We are at a turning point in our fiscal crisis, the long-term failure of road expansion, rising household transportation costs, loss of Virginia’s scenic and historic landscape, and the impacts of climate change. It is time for a new approach.

Transit-connected, walkable communities are highly desirable to many people—and that makes transit, and the land around it, a valuable asset that Baltimore County can better leverage for public benefit.

The state has a road repaving deficit of $200 million due to a decision made in June 2025 by the prior administration to prioritize expansion and other types of road projects over maintenance.

September 14, 2026 Hon. Wala Blegay, Chair, PHED Committee, Prince George’s County Council Wayne K. Curry Administration Building, 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo, MD 20774 RE: Amend CB 092-2026, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) requirements Dear members of the Committee: Please accept this testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.

Carrie Kisicki, the Maryland housing advocacy manager at the Coalition for Smarter Growth, said she hopes future projects in White Oak will exceed the county’s affordable housing minimum. Still, she said, even Viva White Oak units that aren’t designated as moderately priced will help people live more affordably by shortening costly commutes.