Category: NATIONAL
Smart Growth Shines on 2012 Ballot Issues
Smart growth ballot measures passed in dozens of communities on November 6. A summary article by Smart Growth America highlights many of these measures, including $100 million in bond support in Virginia for transit, smart growth, and infrastructure; a… more »
Seniors Prefer Their Own Homes, Urban Centers to Retirement Housing
According to a recent survey by the Urban Land Institute, the population of adults 65 and over in this country is expected to reach 55 million by 2020. The study found that the majority of older Americans want to age in their current homes. Those who do… more »
Amtrak Ridership Continues to Increase
For the ninth time in 10 years, Amtrak has broken a ridership record. The national rail network carried 31.2 million passengers in the twelve months ending with September. Ridership grew by 3.5 percent in 2012, giving Amtrak its highest number of passen… more »
Open Streets Projects Grow Rapidly Across US
Streets were liberated from automobiles in Los Angeles and Atlanta on October 7 — and thousands of residents flooded into their reclaimed public space. More than 100,000 Angelenos and 20,000 Atlantans took advantage of roads closed to cars by biking, wa… more »
STAR Communities Releases Rating System
STAR Communities, a national system helping cities develop sustainability indicators and certify their progress, has released its Rating System Version 1.0. The STAR Community Index is the nation’s first voluntary, self-reporting framework for evaluatin… more »
Bicycling Brings Economic Benefits Across the Nation
Bike recreation and bicycle tourism are having a significant impact on state and local economies in the US, according to new data from the League of American Bicyclists. The League's updated report, Bicycle Means Business: The Economic Benefits of Bicyc… more »
FHA Raises Limits on Commercial Space in Mixed-Use Condos
FHA recently raised the amount of commercial space it will finance in mixed-use condo buildings from 25% to 35%, with possible waivers up to 50% allowed. The new rules allow the marketplace more room to deliver the type of urban development that is in d… more »
Front Porches Making a Comeback
Two-thirds of new homes built last year in the United States had a porch, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The share of new homes with front or rear porches grew from 42 percent in 1992 to 65 percent in 2011. This desire for front p… more »
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