Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition announced a new initiative designed to help cities achieve the potential of a new approach to street design.

Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition have announced 21 participants for the new Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions Institute, a new initiative to prepare a hand-picked group of elected officials to advocate for an support safer safe and complete streets.
The inaugural class "will receive comprehensive training to help them become champions in their communities to promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations" over the course of six months, according to Smart Growth America.
Here is the list of the firstActive People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions:
- Mayor Jerry Martin — Mayor, Alma, Arkansas
- Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. — Little Rock, Arkansas
- Councilmember Andy Thomson — Boca Raton, Florida
- Councilmember Brandi Gabbard — St. Petersburg, Florida
- Councilmember Carol Myers — Athens, Georgia
- Mayor Allen Haywood — Sparta, Georgia
- Councilmember Nick Palumbo — Savannah, Georgia
- Councilmember Elaine Clegg — Boise, Idaho
- Mayor Gordon W. Petrie — Emmett, Idaho
- Commissioner Tom Burroughs — Wyandotte County, Kansas (Kansas City)
- Councilmember Cassie Armstrong —Louisville, Kentucky
- Councilmember Maggie Duwe — Kirkwood, Missouri
- Mayor Robyn Tannehill — Oxford, Mississippi
- Councilmember Denise Joy — Billings, Montana
- Councilmember Mirtha Becerra — Missoula, Montana
- Councilmember Alexandra Jacobs Wilke — Potsdam, New York
- Councilmember Mitch Gruber — Rochester, New York
- Councilmember Sam Melden — Toledo, Ohio
- Councilmember Allison Terracio – Richland County, South Carolina
- Councilmember Sallie Alcorn — Houston, Texas
- Mayor Steve Williams — Huntington, West Virginia
The article that announces the participants includes more on the benefits of complete streets at a time when fatality rates have spiked even as fewer people stay off the roads during a pandemic. Complete streets address multiple crises at once, according to the article:
Safer streets that anyone can use provide more space for socially distanced and affordable transportation options during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. They can help us reduce emissions and fight climate change by making it possible for more people to walk, bike, or take transit. They can save thousands of lives each year by reducing the growing number of people who are struck and killed while walking on dangerous roads. And they can help us create more equitable public spaces by ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can access our streets.
FULL STORY: 21 elected officials selected to champion Active People, Healthy Nation in communities across the country

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie