Convenient, Sustainable Transportation Choices 

To build a sustainable and equitable transportation system, we need to focus on moving people, not just cars. 

That means providing more transportation choices: expanding our transit network; providing frequent, reliable transit service; investing in protected bike lanes, trails, bikeshare, ample sidewalks, and safer streets; and focusing on maintaining existing road infrastructure instead of expanding highways and widening roads. 

These measures will make it possible for us to choose to drive less and meet more of our daily needs through options like transit, walking, biking, and scooting.

Provide convenient, frequent, and reliable public transit

Public transit, including our Metro system and local bus services, provides an affordable, convenient, and sustainable way to travel. It is essential for supporting our network of transit-oriented communities and corridors, and to a thriving, economically competitive, and inclusive D.C. region. 

To make public transit a great option for all, it must be frequent, fast, and reliable, have dedicated lanes as much as possible, and connect us to where we need to go — work, shopping, gathering with friends and family, and more.

Invest in safe, comfortable walking and biking 

For more people to choose walking and biking to get around, we must make these options safe, comfortable, and well-connected to the places we need to go. This includes investing in wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, trails, high-visibility and shorter street crossings, and street trees

Wide, dangerous roads that prioritize speed make our roads less safe for everyone. Instead, we should design our streets for travel speeds that make them safer for all users – people walking, people biking, and people driving.

Shift away from highways and arterial road expansion

Transportation should connect our communities – not divide them. The vast expansion of highways and roads has separated our neighborhoods and resulted in sprawl development that requires driving to get to most places, adds more traffic, and increases climate emissions. 

In fact, data shows that widening major roads and highways actually results in more driving, canceling out any congestion-reduction benefits in as little as five to ten years, a phenomenon called “induced demand”. 

A more sustainable solution is creating walkable, transit-accessible communities with connected local street networks. Providing more opportunities to live in a walkable community and to walk, bike, and use transit is more effective in reducing the number of cars crowding arterial roads and highways.

Latest Happenings


Support transit and inclusive housing options in the University Boulevard Corridor Plan

Support transit and inclusive housing options in the University Boulevard Corridor Plan

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The University Boulevard Corridor Plan envisions a community with safer streets, thriving local businesses, better public transit, and more housing choices to meet people’s needs at all ages and stages of life. Visit our landing page at smartergrowth.net/ubc to take action and learn more about the plan.

CSG in the News: Route 7 BRT planners welcome feedback at recent Culmore open house

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October 20, 2025 | Scott McCaffrey | FFXNow Among the open house attendees was Sonya Breehey, a Falls Church resident who was viewing proposals both as a prospective rider and as a staff member of the pro-transit group Coalition for Smarter Growth. “This is really important — BRT is really an opportunity,”
PGC CM Wanika Fisher speaks at Trolley Trail tour 10/18/25

Rhode Island Av. Trolley Trail Tour

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October 18, 2025 Program RI Ave Trolley Trail Tour - 10_18_25Download
VDOT map of 495 Southside study area

Press Release: Transportation Planning Board Votes to Remove Southside Express Lanes Project from Regional Plan

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During a meeting at the Transportation Planning Board today, leaders from DC, Maryland, and Virginia voted to exclude the controversial Southside Express Lanes project from the regional plan Visualize 2050.
Help shape the future of Duke Street

Help shape the future of Duke Street

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There are two opportunities for you to speak up for a more vibrant, walkable, and inclusive Duke Street as the city updates its Duke Street Land Use Plan.