Smart cities: why now?
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Bus-Stop-at-Main-near-Broadway-e1558378547815.jpg)
The US Department of Transportation’s Smart Cities Challenge was just the latest event to expose the growing interest for cities using technological solutions to solve pressing transportation problems like reducing transportation costs while also making it easier to get around, making housing more affordable and ensuring that low-income residents benefit from our increasingly prosperous cities.
Webinar wrap: How MPOs are prioritizing public health to build prosperous regions
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Promo-Graphic-Web.jpg)
Last week, we had a discussion detailing how public health professionals are working with regional transportation planners to plan, fund, and support building more state of the art active transportation projects — accompanying the release of Measuring What We Value: Prioritizing Public Health to Build Prosperous Regions.
Register by September 30th for Capital Ideas & enter drawing to have your registration refunded
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Capital-Ideas-banner-sacramento-promo.jpg)
Capital Ideas, coming up on November 16-17, is the best place to hear from the local & state leaders, state DOT executives, smart cities & technology experts and others who are in the trenches in the push to make smart reforms to state transportation policies, investment decisions and funding packages.
Webinar wrap: How artist-in-residence programs can embed creativity in city agencies
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/creative-placemaking-webinar.jpg)
The second webinar in our series further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development was a terrific discussion of two cities’ artist-in-residence programs.
Measuring what we value: Prioritizing public health to build prosperous regions
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Promo-Graphic-Web.jpg)
A new package of case studies released today by T4America, in partnership with the American Public Health Association, showcases a range of strategies that metro area planning agencies can use to strengthen the local economy, improve public health outcomes for all of their residents, promote social equity and better protect the environment.
Transportation for America’s long-tenured director tapped to lead the Sacramento Area Council of Governments
![press release](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Press-release-featured3.png)
After more than eight years as the director of Transportation for America, the only national non-profit coalition dedicated to smart, homegrown, locally-driven transportation solutions, James Corless has been selected by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) to become the agency’s new chief executive officer beginning in the spring of 2017.
Now hiring: Economic Analyst
![Jobs](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jobs-featured.png)
Smart Growth America seeks a skilled, experienced Economic Analyst to conduct technical and quantitative analyses regarding a wide variety of issues associated with the built environment and transportation, including economics, real estate, social equity, and the environment.
An overwhelming number of cities applied to join our smart cities collaborative
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/smart-phone-transit.jpg)
Nearly 60 local governments from 31 states applied to join our collaborative for smart cities, including nearly half of the cities that entered USDOT’s Smart City Challenge. Applications closed two weeks ago — so what’s next?
Metropolitan planning for healthier, safer, more prosperous regions
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/24986492294_e34d926e80_o.jpg)
How can the planning agencies in metro areas strengthen the local economy, improve public health outcomes for all of their residents, promote social equity and better protect the environment? Join us for the story of how a handful of metro areas have found smart, data-driven ways to better conceive, select and build the transportation projects to better meet those regional goals.
How can cities embed creativity through artist-in-residence programs?
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/6858612077_1429297229_b.jpg)
Join us for the second webinar in our series further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development, as we discuss two cities’ artist-in-residence programs.
State legislative stalemate jeopardizing millions in federal transit funding for Minneapolis rail project
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Green-line-opening.jpg)
Business leaders and suburban mayors in the Twin Cities are pleading with state legislators not to throw away dedicated federal funding for a long-planned regional transit expansion by dropping the state’s financial commitment.
What does it mean to be a smart city?
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Oregon-DOT-real-time-interstate-travel-times.jpg)
What does it mean to be a smart city? Though the definition is certainly evolving and will continue to do so, it’s important for municipal leaders and advocates in aspiring smart cities to begin developing a good answer to this basic question.
Now Hiring: Communications Intern (paid)
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/t4-logo-featured.png)
Transportation for America is hiring a paid Communications Intern to produce and write compelling stories and content, help manage our website and social media channels; and contribute to our grassroots advocacy and media work focusing on smart investments in transportation.
USDOT faces widespread opposition to proposed congestion rule
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Champaign-Urbana.jpg)
Nearly 5,000 individuals and 150 organizations — including dozens of local chambers of commerce and elected officials — joined with T4America to oppose USDOT’s flawed proposal for measuring traffic congestion and urge them to rethink their approach.
Proposed federal rules for measuring and addressing congestion in states and metro areas generate widespread opposition
![press release](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Press-release-featured3.png)
Led by Smart Growth America (SGA), Transportation for America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, a broad coalition of business groups, local elected leaders, national and local organizations and thousands of individuals filed formal comments last week urging USDOT not to incentivize transportation projects that would punish cities investing in public transportation, treat main streets like highways, ignore the needs of people walking or biking, and push local communities of all sizes to waste billions of dollars in vain attempts to build their way out of congestion.
Time is running out to tell USDOT to measure more than just vehicles
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nashville-congestion-comparison-2.jpg)
These two streets are very different. Why does the U.S. Department of Transportation want to measure their success the same way?
Applications are open for T4America’s smart city collaborative
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/sidewalk-lab-music.jpg)
Today, Transportation for America opened the application process for our national, multi-city collaborative with Sidewalk Labs. This partnership, announced back on June 1st, will help cities use technology to meet their pressing transportation challenges.
How can the arts and design help neighbors envision the future?
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/creative-placemaking-featured.png)
Developing an inclusive vision for a community’s future is challenging work and it frequently suffers from not including enough voices. What role can artists and designers play in improving the visioning process? Join us for the first in a new series of webinars further exploring the role of arts and culture in transportation planning and community development.
A large congressional delegation asks USDOT to improve the proposed congestion rule
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Congestion-Buses-2.jpg)
Earlier this week, a large group of senators and representatives sent a letter to USDOT Secretary Foxx, requesting that USDOT change a flawed proposed rule for measuring congestion. They asked that USDOT assess the movement of people, rather than vehicles, as a better measure of congestion and reward the improvements that can come from transit, toll lanes, or encouraging travelers to choose other options like walking or biking.
How best to stitch a community back together divided by an interstate?
![](https://t4america.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DSC_6443.jpg)
USDOT is in the midst of a new initiative to address some of damage created by interstates driven through the heart of urban areas. Last week a group of experts traveled to Nashville to discuss ways to repair the damage inflicted upon a part of North Nashville by a segment of Interstate 40.