Category: Uncategorized

All Things Montgomery: February 2026

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

The weather is cold, but the MoCo housing social + advocacy calendar is heating up! 🔥

Our region is finally digging out from under all that snowcrete just in time for you to attend our Montgomery for All + CSG February happy hour tomorrow night! 

And for those of you who have been hiding secret singing talents, we have just the event for you—our inaugural urbanist karaoke in Silver Spring on March 17.

Below, you can also read more about Governor Moore’s 2026 housing package, and sign up for GGWash’s Annapolis lobby day on March 4.

Stay warm out there—and I hope to see you soon!

Carrie Kisicki
Maryland Housing Advocacy Manager, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Coordinator, Montgomery for All

✨ TOMORROW: Attend our Silver Spring happy hour! ✨

Come out to Commas Food Hall in Silver Spring tomorrow, Feb. 25 @ 5:30PM for a happy hour with CSG and Montgomery for All! We’ll share updates on Montgomery for All’s new working groups and our planned work this year on local master plans. Snacks provided!

Click here to RSVP!

Sing your heart out at urbanist karaoke on March 17! 🎤👩‍🎤

Do you have what it takes to become the next Montgomery for All Idol? Montgomery for All and CSG are co-hosting karaoke night at the American Legion post in Silver Spring on March 17. Bring your friends and sing your favorite place-based and urbanism-related songs (creativity encouraged)! 

Click here to RSVP!

Gov. Moore’s 2026 Housing Growth and Affordability Agenda

The Maryland Assembly is back in session through April for the 2026 legislative session. Among other issues, legislators will address what some are calling “Moore Housing 3: Abundance Drift” as the Moore-Miller administration makes housing a central part of its legislative priorities for the third year in a row.

Greater Greater Washington is organizing a March 4th trek to the state house to advocate for these bills. Learn more about the event here, and sign up to join fellow housing activists to lobby for these bills and meet with your state legislators.

>> Read more about the Governor’s housing package

Brandi Panbach
Newsletter Chair, Montgomery for All

Make a difference! Upcoming meetings, hearings, and events
  • February 25: February Montgomery for All Happy Hour @ 5:30PM (RSVP)
  • Now through February 27 @ 5:00PM: MacArthur Boulevard Bikeway & Pedestrian Safety Improvements (learn more, take the survey)
  • March 4: GGWash Lobby Day 2026 (RSVP)
  • March 17: City-Themed Karaoke @ 7:00PM (RSVP)
  • ⭐ March 26: The Wheaton Plan: A Georgia Avenue Community Plan Open-House hosted by Montgomery Planning, 5:00 – 8:00 PM (RSVP)
  • April 14 – 28 (multiple dates): Purple Line Community Advisory Team virtual update meetings (dates here); see website for registration links closer to meeting dates
⭐ Planning is launching a new Wheaton Master Plan — learn more on March 26

In last month’s newsletter, we mentioned the Wheaton area Georgia Ave. Corridor Plan as a forthcoming plan in 2026. Well… it’s here!

Stop by Montgomery Planning’s Wheaton Plan open house on March 26 from 5:00 – 8:00PM. According to Planning, the plan’s goals (which will be further refined through the community visioning planning phase) will include: 

  • Advancing Wheaton’s potential by identifying actionable strategies and recommendations for multimodal transportation, environmental resilience, housing affordability, and economic competitiveness
  • Responding to community calls for improved walkability, safety, and connectivity
  • Supporting and enhancing Wheaton’s unique identity and sense of place
Click here to learn more and RSVP!

Become a member of Montgomery for All!

Join our community of local advocates when you become a member of Montgomery for All!  Membership is just $5 a year and supports our advocacy for affordable, inclusive housing options and great, walkable communities across the county. 

This newsletter is brought to you by ❤️:
Montgomery for All Newsletter Chair: Brandi Panbach
Montgomery for All Coordinator: Carrie Kisicki
Additional Editorial Contributions: Tony Byrne

CSG in the News: DC metro region leaders exclude I-495 express lanes project from long-term plan

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

October 16, 2025 | Nathaniel Cline | Virginia Mercury

Since 2022, Virginia has been conducting a study on adding the express lanes, which public speakers at Wednesday’s meeting referenced. About 13 people spoke at the meeting, many in opposition to the project, with some noting that the state’s study lacked cost estimates for decommissioning private toll lanes in hopes of building a Metrorail line. Others said the express lanes would lead to an increase in vehicles and air pollution levels.

“Only by clearly leaving out the preferred alternative can the region ensure that there’s collaboration among jurisdictions to explore alternatives,” said Bill Pugh, transportation and climate director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, emphasizing the need for sustainable transportation alternatives and what he called the negative environmental and social impacts of the project.

Read the full story!

In-Person Testimony: 495 Southside Study

In-Person Testimony: 495 Southside Study

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

From the beginning the VDOT study has been fatally flawed by a conclusions-first approach – defining their purpose and need as “extending express toll lanes” which forecloses other alternatives. Moreover, they have not provided all the information necessary for an informed decision – particularly the traffic impact on connecting roads. Given the missing information and strong concerns expressed by Fairfax, Prince George’s, Alexandria, Charles, WMATA, and state legislators in Virginia and Maryland, this project is not ready for inclusion in the regional plan.