The Hesitancy of Western Massachusetts to Address Traffic Deaths Is a Warning to All

Cities in Massachusetts are among the most walkable in the U.S., so why is progress for safer streets there so maddeningly slow?

Marohn, Trending, Top StoryCharles MarohnNovember 6, 2023safe and productive streets, california, massachusetts, safety, Street Design

Your City Uses the Sales Tax. What Now?

A city may not be able to change from a sales tax system to a different approach—it might be stuck with what the state allows—but that doesn’t make them helpless to overcome the challenges the sales tax presents.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnOctober 2, 2023sales tax, taxes, local economy

Checking My Bias on Automated Traffic Enforcement

We ran an article and a podcast about speed cameras, and got some thought-provoking responses in return from readers and listeners. Here’s one in particular that grabbed our attention.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnSeptember 25, 2023enforcement, traffic engineering, safe and productive streets

Speed Cameras Are Not the Answer

Speed cameras are not even part of a solution to street safety. They are a dead end.

Marohn, Trending, Top StoryCharles MarohnSeptember 18, 2023safe and productive streets, traffic engineering, enforcement, speeding, safety

Reconstructing the Street? Move the Curb!

If your city is doing a street reconstruction project that involves replacing the curb, then don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do a something majorly transformative…by simply moving the curb.

Marohn, Trending, Top StoryCharles MarohnSeptember 11, 2023safe and productive streets, maintenance, Street Design, narrow streets

Lessons on Scarcity and Abundance

For policymakers in Arizona, managing limited water supplies seems like it should be an obsession. So…why isn’t it?

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnSeptember 5, 2023Arizona, europe, resource, water

ODOT: You Need To Fund Portland’s Billion Bollards Club

A billion bollards! That’s what we called for back in 2021—and one Strong Towns Local Conversation is answering the call. Now the Oregon Department of Transportation just needs to get onboard.

Four Communities Are Becoming Examples of Change

This week on the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck talks about the Community Action Lab, and some of the experiences, conversations, and insights he’s gained while working with the four participating communities.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsJuly 12, 2023podcast, Community Action Lab

Why Private Wealth Should Lead Public Investment

In today’s cities, governments sink millions of dollars into public investments before securing any taxable private wealth to fund said investments. This is a financial risk we can’t afford to continue taking on.

Why Cities are Flying Blind When It Comes to Their Own Debt

For local governments, it’s often easier to let the tangled web of debt at the heart of the budget go unexplored. In cities reliant on sales tax, these problems are only magnified.

From 500 to 5,000: What Strong Towns Members Are Doing to Make Their Places Better

500 Strong Towns members were at the recent National Gathering, and we got the opportunity to tell them in person what amazing work they’re doing. If you couldn’t make it, here’s what you missed.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 12, 2023podcast, National Gathering, member week

Dollar Stores Are Leeching the Economic Vitality of Communities Across the U.S.

The Family Dollar system operates more stores than McDonald’s, Starbucks, Target, and Walmart combined. And that’s not good news for your community.

Ian Lockwood: Thoughts From an Engineer

How should engineers be thinking about building wealth in communities? That’s just one of the questions Chuck Marohn asks of Ian Lockwood, a recognized national leader in sustainable transportation policy and urban design.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 1, 2023podcast, engineers, transportation, safe and productive streets

No City Should Rely Primarily on a Sales Tax for Funding

At a glance, the sales tax is a nearly invisible revenue source that is also a cash cow. Yet, for local governments, it is the most distorting of taxes. Here’s why.

Award-Winning Complete Street Just Another Deadly Stroad

Agar Road in Hyattsville, MD, has been lauded as a successful "Complete Street." But this so-called Complete Street is, in reality, completely dangerous—and a woman has lost her life because of it.

What’s Going On With the Recent Bank Failures?

In this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck Marohn talks about the financial system, and provides insights on what’s currently happening in the banking industry.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsApril 3, 2023podcast, banks, finance, Inflation, Economy

We Can Have Both More Housing and Good Urban Form

It’s not difficult to have good urban design, the kind that respects neighbors and the neighborhoods they live in. It’s actually a lot less work than the processes we use to administer the suburban zoning codes we have today.