Category: Testimony & Letters

Follow-up to FY 21-26 CIP Sign-on Letter

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

March 4, 2020 

Montgomery County Council

Council Office Building

100 Maryland Ave

Rockville, MD 20850 


Re: Follow-up on bus rapid transit projects in the FY 21 Capital Budget and FY 21-26 CIP

Dear Council President Katz and County Councilmembers: 

The undersigned wrote a letter on February 26, 2020 requesting amendments to the FY 21 Capital Budget and FY 21-26 Capital Improvements Program regarding bus rapid transit (BRT). Since then, we have had discussions with decision makers and county officials that have clarified information and raised some important points for consideration. 

The basis for our original letter was to find and recommend a path toward near-term transit service improvements due to the constrained fiscal environment. We were concerned about planning for new BRT routes like MD-355 without having a funding plan for construction, and sought to identify projects which we thought could be brought online sooner if we reallocated some of the funding from planning and design to design and construction of particular projects like having Route 29 BRT dedicated lanes in the southern section and the second entrance to the White Flint Metro Station. 

We wish to work with the county to best prioritize existing funding and to support all efforts to identify additional funding sources for transit. Therefore, we would like to share revised recommendations: 

Route 29 BRT needs additional dedicated lanes to be successful from the outset: The first line of the planned countywide BRT network is set to open this May without the fully dedicated right of way that is necessary for bus rapid transit to truly be rapid. We believe it’s important to get the first BRT line right — with the highest quality of service to show county residents what BRT can do, and why the rest of the network must be funded and built. We urge the Council to expedite review of the “Smoot-Emerson” proposal study for a reversible dedicated BRT lane south of Tech Road, to inquire with MCDOT the status of their follow-up activities, and to seek a defined timeline from MCDOT. We recommend that this dedicated lane be fully funded for design and construction. 

The BRT network needs a comprehensive financing plan: With a stagnant capital budget, it is unlikely the county will find the resources it needs for the 81-mile BRT network under current funding structures. We have been briefed by Director Conklin about efforts to develop a funding approach for the 355 corridor, and applaud those efforts, but ask for transparency in how the county will address the funding needs for other corridors. Financing may be different depending on the corridor, but it remains vital that as we move forward with the network’s design, we also make progress towards financing its construction. Director Conklin’s updates to you on financing plans will be extremely helpful. 

We should expeditiously implement better bus service: We reiterate our support for Ride On extRa service along northern 355 and Veirs Mill Road, as well as a system-wide redesign and upgrade of Ride On. Adding express bus service prior to BRT construction has been a stated priority of MCDOT and proven beneficial to a number of communities. Near term bus service improvements that result in increased ridership will help build support for additional investments. In the case of Veirs Mill Road, if the proposed system of queue jumps and other “BRT-light” improvements can be put in place faster than Ride On extRa, then let’s do so. 

The White Flint second Metro entrance provides regional, not just local benefits: We support the northern White Flint Metro entrance, because it shortens walking distances, supports more rapid redevelopment, and provides improved access to long-time existing residents in nearby apartments. The northern entrance can spur much-needed economic development and support Vision Zero objectives. Investments like this that enhance transit-oriented development and make it more likely that people will use Metro represent a regional transportation solution. If it is now possible that WMATA has the capital funding to help pay for the second entrance, that is terrific, but we assume it will still require some level of matching funds from the county. 

We wish to make clear that we support construction of the full 81-mile BRT network and near-term design and construction funding for the top priorities of Route 29 fully dedicated lanes, Veirs Mill Road, 355, New Hampshire Avenue, and the North Bethesda Transitway, in addition to the second entrance to the White Flint Metro and the tunnel for the Capital Crescent Trail. However, we recognize the challenge of a stagnant capital budget and the need to prioritize. Therefore, we have made our best efforts to recommend priorities to the Council as outlined above. 

We believe this Thursday’s briefing from Director Conklin to the T&E committee will offer critically helpful information to the public and Council. Based upon Director Conklin’s input and other information available to the Council we hope that you will find a way forward that best prioritizes projects and ensures the public sees near-term improvements in service. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Denisse Guitarra | Maryland Conservation Advocate | Audubon Naturalist Society 

Jane Lyons | Maryland Advocacy Manager | Coalition for Smarter Growth 

Walter Weiss | President | Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions 

Michael DeLong | President | Montgomery County Young Democrats 

Shruti Bhatnagar | Chair | Sierra Club, Montgomery County 

Margaret Schoap | Organizer | Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Extended 

CC: County Executive Marc Elrich, Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin

Testimony supporting Modest Homes Choice Act of 2020

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

March 4, 2020

Environment and Transportation Committee

House Office Building, Room 251

Annapolis, MD 21401

HB 1406, Land Use – Development – Middle Housing (Modest Homes Choice Act of 2020) (Support)

Testimony for March 4, 2020 

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager 

Thank you, Chair Barve, Vice Chair Stein, and Environment and Transportation Committee members. This testimony is on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We are strongly in favor of the Modest Homes Choice Act, a bill that will increase housing options throughout Maryland. 

