- an incentive structure that directs development toward Metro stations and discourages scattered, auto-dependent development in greenfields.
- a regional traffic test that measures the "vehicle miles traveled" ("VMT") induced by new development and favors those developments that induce the lowest VMT per capita;
- a local traffic test that measures the vehicle trips induced by new development and favors those developments that minimize the total number of daily vehicle trips per capita;
- parking policies that include cost- and demand-based pricing, separate costs for parking and homes or offices; and sharing of spaces between uses, so that fewer parking spaces are needed in new buildings near Metro stations and the number of new parking spaces can be limited to what is really needed. Too much free or cheap parking is a major traffic attractor.
The County Council recently re-imposed a growth policy which could have the opposite effect from what was intended. Instead of easing traffic congestion and guiding growth to transit-accessible places, the policy could lead to major road widening and more scattered development - not to mention less safe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. CSG is working with the County to make sure the policy supports well-designed transit-oriented development and more transportation choices.
We are working with partners in Montgomery County to establish: