 Achievement Award to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the city of Kirkland, Wash., for “overall excellence in building healthy communities for active aging.’’ The 2007 Commitment Award went to five communities and agencies that have developed and begun to initiate a plan to implement smart growth and active aging principles. For more information, link to the Excellence in Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards 2007 website. (2-8-08)

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A new resource providing guidance and tools for local governments to address climate change through green buildings, green neighborhoods, and sustainable infrastructure now is available online. The Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods, developed by a consortium of local governments, nonprofits, and utilities, is designed to help promote the goals of the U.S. Conference of Majors Climate Protection Agreement. For more information, link to the Playbook. (2-5-08)

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A project summary report analyzing barriers to infill and brownfield redevelopment in the four-county Land-of-Sky Region in western North Carolina now is available online. The project, which was funded under EPA’s Smart Growth Brownfield grant program and conducted by the Land of Sky Regional Council, identified barriers such as inappropriate zoning and a lack of planning and financial incentives. The report also describes possible policy solutions for overcoming those barriers and cites efforts by some municipalities in the region to improve the regulatory climate for infill and brownfield redevelopment. For more information, link to Stimulating Infill and Brownfield Redevelopment in the Land-of-Sky Region. (2-5-08)

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The Transportation Research Board has published 10 peer-reviewed papers that address various environmental justice-related issues in Issue No. 2013 of its Transportation Research Record journal. The papers explore subjects such as environmental justice analysis for metropolitan transportation planning, environmental justice assessments for transportation projects, long-term social sustainability of transport and land use strategies, and others. For more information, link to TRB’s Environmental Justice, Social and Economic Factors, Women’s Travel, and Accessibility and Mobility 2007. (1-29-08)

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EPA has released a new plan to promote ‘’green infrastructure’’ approaches for reducing stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflows, and nonpoint source pollution. The Green Infrastructure Action Strategy, developed in partnership with a group of state and national environmental organizations, describes how states, local governments, permitting authorities, and nongovernmental organizations can use green infrastructure practices such as green roofs, trees and tree boxes, rain gardens, and porous pavements to reduce runoff from sites. The document addresses seven implementation areas: Research, Outreach and Communication, Tools, Clean Water Act Regulatory Support, Economic Viability and Funding, Demonstrations and Recognition, and Partnerships. For more information, link to Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Action Strategy 2008 on the EPA NPDES program’s Green Infrastructure web page. (1-17-08)

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The Center for Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Louisville has posted on its website a series of 19 practice guides for brownfields redevelopment. The guides, which provide advice and tools for urban and regional planners and policymakers, address topics such as identifying brownfields, using environmental insurance for brownfields redevelopment, recycling of construction and demolition debris, and historic preservation as a redevelopment option. For more information, link to the Practice Guides. (1-11-08)

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The city of Toronto has released draft guidelines for addressing urban design and environmental issues associated with surface parking lots. The draft document specifies guidelines for ‘greening’ surface parking lots through planting trees and landscaping, enhancing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, managing stormwater on-site, reducing the urban heat island effect, and using sustainable materials and technology. For more information, link to Design Guidelines for ‘Greening’ Surface Parking Lots (Draft). (1-8-08)

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A report describing current practice for forecasting indirect land use impacts of transportation projects has been issued by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program under Project 25-25, Task 22. The report summarizes research on existing guidance documents and methodologies currently in use for conducting indirect land use impact studies. The report also describes six essential approaches for forecasting land use change in response to transportation improvements. For more information, link to Forecasting Indirect Land Use Effects of Transportation Projects, NCHRP 25-25, Task 22. (December 2007)

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The Smart Growth Leadership Institute is releasing new tools to assist communities with issues related to implementation of smart growth strategies and sustainable urban development. The new Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit, developed through a four-year technical assistance program and a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is intended to help communities with issues such as building support, identifying problematic policies, and other issues. An online discussion of the new toolkit hosted by the Institute and Knowledgeplex Experts is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2007, at 2 p.m. EST. For more information, link to Introducing the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit. (12-7-07)

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The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the recipients of its 2007 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement. The agency recognized the state of Vermont; the Housing Authority of Portland, Ore.; the Seattle Housing Authority; the town of Barnstable, Mass.; and Manhattan for innovative community development projects that use smart growth strategies to protect the environment, preserve community identity, and expand economic opportunity. For more information, link to EPA’s National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement website. (11-14-07)

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The Conservation Fund has posted on its website the Green Infrastructure Case Series, a collection of eight reports highlighting efforts around the country to promote land conservation that allows both for future growth and protection of significant natural resources. Examples of case studies in the collection include Maryland’s Green Infrastructure Assessment and GreenPrint Program to identify and fund the preservation of the state’s most ecologically valuable lands, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway project in Washington to protect and enhance a 100-mile corridor of open space lands along Interstate 90 from Seattle to the Cascades. For more information, link to the Green Infrastructure Case Study Series. (11-13-07)

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The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a total of $3 million in grants to cities and universities for projects under its Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability (CNS) program. Grants were awarded to 12 projects in the areas of Communities and the Built Environment and Industrial Ecology and Organizational Behavior. Examples of CNS projects include predicting the impact of housing development on nearby water resources or developing methods for urban planners to build sustainability into land development and transportation infrastructure. For more information, link to the CNS program website. (11-8-07)

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A report published by a traffic safety expert at the request of the Maryland State Highway Administration reviews two industry-sponsored studies released by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America in July 2007 that concluded that digital billboards are no more likely to cause traffic accidents than conventional billboards. The report is critical of both the findings and methodology of the two studies, which have been cited as evidence that digital billboards pose no safety risk to motorists. For more information, link to A Critical, Comprehensive Review of Two Studies Recently Published by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. (11-7-07)

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A survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and Smart Growth America found that 75 percent of Americans believe that smarter development patterns and improving public transportation are better long-term solutions for reducing traffic congestion than building new roads. The 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey also found that most of those polled believed new communities should be designed to reduce driving, opposed the privatization of public roads and highways, and preferred redevelopment of existing urban and suburban areas to new development in the outer suburbs. For more information, including links to the full survey questionnaire and graphics and tables, link to the 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey. (10-25-07)

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Guidance on how best to integrate land use and transportation in rural communities is provided in a report published by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The report, which is the result of research under NCHRP Project 08-52, also focuses on programs and investment strategies designed to support community development and livability while providing adequate transportation capacity. For more information, link to NCHRP Report 582: Best Practices to Enhance the Transportation-Land Use Connection in the Rural United States. (10-17-07)

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A report published by the research group Resources for the Future examines local programs for using the transfer of development rights (TDR), which is a market-based approach allowing for development rights to be transferred from one area to another, as a planning tool for achieving land preservation goals. The report finds that while over 140 local jurisdictions have programs for TDRs, successful implementation has often been difficult. The report focuses on 10 different local programs addressing land-use goals such as farmland preservation, protection of environmentally-sensitive lands, and control of sprawl, and includes a comparison of two long-running and successful TDR programs in Calvert and Montgomery counties, Maryland. For more information, link to Transfer of Development Rights in U.S. Communities: Evaluating Program Design, Implementation, and Outcome. (10-10-07)

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The American Planning Association has designated the first 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Neighborhoods under its “Great Places in America” initiative to annually designate streets, parks, public spaces, and neighborhoods “of exceptional character, quality, and planning.” The designated neighborhoods and streets are defined by characteristics such as good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement. For 2008 the program will be expanded to include a Great Public Spaces category. For more information, link to Great Places in America. (10-2-07)

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The Federal Highway Administration issues a guidance memorandum confirming that changeable electronic variable message signs (CEVMS) – including digital or light emitting diode (LED) displays – “are acceptable for conforming off-premise signs” if such signs are consistent with existing federal/state agreements and state regulations. The guidance specifies that such signs “do not violate a prohibition against ‘intermittent’ or ‘flashing’ or ‘moving’ lights” as those terms have been used in federal/state agreements. For more information, link to Guidance On Off-Premise Changeable Message Signs. (9-25-07)

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The Eastman Kodak Company, the Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society have announced 31 nonprofit and other organizations as recipients of the 2007 Kodak American Greenways Awards. The program provides small grants intended to stimulate the planning and design of local greenways, trail, and open space projects throughout the country. For more information, link to the 2007 Kodak American Greenways Awards announcement. (9-19-07)

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An annual report published by the Texas Transportation Institute finds that traffic congestion continues to worsen in U.S. urban areas of all sizes, costing the economy $78 billion annually in lost hours and wasted fuel. The 2007 Urban Mobility Report, which is based on the most current data from 2005, expands on estimates of the effect of congestion for all 437 U.S. urban areas, provides detailed information for 85 specific urban areas, and addresses problems associated with irregular events such as crashes and works zones that contribute to congestion. The report finds that worsening congestion is reflected in longer trips; congestion affecting more hours of the day, weekend travel and rural areas, and personal trips and freight shipments; and increasingly unreliable trip travel times. The report also describes several solutions to the congestion problem, such as maximizing existing infrastructure, adding road and transit capacity in critical corridors, and diversifying development patterns. For more information, link to the 2007 Urban Mobility Report. (9-18-07)

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The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities has published an updated second edition of a paper on strategies for linking parks and public greenspace with community development, public health, and social justice. The document also describes opportunities for funders and examples of innovative local partnerships. For more information, link to Parks, Public Greenspace, and Smarter Growth: Opportunities for Linking Land and People. (7-10-07)

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FHWA's Office of Planning, Environment & Realty has launched a new, interactive Web-based geographic information system (GIS) on its Web site. The HEPGIS provides users access to important transportation-related geo-spatial data using only their web browser. The Web site includes simple navigation tools that enable users to locate a specific geographic area of interest and to create a map showing various geographic features and themes, such as income by Census Tract. Users can also obtain specific information about a feature, and can print or save an electronic copy of the map they create. Get more information.

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The Federal Highway Administration has posted a Land Use Tool Kit as a feature on its Web site. The agency said the site is designed to provide "a user-friendly, web-based source of methods, strategies, and procedures for integrating land use and transportation planning, decision-making, and project implementation." It includes 30 tools with implementation examples, case studies, and links to publications and Web sites. View the Tool Kit.

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A National Cooperative Highway Program report identifies and evaluates various indicators of the impacts of transit-oriented development. More information is available at the following link: NCHRP Research Results Digest 294: Transit-Oriented Development: Developing a Strategy to Measure Success.

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