HB 1406 legalizes multifamily housing in neighborhoods with higher incomes, an abundance of job opportunities, and access to good public transit. This is the core of smart growth: targeting growth in the right places so that our neighborhoods are more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous. 

Economic: An abundant housing stock is critical to Maryland’s economic competitiveness. A 2016 economic competitiveness report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments found that high housing costs is one of the three major trends threatening our regional economy. Allowing more housing options will give the market the ability to respond to major job growth. Furthermore, housing closer to jobs will reduce travel times on Maryland’s famously congested roadways. 

Equity: Right now, owning a home is prohibitively expensive for many families for many reasons, including that the supply of housing in high-demand areas hasn’t kept pace with demand. For example, 47 percent of land in Montgomery County is zoned for single-family detached housing only, restraining the amount of new housing allowed and limiting the diversity of housing options. 

The difference between a $600,000 single family home and a $400,000 duplex can be the difference between a family being able to afford access to better jobs, better schools, healthier food, and so much more. It’s time for our zoning to reflect our inclusive values. 

Sustainability: Housing in the right location is a climate solution. When families can’t afford to live close to where they work, they “drive until they qualify,” searching farther and farther out for affordable housing. This results in both increased traffic congestion and increased greenhouse gas emissions. In California, increases in vehicle miles traveled completely cancelled out any environmental benefits of more electric vehicles. At a time when transportation is our largest source of emissions in Maryland, we need to allow more housing in places that will result in less driving. 

This bill is part of a larger “Homes for All” legislative package, which includes two other bills: HB 1149, which creates a program to finance social housing projects, and HB 744, which is an omnibus renter’s rights bill. Our housing crises is multifaceted, and it’s vital to attack it with a variety of tools since no solution is a silver bullet. Zoning is one of the most powerful tools we have to increase the supply of housing and assure abundant, diverse housing options for Marylanders in all stages of life and at all ranges of income. 

Therefore, we urge you to support HB 1406 and legalize more housing and more housing options where they are most needed. Thank you for your consideration.

Testimony supporting Purple Line Marketing Program

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

February 27, 2020

Environment and Transportation Committee

House Office Building, Room 251

Annapolis, MD 21401

HB 876, Transportation – Purple Line Marketing Program (Purple Line Marketing Act) (Support) 

Testimony for February 27, 2020

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager

Thank you, Chair Barve, Vice Chair Stein, and Environment and Transportation Committee members. This testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We support HB 876 and the development of a sound marketing plan that will help maximize usage of the Purple Line. 

HB 876 would require the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) along with certain stakeholders to create a marketing plan that would attract interest in the Purple Line before operations begin and promote usage of the Purple Line after operations begin. This bill would also require the Governor to dedicate $1,000,000 from the Transportation Trust Fund toward marketing efforts over three years. 

Maryland residents experience some of the longest commute times in the nation, with high levels of traffic congestion and a steady increase in vehicle miles travelled each year. This is why sustainable transit options, such as the Purple Line, are necessary. The Purple Line will decrease the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road, decrease traffic congestion, and encourage the development of transit-oriented communities, all of which are important for spurring economic development along the Purple Line corridor and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

A sound marketing plan is crucial to ensuring that the benefits of the Purple Line are adequately relayed to potential riders. A marketing plan will help frame the Purple Line as an attractive alternative to single- occupancy vehicle use, influencing commuting decisions and attracting new customers. Marketing for Richmond, Virginia’s Pulse Bus Rapid Transit system contributed to a record increase in transit ridership. 

Maryland has invested a significant amount of time and resources into planning, constructing, and operating the Purple Line. To maximize the return on this investment, the next practical step would be to develop a marketing plan that focuses on spreading information about the benefits of this modern rail service. 

Therefore, we ask you to vote in favor of HB 876. Thank you for your consideration.

CSG Sign-on letter re: transportation projects in FY21 budget and FY21-26 CIP

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

February 26, 2020

Montgomery County Council

Council Office Building

100 Maryland Ave

Rockville, MD 20850

Re: Transportation Projects in the FY 21 Capital Budget and FY21-26

Dear Council President Katz and County Council Members,

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our support for the following amendments to the FY 21 Capital Budget and FY 21-26 Capital Improvements Program. 

Fully dedicated bus rapid transit lanes on Route 29: Montgomery County has been studying a bus rapid transit (BRT) network for nearly a decade. The first line of the planned countywide network is set to open this May without the fully dedicated right of way that is necessary for bus rapid transit to truly be rapid. The highest quality of service is necessary to show county residents what BRT can do, and why the rest of the network must be funded and built. 

The proposed CIP includes $2 million for preliminary engineering of BRT on Veirs Mill Road and $14 million for BRT system development, which includes New Hampshire Avenue and the North Bethesda Transitway. Aside from Route 29, no priority BRT corridor construction funding has been identified — financing for the full 82-mile network remains elusive. This means at least another six years of study without any action, and with a bus rapid transit line that isn’t actually rapid. 

Together, the $16 million budgeted for preliminary engineering along these three future BRT lines can be put to better, more immediate use by diverting it to the construction of dedicated median BRT lanes on the southern portion of Route 29. 

The 2013 Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan called for dedicated lanes on the Route 29 corridor, and this promise of gold standard BRT should be fulfilled. Two years ago, the County Council commissioned a study evaluating dedicated bus lanes in the southern portion of Route 29, which should be shared with the Council immediately so that resources can be prioritized on the existing BRT corridor — instead of continuing feasibility studies for unfunded BRT routes. 

White Flint northern Metro entrance: Provided the reasons above, we also support diverting the $15 million allotted to preliminary engineering of BRT on MD-355 to fund a second entrance at the north of the White Flint Metro station. 

A 2015 report found that Montgomery County’s most successful office clusters are in walkable, transit accessible locations. Marriott’s move from an industrial office park to downtown Bethesda showcased this trend. Business leaders have testified that the second Metro entrance is a must to attract prospective office tenants. 

Those who live or work within a half-mile walkshed of transit are significantly more likely to use it. Achieving the staging requirements in the White Flint Master Plan is dependent upon new investments in transit accessibility. Simply put, the northern Metro entrance is necessary for an economically vibrant Pike District. As Montgomery looks to keep itself competitive with Northern Virginia, county leadership must prioritize smart growth infrastructure. 

Express bus service on northern MD-355 and Veirs Mill Road: While pursuing gold standard BRT on MD-355 and Veirs Mill Road, we should mirror the success of Ride On extRa and provide express bus service on northern MD-355 and Veirs Mill Road. We should also update the existing bus/right turn only stencils on Veirs Mill Road, pursue a countywide redesign and upgrade of Ride On, and seek funding sources for the BRT system. 

Veirs Mill Road is the highest ridership bus corridor in the state of Maryland, and is also vital to bridging the east-west socioeconomic divide. At the same time, residents in Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg have dire, unmet transportation needs. One of the highest daily travel flows in the region is from Clarksburg to Germantown, with 4,000 to 5,000 daily trips on all modes. Ride On extRa Route 101 along MD-355 increased ridership by 11 percent and reduced travel times by 25 percent. 

Improving our transit system is important for climate, equity, and economic development goals. Transportation is our number one source of greenhouse gas emissions. Commute times are one of the best indicators of socioeconomic mobility, and people who rely on bus service have some of the longest commutes in the county. Our economic growth has stagnated. 

We must take bold action to create change, and these three priority investments — funding dedicated lanes on Route 29 for Gold Standard BRT, a second entrance to the White Flint Metro Station, and express bus on Veirs Mill Road — will demonstrate the boldness that Montgomery County residents and businesses want to see. 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Signed, 

Denisse Guitarra | Maryland Conservation Advocate | Audubon Naturalist Society 

Julio Murillo | Government & Strategic Relations Specialist | CASA 

Nanci Wilkinson | Chair, Environmental Justice Ministry | Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church 

Jane Lyons | Maryland Advocacy Manager | Coalition for Smarter Growth 

Diane Hibino and Kathy McGuire | Co-Presidents | League of Women Voters of Montgomery County 

Walter Weiss | President | Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions 

Michael DeLong | President | Montgomery County Young Democrats 

Shruti Bhatnagar | Chair | Sierra Club, Montgomery Group 

Margaret Schoap | Organizer | Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Extended 

CC: County Executive Marc Elrich

CSG Comments Re: WMATA FY2021 Budget

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

A copy of the letter below was sent on Tuesday, February 13, 2020 to the WMATA Board of Directors.

