External link: http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/madison_county_sgia_071015.pdf
Publication date: August 1, 2015
Capsule summary: This report documents the development of a smart growth assessment tool for rural communities, designed by the EPA and tested in Madison County.
Author(s): Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable Communities, Smart Growth Program
Publisher(s): Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable Communities
Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
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Definition: Examining the use of performance-based planning methods and their outcomes
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Definition: Examining the environmental impacts of transportation
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Definition: A federally funded transportation policy-making organization, comprised of local government representatives and transportation authorities
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Description: As smart growth has emerged as a popular and effective strategy for economic growth, implementation strategies for rural communities have become an area of interest for research. This study developed an assessment tool for rural communities to evaluate their development strategies and recommend improvements based on their goals. The tool provides insights into a broad range of topic areas and is useful for rural communities with various characteristics and needs.
Objectives: The objective of this research is to facilitate smart growth implementation as a means for achieving community goals. The project developed a Smart Growth Self-Assessment tool for rural communities, which practitioners can use to evaluate whether their current practices meet community goals and prioritize strategies. The tool was tested in Madison County, and the report includes a case study from Dryden, a small town in New York where strategies similar to those proposed by the tool have been implemented.
Findings: The policies implemented in Dryden illustrated the benefits of smart growth in rural communities. The self-assessment tool meets critical needs for planners in rural communities with limited resources, and facilitates implementation of smart growth, providing a method by which rural communities can experience the economic benefits of smart growth. The tool helps practitioners identify strengths and potential improvements to their policies, allowing effective prioritization of strategies for development based on the context of their community.
Recommendations: Use of the Smart Growth Self-Assessment for Rural Communities can be beneficial in selecting economic development strategies that meet areas of improvement in individual communities. The tool meets a broad range of needs and can help rural communities access the economic benefits of smart growth policies.
Research Theme: Environment, Performance-Based Planning, Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit
Community Type: Rural
Transportation Mode:
Planning Scope:
Organization Type: County, MPO or RPO
Planning Subject: Evaluation, Evaluation and Assessment, Facility or Land Use, Sustainable Transportation, Transportation Planning