Building on the successes of the Maryland Complete Streets Leadership Academy (CSLA) and the 2023 Academies held in Alaska, California, Connecticut, and Tennessee, Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition launched their 2025 Complete Streets Leadership Academy in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Transportation. This national initiative equips state departments of transportation and local agencies with the tools to enhance safety on state-owned roadways through quick-build projects. Designed as a foundational program, it empowers participants to collaborate, innovate, and commit to transformative changes that address road safety and create activity-friendly communities.

Urbe Studio is supporging Smart Growth America as a subject matter expert, working closely with a Kentucky-based cohort that includes the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and three local communities: Bowling Green, Morehead, and Winchester.

The program’s curriculum features:

• Virtual capacity-building sessions to establish baseline knowledge and project goals.

• An in-person two-day workshop focused on hands-on project development, stakeholder alignment, and real-time problem-solving.

• Technical assistance for planning and executing quick-build demonstration projects that prioritize multimodal safety and community engagement.

KYTC selected these cities based on need, previously expressed interest in quick-build projects, and population size, to focus on small and mid-sized cities. These teams are working to design, implement, and assess the impact of quick-build projects while learning about innovative Complete Streets strategies.

As part of the team, Urbe Studio is co-developing and facilitating virtual training modules, supporting project scoping, and leading sessions during the workshop. Our role emphasizes place-based design, safety, and livability, leveraging quick-build and creative placemaking strategies to align local needs with Complete Streets principles.

Ongoing coaching and support include site selection, stakeholder coordination, and strategy refinement, ensuring that projects are both impactful and sustainable. Project completion is anticipated by summer 2025.

For more information about this program: https://smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets-leadership-academies-report/