2020.02.13-CSG-Letter-re-WMATA-Budget-Final-2Download

Dear Chairman Smedberg, members of the WMATA Board, and GM Wiedefeld: 

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is a 23-year-old non-profit and leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We partner with dozens of DC area conservation, housing, transit and smart growth non-profit, advocacy organizations, and the business community, and are founding members of the MetroNow coalition which was instrumental in helping WMATA win the first-ever dedicated funding for the agency. We also served on the Executive Committee of the Bus Transformation Project. Today, MetroNow and our non-profit partners are committed to winning implementation of the recommendations of the BTP, including dedicated bus lanes and network redesign for faster, more frequent and reliable service, more affordable fares for lower income residents, technology improvements for off-board fare collection, and more. 

We support a number of provisions in the draft budget but are concerned about others, particularly the proposed changes and cuts to bus service. 

We support: 

Restoration of late night service: Late night service is particularly important for service workers at late- night businesses, especially those who live in Virginia and Maryland. We support restoring late-night service, while still ensuring time for needed maintenance. 

Free transfers between bus and rail: Free transfers were a top recommendation from the Bus Transformation Project and the second-most requested bus improvement after bus lanes in the survey. They were the top recommendation among low-income riders along with more affordable fares overall. 

Low and lower pass costs: Lower pass costs are particularly helpful for lower-income riders and can support the transition to off-board fare collection which will speed buses. 

Improved weekend service for bus and rail: This will support the access to jobs for all those who do not have traditional Monday to Friday work schedules, and support the transition to car free and car-light living for the tens of thousands of residents moving into transit-oriented communities in the city and suburbs. 

We oppose: 

Increasing the cash fare for Metrobus: This should only be done in conjunction with a much-improved Metro SmarTrip Retail Outlet program, establishment of an off-board fare payment option for Priority Corridor Network routes, and a new integrated payment and trip planning system. 

Charging peak fares after midnight: This is inequitable for late-night workers. 

A $1 surcharge for MetroExtra: We should be encouraging people to use limited-stop service, which saves operating funds, increased ridership, and helps people get to their destinations faster. We should not create a two-tier system that hurts lower-income riders by discouraging their use of faster buses. 

Bus service changes and cuts: While some reconfigurations listed in the proposal may make sense, we have received significant negative feedback from our members about the proposed changes. To the extent that service cuts are being forced by the arbitrary 3% operating cost growth cap, we urge the Virginia and Maryland jurisdictions to remove the cap. 

We prefer that WMATA and the region initiate a process for bus network redesign. This process can start with the proposed development of common service standards for WMATA and local bus services based on the frequency and coverage needs of our region. But any allocation or reallocation of service to WMATA or the local jurisdictions and major service changes like those being proposed, should take place after a network redesign study. 

We also urge all area jurisdictions to continue to increase their operating funding necessary to expand bus service while making it faster, frequent and reliable. With climate change, we must maximize our investment in transit to support walkable, transit-oriented communities, access to jobs, and reduction in total vehicle miles traveled. 

Thank you, 

Stewart Schwartz Executive Director

TESTIMONY re: Support of the Heritage at Old Town

TESTIMONY re: Support of the Heritage at Old Town

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

We urge you to approve the Heritage at Old Town. Alexandria has lost over 90% of its affordable housing over the past two decades. We face a housing affordability crisis in Alexandria and neighboring jurisdictions. Multiple studies demonstrate that we need both more supply and more long-term committed affordable units. This project provides both. Supply is critical to avoid displacement, and a range of tools are needed including leveraging land value and density to ensure we create more affordable units.

Testimony supporting Maryland tenant rights and protection legislation

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

February 18, 2020

Environment and Transportation Committee

House Office Building, Room 251

Annapolis, MD 21401

HB 744, Landlord and Tenant – Residential Leases – Tenant Rights and Protections (Tenant Protection Act) (Support)

Testimony for February 18, 2020

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager

Thank you, Chair Barve, Vice Chair Stein, and Environment and Transportation Committee members. This testimony is on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We are in favor of HB 744, a bill that establishes long overdue basic rights for tenants.

HB 744 is an omnibus renter’s rights bill which includes a requirement that security deposits be returned within 30 days, allowance for a tenant to terminate their lease if the landlord fails to make in-unit repairs within a reasonable timeframe, and an authorization for a tenant to terminate their lease without fear of future liability in cases where they have faced harassment and stalking, and must move for their safety.

Renters are a growing population in Maryland. Currently, nearly 40 percent of residents are renters. As this trend continues, it will only become more important to ensure that Maryland’s tenant protections are of a high quality. Home is the center of life and family security – the improvements to landlord-tenant law in HB 722 can make all the difference in someone’s life and to their family.

