Author: Cheryl Cort

CSG Statement on the importance of the K Street Transitway

Response to Proposed DC Transportation FY 24 Budget

We recognize the budget challenges facing DC but are concerned about the proposed changes to DC’s transit priorities including the proposal to cut some routes and for indefinitely delaying the K Street Transitway.

The K Street Transitway is a leading bus priority project in DC that promises to serve an estimated 40,000 daily riders on more than 11 bus lines. It will likely accommodate additional downtown routes once operational. This downtown transitway will provide greater reliability to a large share of DC’s bus riders. 

At a moment when budgets are tight, we need to ensure we are sustaining existing service, and making it work better. Maintaining service, giving priority to buses on city streets, and ensuring the city has the funds to address WMATA’s fiscal cliff for operating funds in FY25 are core tasks for the District. 

A reasonable pause, but not indefinite delay of the K Street Transitway is merited because the design of the transitway has strayed from its original “Great Streets” approach. We are dismayed that bike lanes were recently cut from the plans, and that the tree canopy and streetscape are being treated like an afterthought. The competitiveness of downtown depends on having green, pedestrian, bicycle and transit-friendly streets, great pocket parks and other people-oriented amenities. The pause should be used to return the K Street Transitway to its early urban design approach, which will be important for downtown revitalization.

Event: Making the numbers work — How affordable housing is financed in DC

Event: Making the numbers work — How affordable housing is financed in DC

April 20, 2023

Ever wondered how resources dedicated to housing affordability are used? Understanding housing affordability financing is fundamental to making good programs, policies, and laws to support people in need of new home production, preservation, and rehabilitation. This event will walk you through the economics of affordable housing in layman’s terms – to provide all audiences with information needed to engage in critical policy and development decisions. 

View YouTube recording here.

Speakers:

Introduction and moderation by Susanne Slater, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

Stan Wall, HR&A Advisors

Patrick McAnaney, Somerset Development Company

Erin Wilson, DC Department of Housing and Community Development

This online event was sponsored by: Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), Enterprise Community Partners, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Greater Greater Washington, DC Fiscal Policy Institute, Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) UPO, Ward3Vision, WIN Ward 3 Congregations Affordable Housing Work Group

EVENT: Better Buses for Prince George’s: What Does it Take?

EVENT: Better Buses for Prince George’s: What Does it Take?

On November 9, 2022, RISE Prince George’s and CSG hosted a discussion with Metro and Prince George’s County to talk about how we can get more frequent, reliable, and accessible bus service that better meets the needs of riders and residents in Prince George’s and our region. These transit providers are seeking input as they look to redesign the bus network and prioritize buses on local roads.

RISE Prince George’s Kyle Reeder moderated this session. Maryland Delegate Jazz Lewis provided opening remarks. From WMATA, we heard from Allison Davis, Metro’s Vice President of Planning, and Raka Choudhury, Director of Bus Priority. Joining us from Prince George’s Department of Public Works and Transportation was Semia Hackett, Associate Director of Transportation, and Efon Epanty, Chief of Planning and Innovation.

Materials

CSG in the News: Prince George’s council pulls ‘Machiavellian’ zoning bill after uproar

September 16, 2022 | Washington Post | Daniel Wu

“The inclusion of CB-91 with those bills was “an extra Machiavellian move,” Cheryl Cort, policy director for the nonprofit Coalition for Smarter Growth, wrote to The Washington Post. Had they all passed, CB-91′s supermajority requirement would have solidified the outgoing county council’s final zoning amendments, passed under a lower burden.”

Read the full story.