SB 62 will ensure Maryland’s transportation investments are aligned with state policy goals and that funding decisions are transparent and data driven.
Category: Climate change & energy
Testimony: Support for Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026 (MD)
The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act would advance cleaner and more affordable transportation options, while making smart use of our limited public dollars. SB 59 provides a toolkit to evaluate planned transportation investments early on, and, if needed, make improvements to them by giving communities more options to connect residents to jobs and services than driving, while providing accountability on the state’s climate goals.
Support 3 key reforms for better Maryland transportation
A transportation trifecta is moving through the MD General Assembly: more climate-friendly projects, more options than driving, and more homes and businesses near transit. Send an email to make sure these three bills get passed!
Testimony: Support for Board of Public Works Contract Review – Climate and Sustainability Information (MD)
The Coalition for Smarter Growth supports SB116 Board of Public Works, Contract Review, Climate & Sustainability Information.
SB116 will ensure that Maryland’s capital investment and procurement decisions are informed by how well they support the state’s climate change goals.
Eight things you can do now to protect our climate
While we hope for international progress at the Brazil summit or look forward to a more climate-friendly U.S. Congress next year, we can score climate wins right here with your help.
CSG primer: Visualize 2050, our region’s 25-year transportation plan
The draft Visualize 2050 plan, our region’s long-range transportation plan, has too many highway and arterial road expansions that will increase driving and climate emissions. We will miss our region’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 – even if there’s a rapid switch to electric vehicles.
Get informed so you can take action on key decisions this fall:
- Upcoming key vote on flawed 495 Southside Express Lanes project
- Comment period on failing status quo Visualize plan
Source: TPB, with annotations by the Coalition for Smarter Growth
Background on Visualize 2050
- Visualize 2050 is our region’s long-range transportation plan, prepared by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), a regional body overseen by our local and state officials and transportation agencies.
- CSG background article
- From March 2024, on draft project list that is now being presented for final approval this fall along with its performance results.
- 48 organizations criticized the previous plan, Visualize 2045 with very similar projects Letter by 48 regional organizations on Visualize 2045 (May 2022)
495 Southside Express Lanes Project
- The TPB board will vote in October on whether or not to include the Virginia Department of Transportation’s flawed highway expansion project in the final plan.
- Background on the project’s flaws, questions that VDOT has not answered, and better alternatives that need to be studied and advanced.
Stay tuned for actions you can take this fall!
- Be on the lookout for CSG action alerts in September and October ahead of the TPB vote on the 495 Southside Express Lanes project.
- Formal public comment on the entire draft Visualize 2050 plan will take place in late October through mid-November. CSG will provide a more in-depth overview of the draft plan – stay tuned.
RELEASE: Maryland House passes Transportation and Climate Alignment Act
On Monday, the Maryland House of Delegates passed the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (TCA), HB 836, introduced by Delegate Mark Edelson (46th District). This timely legislation will cut pollution from Maryland’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation sector, while helping expand transportation options for residents and workers. The House passed the TCA by an overwhelming majority, and it will now be considered by the Senate.
Testimony: Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2024 (MD, Support)
The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act will ensure Maryland’s transportation investments are aligned with its climate change mitigation goals and provide numerous benefits to the state’s residents, workers and communities.
Letter: Recommendations for TPB greenhouse gas reduction strategy implementation study
CSG is glad to see this study is finally proceeding and its consideration of additional promising strategies. Here we offer our recommendations on strategies for TPB and its consultant to consider.
Testimony: Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2024 (MD, Support)
The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act will ensure Maryland’s transportation investments are aligned with its climate change mitigation goals and provide numerous benefits to the state’s residents, workers and communities.