One Virginia town's complete streets transformation shows promise for active transportation interventions in small communities.

The term "urbanism" brings to mind big cities and major infrastructure projects, but across the United States, small towns are quietly implementing complete streets projects that improve livability, mobility, and safety for their residents. In Hopewell, Virginia, the success of the city's recent push to improve outdoor recreation shows that small towns can practice urbanism too—sometimes more effectively than larger cities where projects get bogged down in bureaucracy and held back by competing interests.
Taking cues from the National Complete Streets Coalition, Wyatt Gordon writes that Hopewell's leaders are developing a complete streets plan for their city that aims to connect residential and commercial districts, increase available pedestrian infrastructure, and foster more active lifestyles. The initiative, stemming from the city council's 2015 passage of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) resolution, has dual goals to facilitate healthier lifestyles for Hopewell residents and to stimulate economic development. City Councilmember Johnny Partin sees benefits in putting health and safety at the core of city projects, saying that investment in pedestrian and bike infrastructure is "essential to making sure everyone can enjoy our streets in safety."
With funding on the way from the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program, Hopewell will be able to complete several other projects, including bikeways that will form part of the Appomattox River Trail and a multimodal path that will "reunite Hopewell's downtown core."
FULL STORY: Hopewell, VA’s complete streets overhaul shows small towns can be urbanist too

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

Judge Halts Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in Grants Pass
The Oregon city will be barred from enforcing two ordinances that prosecute unhoused residents until it increases capacity and accessibility at designated camping sites.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools
The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport