Category: Testimony & Letters

Open Streets Letter to Montgomery County Officials

Posted on by Emily Maurer
Open-Streets-Letter-FINALDownload

May 9, 2020

To: The Honorable Marc Elrich

Montgomery County Executive

101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor

Rockville, MD 20850

Mr. Michael Riley, Director

Montgomery County Department of Parks

9500 Brunett Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20901

Re: Opening Streets to Pedestrians/Cyclists and Closing them to Vehicles    

Executive Elrich, Mr. Riley and Members of Council:

We would first like to express our gratitude for the County’s recent opening of some streets within its parks system to pedestrians/cyclists and to close those road segments to cars. We urge you to consider expanding this “open streets” concept to address the needs of citizens during the COVID-19 lockdown.

We appreciate how hard it is to manage public spaces during the recent global pandemic. Around the world, park managers and elected officials have struggled to find the right balance between public access to open space and public health and safety concerns. We welcome Montgomery Parks’s decision to open parts of Sligo Creek Parkway, Beach Drive and Little Falls Parkway to people on foot and bicycles during April of this year. Exercise is essential to maintain a strong immune system, and many people lack a yard or outdoor private space where they can run and play or bike. It is also essential for people to get sunshine, Vitamin D, fresh air and a change of scenery. Getting out of one’s home, especially if one’s living space is small, is also vital for mental health.

In the weeks since those park-adjacent streets were opened to people three days a week, the public has generally followed public health recommendations and used the extra space to spread out from one another and stay six feet apart. We also note that response to the street openings has been overwhelmingly positive.

Given that COVID-19 and its related social distancing may be with us for a prolonged period, we would like to ask that the county expand the open streets concept.

Specifically, we would like to ask for the following:

1)  That the Montgomery County Parks Department to confirm that the three roads will continue to be open to non-vehicular traffic for the duration of the pandemic. The original announcement was only for April.

2) Allow for more hours of open street time each week.  Currently, those are open to pedestrians and cyclists each Friday through Sunday from 9am-6pm.  We request that they be open all day, seven days a week during the pandemic

3) That the entire length of Sligo Creek Parkway – from New Hampshire Avenue to University Avenue – be open for non-vehicular traffic on the open street days. We would also like to have Beach evaluated for a longer span of closure. Currently there are gaps in the closures, even on “closed” weekend days, despite the fact that adjacent neighborhoods can be accessed from other entrance points/arteries. This should not be a concern given the lockdown dictates that no one should be driving unless it is deemed essential.

4) We understand that the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (DOT) and Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) is currently evaluating closing to through traffic some of the designated “Neighborhood Greenways” as listed in the county’s Bicycle Master Plan. These closures to vehicles could be part of a special event, one that connects several neighborhoods as a long, one-day-only walk or ride that would still honor social distancing but provide people with a way to exercise safely, away from high speed traffic. Or, closures could be done on some regularly scheduled basis, such as once a month or each Sunday during COVID lockdown.

4) DOT and MCPPC should consider “hybrid” solutions to meeting the need of the public not near any of the larger parkways currently being closed off.  These solutions would provide for more access to the outdoors so that social distancing during exercising, as well as social interaction are feasible for all. In the time of COVID we all want to discourage congregating, but neighborhoods could ask to have some streets made into bike and pedestrian-only routes for exercise with social distancing. Permits could be applied for, and citizens would be the ones to close off the streets during particular days and hours, just as they do during block parties.

We appreciate your time and consideration of these requests and look forward to working with you on implementing workable scenarios that will help residents in the most crowded parts of the county stay healthy during COVID lockdown.

Sincerely,

Paul Goldman, President, Action Committee for Transit

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth

Alison Gillespie, President, Forest Estates Community Association

Kristy Daphnis, Chair, Pedestrian Bicycle Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

Peter Gray, Vice President, Board of Directors, Washington Area Bicyclist Association

cc: Montgomery County Council

Open Streets Letter to MD SHA

Posted on by Emily Maurer
Open-Streets-Letter-Slater_SHA-May-20-2020Download

May 20, 2020 

To: Greg Slater 

Maryland Secretary of Transportation

7201 Corporate Center Drive

Hanover, Maryland 21076 

Mr. Tim Smith, Administrator

Maryland State Highway Administration

707 North Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202 

Re: Opening Streets to Pedestrians/Cyclists and Closing them to Vehicles 

Secretary Slater and Administrator Smith: 

We urge you to consider implementing an “open streets” concept under which SHA would partially close certain State Roads to address the needs of citizens during the COVID-19 lockdown. This concept was noted in an April 8, 2020 Q&A session with Secretary Slater and Maryland Advocates For Sustainable Transportation . In that session, Secretary Slater acknowledged the possibility of an “open streets” implementation on some State roads as long as the neighboring households and businesses were consulted. 

We appreciate how hard it is to manage public spaces during the recent global pandemic. Around the world, state agency managers and elected officials have struggled to find the right balance between public access to open space and public health and safety concerns. Such strategies have been implemented in Bogata, Columbia; Paris, France; Oakland, CA; and other places around the World. Closer to home, in Maryland, we applaud Montgomery Parks’s decision to open parts of Sligo Creek Parkway, Beach Drive and Little Falls Parkway to people on foot and bicycles during April of this year. 

Exercise is essential to maintain a strong immune system, and many people lack a yard or outdoor private space where they can run and play or bike. It is also essential for people to get sunshine, Vitamin D, fresh air and a change of scenery. Getting out of one’s home, especially if one’s living space is small, is also vital for mental health. Additionally, having such safe space on our State roads for using alternatives to cars in order to do shorter trips (under 3 miles in length) to work and other essential trips, is also vital. It therefore is critical that the creation of such space be done on an equitable basis in which streets are chosen that will serve all communities, particularly lower income and more diverse communities. We also note that the response to the street openings has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Given that COVID-19 and its related social distancing may be with us for a prolonged period, we would like to ask that the State Highway Administration engage in implementing the open streets concept. 

Specifically, we would like to ask for the following: 

1) MD SHA, in cooperation with County/Municipal departments of transportation draw up a list of State roads which would be eligible for partial closures of car traffic lanes for use by pedestrians and bicyclists. 

2) After drawing up such a list, MD SHA move to implement such lane closures, perhaps with a small number of pilot roads designated, with a larger number being designated for such lane closures and implementation of those plans. 

We appreciate your time and consideration of these requests and look forward to working with you on implementing workable scenarios that will help residents in the State stay healthy during the COVID lockdown. 

Sincerely, 

Paul Goldman, President, Action Committee for Transit 

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth 

Alison Gillespie, President, Forest Estates Community Association 

Kristy Daphnis, Chair, Pedestrian Bicycle Traffic Safety Advisory Committee 

Peter Gray, Vice President, Board of Directors Washington Area Bicyclist Association 

cc: Chris Conklin, MCDOT 

Marc Korman, Maryland State Delegate

Jared Solomon, Maryland State Delegate

Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive

Montgomery County Council

Letter to MDOT on Purple Line Negotiations

Posted on by Emily Maurer
2020.05.20-Letter-to-MDOT-on-Purple-Line-Negotiations-FinalDownload

Secretary Greg Slater

Harry R. Hughes Department of Transportation Building

7201 Corporate Center Drive Hanover, MD 21076 

May 20, 2020 

Re: State Negotiations with Purple Line Transit Constructors (PLTC) 

Dear Secretary Slater: 

Thank you for your and the State’s dedication to the Purple Line light rail project. The Purple Line is a transformational project that will bring increased economic opportunity to Maryland residents in the DC region. The State’s continued support is vital for the project to be completed in a timely and financially responsible manner. 

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is extremely concerned by Purple Line Transit Constructors’ (PLTC) threat to walk away from the project due to delays and cost overruns. We take no position on the dispute, but strongly urge you to quickly come to an agreement that prioritizes a timely completion of the Purple Line. 

The project is already a year behind schedule due to many factors, including some that have now been resolved. However, failing to negotiate an agreement and having to find a new construction team will undoubtedly result in even more delays and costs. The state should explore all of its options to ground negotiations in realistic cost and time expectations, with a high-level negotiator empowered to make a deal to keep the Purple Line on track. To remain true to its public commitment to the Purple Line, Maryland must take action. 

We also recognize that this is a particularly difficult time for transit and we appreciate the steps the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has taken to protect transit operators and riders. Transit, including the Purple Line, will be a key part of our post-COVID-19 economic recovery and growing Maryland with less congestion, safer roadways, and cleaner air. 

In conclusion, we urge the State to do all it can to negotiate an agreement that keeps the Purple Line’s construction on track. The Purple Line remains of great value for the over 230,000 Marylanders who live along the corridor, and public investment in this project will be repaid many times over by the economic activity it supports. Thank you for your work on this important project. 

Signed, 

Stewart Schwartz Executive Director 

CC: Governor Larry Hogan 

Maryland Transit Administrator Kevin B. Quinn, Jr.

Purple Line Transit Partners

County Executive Marc Elrich 

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks

Montgomery County Council

Prince George’s County Council

CSG Testimony Regarding the DTSS Master Plan Boundary

Posted on by Emily Maurer

Chair Anderson and Planning Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the DC region advocating for more walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We support expanding the boundary of the Silver Spring Downtown Plan, in line with option D.

CSG Comments on Montgomery’s Resolution to Approve FY21 Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares

Posted on by Jane Lyons
2020.04.28-Resolution-on-FY21-Transportation-Fares-FinalDownload

Resolution to Approve FY21 Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares

Testimony for April 30, 2020

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager

President Katz and Councilmembers, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on the Resolution to Approve FY21 Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares. Please accept these comments on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities.

Firstly, we would like to thank the county for suspending Ride On fares thus far during the novel coronavirus crisis. This action has protected transit workers and riders. Transit continues to be an essential public service right now, ensuring that our front-line workers are able to get to work and that those without private vehicles are still able to get food, prescriptions, and other necessary goods.

Therefore, we urge the county to continue Ride On fare suspension throughout the duration of the public health emergency. Fare revenue this quarter is already nearly half of the budgeted fare revenue, and even under normal circumstances is less than 10 percent of total revenue in the Mass Transit Fund.

We also urge you to begin thinking about transit after COVID-19. There is an opportunity to “reopen” the county’s transportation network in a way that increases our climate resiliency, furthers racial and socioeconomic justice, and aids in our economic recovery. These functions cannot be achieved without transit. We don’t have to go back to the same congestion, dangerous roadways, and air pollution.

Further, once the immediate public health threat has been addressed, we will need to rebuild trust in public transit so that ridership may recover. To do that, transit must be attractive, easy, frequent, and safe. We urge you to consider:

  • Suspending Ride On fares in perpetuity;
  • Redesigning the Montgomery Ride On and WMATA bus network through a public process to improve service in a budget neutral way;
  • Expanding public employees’ telework allowances;
  • Rebalancing road space to prioritize walking, biking, and transit; and
  • Increasing routine bus cleaning.

Thank you for your consideration.