Community Clips
Smart Growth News for the Washington, DC Region

February 2, 2007


In this issue:

• Prince George's Town Hall Report - Transit Seen as Top Priority
• DC Releases New City Maps – Will Help Walking, Bicycling, Transit Use
• Transportation Update from the Virginia General Assembly
• Smart Growth Leader Appointed Director of DC Office of Planning
• Upcoming Events

Prince George's Town Hall Report – Transit Seen as Top Priority

Most of the residents at Thursday night’s well-attended Prince George’s County’s Town Hall Meeting on Transportation Priorities spoke up for transit projects like rail on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and better local bus service, or for specific local improvements like intersection improvements and missing sidewalks. The council members, while thanking the participants for the feedback both good and bad, also noted that funding was scarce and competition among projects fierce, and that funding for local needs could soon be even scarcer if plans proceed for the Intercounty Connector. State officials have made the ICC the priority before all other local projects. The Town Hall Meetings were hosted by the Prince George’s County Council’s Committee on Transportation, Housing, and the Environment.

DC Releases New City Maps – Will Help Walking, Bicycling, Transit Use

The District of Columbia has released a new city map -- the first city map ever produced using Geographic Information Systems technology -- and a new city bike map. The new city map includes detailed bus routes, while the bike map includes existing bike lanes and off-street trails, as well as planned bike routes. Learn more, including how to order or download them.

Transportation Update from the Virginia General Assembly           

Bipartisan talk of land use reform at the Virginia General Assembly gave hope that we would see significant changes in land use and transportation planning in Virginia.  Yet, once again the debate has devolved to how much more money should be spent on transportation and where it should come from.  In a letter sent to Governor Kaine and the entire General Assembly, the Virginia Conservation Network called for any transportation package to be tied to better growth management, reform of transportation planning, progressive performance standards for transportation, and reconsideration of VDOT’s spending priorities. For most Virginians, poorly planned growth remains the underlying cause of traffic problems and is the primary problem that needs to be addressed, if more transportation spending is going to be effective.  Don’t forget to contact the Governor and your legislator with your concerns.

Smart Growth Leader Appointed Director of DC Office of Planning

We are excited to announce that Mayor Fenty has chosen Harriet Tregoning to be director of the DC Office of Planning.  Ms. Tregoning, a national leader in the smart growth field, brings years of leadership, talent, and expertise to the table.  In order for our region to grow in a sustainable way, it is critical that DC redevelops with the right urban design around transit stations. She and her team will be able to ensure good community planning, quality urban design, inclusion of affordable housing, and effective transit-oriented development as DC implements its new Comprehensive Plan.

Ms. Tregoning has more than 10 years of experience working on smart growth issues at the state and federal level.  She helped establish the Smart Growth Network at EPA and served as Secretary of Planning, then the Secretary of the Office of Smart Growth for the State of Maryland.  Most recently, she was executive director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, which helps communities and local governments implement smart growth.  Her biography is available online.

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