Our focus areas—transportation and land use—are deeply connected. How and where we build housing, jobs, and services directly impact how people move through their communities. Sprawling, car-dependent development limits options and strains resources, while smart growth prioritizes building within existing neighborhoods to support affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. By aligning land use, housing, and transportation, we can create vibrant, inclusive places where people can thrive, no matter how they choose to get around.
Americans want a transportation system that gets them where they need to go safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, federal transportation investments have failed to develop a system that can accomplish this one, essential task. No matter how much we spend, traffic, emissions, and pedestrian deaths only seem to increase. It’s time to admit our current strategy isn’t working and reorient our investments around what actually matters to everyday people.
What we build and where we build it are the decisions that shape how we live our lives. Too many of those decisions separate people from their jobs and daily needs. We’re working to rewrite the old rules like zoning codes and update the status quo on housing and economic development to ensure that everyone gets a shot at living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient.
At the core of our overall approach is empowering communities through direct community support, powerful advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.
Smart Growth America’s Technical Assistance programs work alongside and within communities of all sizes and organizations to build support for policies and practices that will lead to healthy, prosperous, and resilient places.
Smart Growth America collaborates with Congress and the administration to ensure federal policies foster economically strong, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable communities nationwide.
Smart Growth America guides leaders in creating inclusive, efficient, and sustainable living environments through thought leadership, sharing cutting-edge insights and innovative strategies.
Explore how Smart Growth America impacts communities.
The smart growth movement creates communities that are equitable, resilient, and well-connected to essential destinations no matter how you choose to get around. Click to learn more about how we are working to bring about measurable change:
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At Smart Growth America, our various programs and coalitions work collaboratively to shape communities where people thrive. Through research, advocacy, and hands-on support, our network of advocates, decision-makers, and field experts work together to advance policies and practices that prioritize safety, equity, and sustainability.
Support policies and initiatives that promote smart growth, equitable development, and access to affordable housing.
