In advance of the December 14 meeting of the WMATA board, a coalition of non-profit groups organized under the “Fund Metro!” banner are calling on Governor Moore, Governor Youngkin, Mayor Bowser, our legislators and our local elected officials to put transit first. For Metro that means paying 100% of the operating gap remaining after WMATA’s $100 million in cost savings and no shift of capital funds to operations.
Category: Regional and Federal
Joint WABA-CSG letter on Increasing Road Fatalities and Visualize 2050
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) – two of the region’s leading advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities – respectfully write to provide comment on the ongoing and disturbing traffic fatality and serious injury trends highlighted by TPB staff in their draft Annual Regional Transit and Highway Safety Targets report and presentation.
TPB Nov 2023 Board Comments
We ask TPB members to make safety investments for vulnerable road users a higher priority in your Visualize 2050 project submissions and in your local plans, budgets, and project designs. Please see our joint letter with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association in the meeting packet.
We need your help to save Metro!
Failure to fund Metro cannot be an option! It’s the backbone of our region’s economy, access to jobs and opportunity, and key to reducing driving and climate emissions. That’s why we plan to muster our coalition partners, rally the public, and press elected officials – and I hope you’ll help by supporting our work.
State Carbon Reduction Strategies need to incorporate TPB climate goals, findings & strategies
At the Oct. 18 TPB meeting, state DOT’s will brief you on their draft Carbon Reduction Strategies. The states are required to consult with TPB on these plans before they submit them to the federal government next month. The Coalition for Smarter Growth encourages TPB members to closely review and provide feedback on these strategies.
CSG in the News: Metro’s Financial Crisis Demands Leadership from D.C. But the Prospect of New Taxes is Making Politicians Skittish.
“I think they’re frustrated with having to lead the way, but I do think it is so much easier for the District to lead on this,” says Stewart Schwartz, the executive director of the influential Coalition for Smarter Growth and a veteran of many Metro funding debates.
CSG in the News: Metro Says It Needs More State Funding To Avoid Drastic Service Cuts And Layoffs
Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the transit advocacy non-profit Coalition for Smarter Growth, says it’s “concerning” that the agency may have to rely more on capital budget funds to reduce the deficit.
Event Materials: CSG & WMATA webinar on the Visionary Bus Network
With your input, Metro has created a draft Visionary Network, the future bus network the region needs. This virtual “Lunch and Learn” webinar is a great opportunity to hear from project leaders from the Better Bus team and learn about all the ways you can give your feedback!
Join us for Smart Growth Social!
Smart Growth Social is back and better than ever! Join us at Eastern Market for an evening of celebration, community, food, and fun featuring special guest speaker David Zipper. Don’t miss out — get your ticket today!
CSG in the News: How Washington region leaders can score a transit touchdown for the ages (Hint: it’s not funding a stadium)
We haven’t heard proposals from our elected officials yet on how they will close the Metro funding gap, but we have heard a lot from them about the Commanders. Which public investment should our leaders prioritize?
The Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) crunched the numbers and found that saving the Metro system (rail, bus, and paratransit) would cost less than one-tenth per user compared to the public subsidies proposed for a new Commanders stadium.