More commuters are moving from roads to rails, according to new census data that show public transportation use up across the region. About 37.5 percent of D.C. residents use public transportation to get to work, compared with 42 percent who drive, according to the 2007-2011 average released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. In 1999, 33.2 percent took public transit and 49.4 percent drove. Montgomery and Arlington counties experienced similar jumps. The percentage of Montgomery residents taking public transit to work rose from 12.6 in 1999 to 15.2 in the latest census data, while Arlington residents went from 23.3 percent to 27.7 percent over the same time period. The largest percentage-point increase, however, was in Prince George’s County. While commuters there still largely favor the car — 76.7 percent drive to work — public transit rose to 17.6 percent from 11.9 percent in 1999.
Category: Resources
Getting Transit-Oriented Development Right
On December 5, we gathered with the Envision Prince George’s Community Action Team for Transit-Oriented Development to learn from Stewart Schwartz, Chuck Boyd, and Shyam Kannan about best practices in getting TOD right in Prince George’s County and beyond.
Status Report: Northern Virginia Bi-County Parkway and North South Corridor of Statewide Significance
The General Assembly of Virginia directed the Commonwealth Transportation Board, with assistance from the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, to conduct a comprehensive review of transportation needs in corridors of statewide significance and regional networks.
Key Parking Policy Reforms Worth Talking About in D.C.
A fact sheet detailing three important parking reform policies that would benefit D.C.
Testimony to D.C. Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force
Please accept these comments in addition to my oral testimony at the Oct. 22 hearing on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. We are a regional organization based in the District of Columbia focused on ensuring transportation and development decisions are made with genuine community involvement and accommodate growth while revitalizing communities, providing more housing and travel choices, and conserving our natural and historic areas.
Connaughton’s Study is Part of Push for New Potomac Bridges
Today, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Connaughton issued a press release announcing a study of traffic across the Potomac. While seemingly an innocuous study, the Secretary’s intention — based on the news last spring that Governor McDonnell and Secretary Connaughton had been pressing Governor O’Malley and his staff on new Potomac River Bridges — is certainly to pursue new upriver bridges.
Testimony on Babe’s Billiards Redevelopment in Tenleytown
The Coalition for Smarter Growth strongly supports this application. The site has sat vacant for many years and is one of the broken teeth of the streetscape along Wisconsin Avenue that mars the pedestrian experience. We welcome this thoughtful redevelopment and appropriate mix of uses to contribute to a better Wisconsin Avenue and Tenleytown neighborhood.
Remarks to Fairfax Bike Summit
I am absolutely inspired by today’s event and by the amazing presentations we’ve seen and heard! Collectively today’s speakers have covered a wide range of issues including “complete streets,” bike-sharing, Safe Routes to School, and transforming the suburbs. This summit has highlighted…
Public Land for Public Good
The report chronicles how the District of Columbia has used the redevelopment of public land to provide affordable housing and other benefits.
Highlighting the significant accomplishments the District has made in creating affordable housing and integrating it into larger mixed-use development, the report also details areas needing improvement. Most importantly, the assessment points to recent reduced expectations in the level of affordability in future projects. The report calls for the District to recommit to making the most of affordable housing opportunities in public land redevelopment deals, as the District seeks to build a more inclusive city as housing prices rise and more affluent residents move in.
Walking and Water in Merrifield/Dunn Loring
We learned about the ins-and-outs of stormwater runoff and stream health by surveying Long Branch Creek on the fall walking tour. We also checked out some of the area’s new transit-oriented development, and talk about ever-present issues of pedestrian and bicycle safety. Plus, we had a great group of speakers that is sure to make this tour an excellent way to spend a fall morning.