In 2004, SGA commissioned the first survey examining neighborhood preferences among Americans, finding that almost 50% of households prefer transit accessibility and commercial proximity. In a 2005 report detailing the interconnection between inner ring suburbs and metropolitan growth, SGA defines smart growth as follows:
Smart growth is well-planned development that protects open space and farmland, revitalizes communities, keeps housing affordable and provides more transportation choices.
In a 2006 study examining the transportation benefits associated with smart growth policies, SGA:
Estimates that 69 percent of increased traffic can be attributed to factors associated with sprawl.
Programs
Governors' Institute on Community Design
In 2005, The National Endowment for the Arts facilitated the creation of the Governors' Institute on Community Design, which was based on the Mayors' Institute on City Design and ran through a partnership between Smart Growth America and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Governors' Institute on Community Design aids state governments on promoting sustainable community development which can foster social and economic growth.
LOCUS
In 2008, SGA launched LOCUS, an alliance for promoting sustainable urban development in the United States. LOCUS is a national network of real estate developers who launched the Rebuild America's Neighborhoods Campaign, promoting investment towards equitable and green urban development projects.
In 2008, SGA, Reconnecting America, and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership started a Transportation for America campaign aiming to reform the federal transportation law. Transportation for America advocates for a transportation system that emphasizes maintenance, implements safety designs, and unites the public.
In 2012, Smart Growth America the National Complete Streets Coalition, which advocates for safe and convenient transportation access. The coalition is composed of policy organizations, including the American Planning Association, and user groups, including America Bikes. By 2011, 125 jurisdictions across 38 states had implemented a Complete Streets policy.
State Smart Transportation Initiative
SGA co-operates, alongside the University of Wisconsin, the State Smart Transportation Initiative. SSTI encourages environmentally sustainable transportation fostering economic development, while maintaining governmental transparency.
Form-Based Code Institute strives to improve the general understanding of form-based codes through creating standards, offering educational programs, and fostering discussions. In a 2016 report about new urbanism in North Texas, FBCI advocated for the importance of form based codes in regulating physical development, rather than zoning areas by their usages.