Right now, we’re behind. Maryland ranks 32nd for tenant rights. Strong tenant protections can mean the difference between a community being welcoming and inclusive, or not. Inclusive policies that protect more vulnerable community members are especially important as neighborhoods grow and change. Tenant empowerment helps residents stay in their neighborhoods and benefit from new amenities.

This bill is part of a larger bill package called “Homes for All,” which includes two other bills: HB 1149, which creates a program to finance social housing projects, and HB 1406, which legalizes the construction of multifamily housing in neighborhoods with higher incomes, an abundance of job opportunities, and access to public transit. Fixing the lack of affordable housing is critical to Maryland’s economic competitiveness, and the three bills together will increase the supply of affordable housing, improve access jobs, and provide greater security for renters, enabling them to focus on work and improvement, and their children to have the home security they need to do well in school.

Therefore, we urge you to support HB 744 and protect the rights of nearly 40 percent of Marylanders. Thank you for your consideration.

CSG testimony supporting SB 548

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

February 12, 2020

Finance Committee

Miller Senate Office Building, 3 East

Annapolis, MD 21401

SB 548, Transportation – I-270 Commuter Bus Route Study (Support) 

Testimony for February 12, 2020 

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager 

Thank you, Chair Kelley, Vice Chair Feldman, and Finance Committee members. This testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization in the D.C. region advocating for walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities. We support the continuous improvement of Maryland’s commuter bus service as an avenue for a more sustainable, prosperous future. 

SB 548 would require the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to study and make recommendations on the feasibility of establishing a commuter bus route that connects Maryland residents along the I-270 corridor to job centers in Northern Virginia. Currently, there are no commuter buses or any express bus service that crosses from Maryland into Virginia, despite Northern Virginia emerging as a major employment hub. 

Increased commuter bus service will position Maryland as a competitive location for new jobs and housing as the DC region continues to grow. Although Maryland was not selected for Amazon’s HQ2, we can still take advantage of its proximity in National Landing by providing convenient public transit options from Maryland. 

Along with being a tool for economic development, commuter buses help to relieve congestion and protect the environment by taking single-occupancy vehicles off the road. At a time when the state is considering an $11 billion project to add new express toll lanes in a misguided attempt to decrease congestion, we need to look at our existing strategies for reducing the number of cars on our roads, of which commuter buses is one of our best and most cost effective strategies. 

Therefore, we urge you to support SB 548 so that MDOT will study a more sustainable transportation option that expands Marylander’s job opportunities. Thank you for your time.

MAST testimony supporting MD county consent bill HB 292

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

February 10, 2020

Environment and Transportation Committee

House Office Building, Room 251

Annapolis, MD 24101

HB 292, Toll Roads, Highways, and Bridges – County Government Consent Requirement – Expansion (Support) 

Testimony for February 13, 2020 

Thank you, Chair Barve, Vice Chair Stein, and Environment and Transportation Committee members. I am speaking on behalf of the Maryland Advocates for Sustainable Transportation (MAST), a coalition of 25 non-profit and community advocacy organizations committed to collaboration and coordination among local jurisdiction and the state when planning and implementing major transportation projects. We urge you to support HB 292, with amendments. 

HB 292 would extend the requirement that the state receive the consent of a majority of affected Eastern Shore county governments before building a toll road, highway, or bridge in those counties. We strongly believe that this right should be expanded to include all Maryland counties affected by toll projects. We would support an amendment that clarifies the definition of “affected counties.” 

Throughout the process to expand I-495 and I-270, one thing has been clear: the state has not adequately listened to or worked with the local jurisdictions that would bear the brunt of construction, environmental impacts, and toll payments. Even with the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT’s) recent commitment to improve coordination with counties, nothing guarantees that they must do so. 

Without that guarantee, we’ve seen that the three-person Board of Public Works has the ability to push through massive highway projects without first considering local needs and concerns. Constructing a new toll road is an enormous decision that fundamentally alters the natural landscape by destroying homes, increasing greenhouse gas pollution, disrupting natural habitats, and promoting sprawl. 

Therefore, we urge you to support HB 292 and equitably extend the right of nine counties to the other 15 counties and county-equivalents. Thank you for your consideration. 

MAST Members: Audubon Naturalist Society, Bike Maryland, Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Greater Farmland Civic Association, Greater Greater Washington, Howard County Climate Action, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) League of Women Voters of Maryland, Maryland Legislative Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club Maryland, Smart Growth Maryland, Washington Area Bicyclist Association 

MAST Principles Signers: 350 Montgomery, Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Environmental Justice Ministry, Corazón Latino, Friends of Sligo Creek, Neighbors of the Northwest Branch, Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Sunrise Movement Howard County