The groups signing onto this press statement urge the General Assembly to reject Governor Youngkin’s budget amendment and restore the funding the General Assembly agreed to.
Category: Press Releases
RELEASE: Maryland House passes Transportation and Climate Alignment Act
On Monday, the Maryland House of Delegates passed the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (TCA), HB 836, introduced by Delegate Mark Edelson (46th District). This timely legislation will cut pollution from Maryland’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation sector, while helping expand transportation options for residents and workers. The House passed the TCA by an overwhelming majority, and it will now be considered by the Senate.
RELEASE: Close the Metro Funding Gap!
Today, the WMATA Board met to review a new FY25 proposed budget. The “Fund Metro!” coalition released the following statement.
RELEASE: 18 Group Statement re Metro: Close the Gap!
We thank the jurisdictions for proposing $480 million in additional funding for each of the next two years to help close WMATA’s FY25 and FY26 operating gap. But we urge our elected leaders to do more to reduce and even close the entire gap. Failure to close the entire gap will still mean some service cuts, fare hikes, impact on the workforce, and delays in the capital program.
RELEASE: Maryland bill tackles climate pollution from transportation by expanding affordable, clean options
“With Maryland’s limited transportation funds, the TCA can help the state re-evaluate or mitigate the impacts from highway expansion projects that undermine the state’s investments to fight climate change and that increase traffic and sprawl,” said Bill Pugh, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Release: CSG Applauds Re-Introduction of the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act; Urges Congress To Act
Recently, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA) introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act. The bill will help fund transit operations costs, including here in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. In response, Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, issued the following statement.
RELEASE: Visualize 2050 public comments (Dec 2023)
“According to the TPB staff summary, the ‘overarching themes’ of the almost 1,000 comments submitted by the public on proposed regional transportation projects were ‘strong positive sentiment’ toward rail, bus, walking and biking projects and ‘strong negative sentiment towards roadway widening and expansion projects.’ We’ve seen this pattern over the years on various TPB plans, with the public repeatedly calling for a shift in spending priorities to emphasize walking, biking, transit and investments to meet safety and climate goals,” said Bill Pugh, AICP, Senior Policy Fellow for CSG.
RELEASE: 18 Groups say FUND METRO!
In advance of the December 14 meeting of the WMATA board, a coalition of non-profit groups organized under the “Fund Metro!” banner are calling on Governor Moore, Governor Youngkin, Mayor Bowser, our legislators and our local elected officials to put transit first. For Metro that means paying 100% of the operating gap remaining after WMATA’s $100 million in cost savings and no shift of capital funds to operations.
Press Release: ACPS award for School Bus Electrification Project
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments will present a Climate & Energy Leadership Award in the Educational Institution Sector to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) for its Electric School Bus program. According to the COG agenda materials, ACPS will have 15 electric school buses, representing 12% of its fleet, and will be the second largest electric school bus fleet in Virginia and the third largest on the East Coast after Fairfax County, VA and Montgomery County, MD public schools.
PRESS RELEASE: Bias in VDOT 495 Southside Study
“VDOT’s study is inherently biased because they determine their own conclusion even before doing detailed study. By defining the Purpose to be “extend the express toll lanes,” they are intentionally foreclosing other options,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.