In my work with Lafayette, I had shared with me a nice supplementary approach from the city of Suwanee, Georgia, that can be used while a full accounting is being done. It is a scoring matrix that does a rough -- but very smart -- scoring in a true Strong Towns spirit. 

Engineer and shared-space designer Ben Hamilton-Baillie returns to the podcast to talk about how to get started with building shared space, the chances of success in the United States and some memories of his father, a World War II veteran who lead and assisted a number of escapes from German prisoner-of-war camps.

Last week I shared on our social media feeds a story from The Week titled, It's time to abolish the Interstate Highway System, by Evan Jenkins. It was a bad headline -- the article doesn't suggest we go out and tear down the interstates but that we shift the way we fund it -- but most writers don't get to pick their own headlines. 

I read your blogs regarding cities being primarily sales tax funded. My question is how do you move away from that model? Given the property tax nose dive in our area in 2008 is property tax really a viable alternative? Are there other options? Thanks! 

Strong Towns member and Senior Planner at the city of Hutto, Texas, Erika Ragsdale, needed to share some complex information on the productivity of different development patterns in her fast-growing community. Here is what she came up with.

This has been a really amazing week. What started out with my desire to share the stories of some of our members with you became one of the more enjoyable things I’ve been able to do this year. If you’ve not had a chance, check out each of these short interviews and be blown away by the broad group of people that find a common cause in Strong Towns. I want to do more of these in 2015 and maybe even make it a regular feature, it was that good.

Hans Noeldner - energy and environmental activist - talks about winter biking, transportation as a social justice issue and getting started living a Strong Towns life.

Mike Christensen, graduate student at the University of Utah, talks about meeting Chuck at CNU, working as a GIS professional and connecting with people on social meeting.

Gracen Johnson - Place Activator from New Brunswick - talks about promoting good ideas, working with Strong Towns and how worms have brought her closer to her neighbors.

Michael McGinn -- attorney, neighborhood activist and former Mayor of Seattle -- talks about his journey from bike riding dad to mayor and the power of a Strong Towns approach to improve the financial and environmental health of a community.

John Reuter, Executive Director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, talks about how the Strong Towns message can help with conservation and how well it resonates in small towns.

Kerry Hayes, Public Relations Director at Doug Carpenter and Associates in Memphis, Tennessee, talks about his neighborhood and the influence that Strong Towns has had on the local conversation.

Erika Ragsdale, Senior Planner with the city of Hutto, Texas, talks about her fast-growing city and how the Strong Towns fiscal message resonates with local leaders.

Strong Towns Executive Director -- and member -- Jim Kumon reflects on the 18 months since he signed up, the National Gathering and what he sees in the future for the organization.

Strong Towns member and new board member Andrew Burleson from Raleigh, North Carolina, talks about why he is a member of Strong Towns and what he sees for the future of the organization.