Stewart Schwartz of the DC-area’s Coalition for Smarter Growth contested the idea that street redesigns have to be put on hold. ”The traffic engineers are nervous about the interim period,” he said. “They don’t recognize that congestion always provides a feedback signal. If there’s congestion, people change the time of day of their commute; they change the mode of their commute; and you’re likely to see more transit riders. What this points to is the need to move faster in redesigning these places and incentivizing redevelopment.”
Category: Maryland
The ‘P3’ dilemma: States learn partnerships come with hazards
Many government officials see public-private partnerships as a convenient solution to their infrastructure woes. Enlisting investors and private sector know-how gets roads, bridges and other projects built long before government could do the work on its own.
Boosters Show Off Bus Rapid Transit Vehicle At MoCo Fair
Some county officials hope the large bus situated front and center at this year’s Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is a glimpse of the not-so-distant future.
Community Involvement and Advocacy Matter
We’ve talked a lot on this blog about the Rapid Transit system coming to Montgomery County. A recent development in the planning of the Georgia Avenue route highlights why community involvement, attention and advocacy is crucial in plans like these.
Montgomery paves the way for bus network that could zip by traffic
With Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett running for a third term in November, transit advocates are planning an agenda for his next term. Leggett will run against Republican James Shalleck in an overwhelmingly Democratic county. For transit advocates, this means a push to turn projects such as the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway and a bus rapid transit network into reality.
Major Environmental Group Backs Purple Line Opponents
On Wednesday, a group including the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail and the Center for Biological Diversity threatened to sue federal government agencies involved in environmental assessments of the planned Purple Line light rail route.
Transit supporters to host Rockville open house
Supporters of a countywide transit system will hold an open house to discuss the system Wednesday in Rockville.
Two groups, the Coalition for Smarter Growth and Communities for Transit, are sponsoring the forum at Rockville Memorial Library, where residents will be able to learn more about the county’s planned 81-mile bus rapid transit system.
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25
Where: First floor large meeting room, Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville
What: Rockville Rapid Transit Open House
RSVP at http://bit.ly/rockvilleRTS
It will feature a basic overview of bus rapid transit and what is planned for the county and the Rockville area in particular, said Kelly Blynn of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
Blynn said the system will connect areas not served by Metro and help link downtown areas with surrounding residential areas.
There also will be a presentation from Rockville staff on how the city wants the system to fit into its downtown, she said.
Organizers will discuss how people can help plan the system, Blynn said.
In Rockville, three bus rapid transit corridors are planned to converge at or near the Rockville Metro station on Md. 355.
From there, the lines would run north to Clarksburg, south to Washington and southeast to Wheaton.
City officials have expressed some concern about the impact the system will have on Rockville Town Center.
The forum, which runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m., is free, and Blynn said a sign language interpreter will be provided. More information is at smartergrowth.net.
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Discussing the Future of Rapid Transit in Rockville
On Wednesday, June 25th, Communities for Transit and Coalition for Smarter Growth are holding a free, open event from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Rockville Memorial Library to discuss Montgomery County’s planned 81-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) system. What is bus rapid transit, and how would it affect our city?
Candidate who’s “concerned” about Purple Line gets angry when pro-Purple Line organization gives her a low score
If you’re running for office, you’d like to get votes from everyone, and avoid angering people. A lot of candidates try to do this by expressing “support” for big projects which have a lot of proponents, while also voicing “concerns” to those against the project.
Welcome to the Montgomery County Council Candidates Forum
Welcome everyone! Welcome to our Montgomery County Council Candidates Forum! I am Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, one of your hosts this evening. Kelly Blynn, CSG’s Next Generation of Transit Campaign Manager, is here tonight as well, and is familiar to many of you.