Community Clips
Smart Growth News for the Washington, DC Region

March 10, 2006


In this issue:

From the Executive Director:
Transportation Funding Without Reform Leaves Virginia Empty-Handed

The Virginia elections showed strong support for better growth management, and the Governor and General Assembly agree on the need for change, but the reforms have fallen far short. Without real reform in planning and in spending priorities, a $600M to $1B tax-and-spending increase for transportation will be wasted. For all the debate about relieving congestion, much of the money will go to projects that won’t relieve congestion. Among the shortcomings of this session:

• The Assembly wouldn’t clarify local community power to deal with development that would overwhelm local roads;
• Despite the need for transit to relieve congestion, transit would receive a smaller share of the new money than it currently does from the transportation trust fund; and,
• VDOT would use a doubling of its money to build highways that would further scatter development and clog our roads, instead of providing traffic relief.

Learn more about what is happening and call or email the Governor and your Legislators.

Montgomery County Seeks to Frame Growth

In seeking to envision Montgomery County's growth, the Department of Park and Planning has issued a report entitled "Framework for Planning In The Future." Intended as a way to open community dialogue about how best to plan and manage growth in the County, the report presents a vision of Montgomery County in transition, from largely car-dependent suburbs into more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use, transit-connected centers located along shared-use boulevards and transit corridors. Download the full report.

Three community participation sessions are scheduled for April 5, May 3, and May 17, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, at Johns Hopkins University, Shady Grove Campus, Building III. Check the next Community Clips for more information.

Washington Gas Proposal Closer to Defeat

Prince Georges County took another step forward in its quest to defeat Washington Gas Company's proposal to build a 12 million-gallon liquefied natural gas storage tank near West Hyattsville Metro. Montgomery County signed off on legislation that raises from five to seven (out of nine) the number of board votes required to approve such a facility. Because the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency, Prince George's County needed Montgomery County's support for the measure.

The arguments against the facility have focused primarily on safety issues related to placing a storage tank of that size near a residential area. The Coalition for Smarter Growth recognizes the safety concerns, but also supports the citizens' goal to have development around the West Hyattsville Metro station follow the area plan, which calls for mixed use, transit-oriented development.

The Prince George's County Council will take up the measure again at a future meeting. Call the Clerk of the Council's office at (301) 952-3600 for updates.

Shenandoah Valley Threatened by Proposed Highway Expansion

The Shenandoah Valley battlefields were named most endangered in the country by the Civil War Preservation Trust in their new report "History Under Siege: A Guide to America's Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields." Eleven Civil War battlefields, including Cedar Creek, are threatened by a proposal to widen interstate 81 from four lanes to an 8-12 lane truckway, a project that Shenandoah Valley elected officials and citizens oppose. VDOT and STAR Solutions propose spending up to $16 billion on the project when Northern Virginia, Richmond and Tidewater residents are desperate for transportation funds to relieve their very real congestion problems.

The Coalition has been working with community groups, elected officials, and business groups to promote a Reasonable Solution for I-81 that includes appropriate spot improvements, rail freight, and increased enforcement. Public hearings on the proposal will beheld in the next month. Visit ShenandoahValleyNetwork.org for more details. See news coverage on WHSV.com, including video footage on the fight to save the Valley Battlefields.

Maryland Reality Check Plus Regional Exercises Scheduled

Reality Check Plus, a coalition of more than a 100 organizations, has announced a series of regional exercises designed to capture a collective vision of Maryland's future growth. The exercises will bring together a diverse group of organizations and stakeholders, including politicians, developers, environmentalists, and business and civic leaders. Participation will be by invitation, but the presentation of results from each morning’s exercise and the post-exercise discussions will be open to the public. To learn more see www.realitycheckmaryland.org.

Webcast Series Explores Transit Oriented Development

Are you interested in transit oriented development (TOD), a strategic development plan that places homes, stores, and businesses near transit in order to reduce traffic? If so, join free webcasts hosted by Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Smart Growth America, and Reconnecting America. Tune in April 4 to learn how areas with TOD improve economically due to the availability of more affordable transit options and again May 3 to hear from community leaders who have successfully implemented TOD.

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