Letter to Secretary Connaughton and the Commonwealth Transportation Board
Letter expressing concerns about the Tri-County Parkway, as well as the proposed north-south corridor in Northern Virginia as a Corridor of Statewide Significance.
Letter to Secretary Connaughton and the Commonwealth Transportation Board
Letter expressing concerns about the Tri-County Parkway, as well as the proposed north-south corridor in Northern Virginia as a Corridor of Statewide Significance.
Our position on HB 1001 is derived first from the Transportation for Maryland principles which call for smarter investments of our limited transportation funds. We believe that before we can ask Marylanders to pay more, we must ensure that we know our money will be used wisely. The proposed bill does not address how proposed increased revenues will be used. We need assurance that the new funding will be used to meet the state’s most urgent needs such as maintenance and support smart growth outcomes. Simply putting more towards money the existing list of transportation projects will not achieve this goal, nor will we ever have unlimited money to maintain our existing transportation system and build new facilities to support our community and economic development objectives. We must choose wisely.
Over the last few years, DDOT has tremendously progressed as an agency. Beginning with the formation of DDOT under Dan Tangherlini in the Williams Administration, the Department is evolving into a 21st century agency addressing the problems and needs of a growing, multimodal city. Rather than being stuck in an old mindset that focused on speeding cars in and out of downtown and through our neighborhoods, DDOT has worked to build a more robust, multimodal transportation network that includes not only motor vehicles, but better transit, safer walking, innovative bicycle facilities, carsharing, and Capital Bikeshare in all 8 wards of the city. DDOT has also made advances in transportation demand management (TDM) and parking management. Over the last few years, we have made great progress towards a city that offers better and safer transportation choices, and travel options that reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. We applaud this progress and look forward to working with the Gray Administration and this Council to take our transportation system to sustain these gains and advance to the next level.
I have dealt extensively with the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development in land dispositions and the implemenation of Inclusionary Zoning. I would like to offer a number of comments focused on the process of public land dispositions. I was deeply involved in the process to give a parcel to a private developer in downtown Ward 7 at Minnesota Ave. and Benning Road and have been involved in others to a lesser degree.
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I am speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, a regional nonprofit based in DC. I would like to express my support for the good work of the Office of Planning. In addition to diligent work on small area plans and development review, the Office of Planning’s major effort to revise and update our outmoded, 1950s zoning code is coming to completion this year. I have appreciated how DCOP has engaged the public through working groups, and provided us with new research and analysis to support a robust discussion. OP’s detailed assessment and proposed code revisions will help us fulfill the 2006 Comprehensive Plan vision to build a sustainable, inclusive city.
Transportation advocates call on elected officials to make wiser transportation investments before asking Maryland residents to pay more.
A fact sheet comparing 2009 traffic volumes on Route 460 against other roadways in Virginia, using VDOT’s traffic volume data. The data demonstrates that traffic is not projected to increase by an amount that warrants the cost and risk of this project.
With 15 Metro stations offering ample room for new businesses, housing and public spaces, Prince George’s has all the right ingredients for transit-oriented development (TOD) to create mixed-use, walkable, and vibrant communities. Join us to learn how the county can take full advantage of all its opportunities as the market for TOD continues to grow. TOD is commonly defined as higher-density, mixed-use development within walking distance of transit stations.
A plan for designing a vibrant community near the Capitol Heights Metro station. This presentation outlines the core principles of smart urban design, including how to put a better face on big box stores and encourage walkable living through mixed-use development.
A map depicting opportunities for revitalization, transit and development in Fairfax.
Join us for our annual Smart Growth Social on October 21 at Eastern Market, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. for networking and inspiration!