A coalition of five historic preservation, conservation, and smart growth organizations will be releasing a report on Tuesday, July 16 assessing the performance of the proposed Bi-County Parkway compared to a set of alternative investments. The authors and their traffic modeling consultant will brief interested members of the media during a 10:00 am conference call.
Category: Press Releases
Statement on DC Office of Planning Decision on Parking Minimums
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 12, 2013
CONTACT: Alex Posorske, (202) 675-0016 ext. 126
Statement on DC Office of Planning Decision on Parking Minimums
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today on the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU, the Director of the DC Office of Planning, Harriet Tregoning, announced that DCOP was scrapping its proposal to eliminate parking minimums in transit zones. The decision was also reported in the City Paper.
“We are disappointed that the opposition to progressive reforms has caused the city to back down on the important reform of removing minimum parking requirements. Parking minimums have driven up the cost of housing in a city that needs more affordable housing. The costs of too much parking are being passed on to all residents even if they want to save money by living car free,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Parking mandates are a legacy of a different era and have hurt America’s cities as Matt Yglesias so clearly laid out Slate this week.”
Greater Greater Washington has covered the issue extensively including a response today.
“We are waiting to review the new proposal from DCOP and we hope that it will still move our city in a more affordable and sustainable direction. We understand that there will be no minimums throughout our expanded downtown from the West End to NOMA and to our two revitalizing riverfronts,” said Schwartz. “Moreover, parking requirements will still be lowered in the city’s transit zones. That’s as it should be. With the expanded transit, walking, biking, and carsharing options that DC now offers, we shouldn’t be mandating more parking than we need or than people will use.”
The Coalition for Smarter Growth will be continuing its campaign for a progressive update to the city’s outdated zoning code including rollback of parking minimums, easier requirements for accessory dwelling units, corner stores in rowhouse neighborhoods, and other components that will make the code easier to understand and more appropriate for a modern, transit-oriented city.
About the Coalition for Smarter Growth
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Our mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies needed to make those communities flourish. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website at www.smartergrowth.net.
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Montgomery Rapid Transit System Takes Major Step Forward with Planning Board Approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 12, 2013
CONTACT: Alex Posorske, (202) 675-0016 ext. 126
Montgomery Rapid Transit System Takes Major Step Forward with Planning Board Approval
A new county-wide rapid transit system in Montgomery County took a major step forward yesterday when the Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously approved a master plan for the system.
Transit advocates hailed the Planning Board’s decision, noting that with Montgomery projected to add more than 200,000 people in the coming decades, it is critical to invest in new transit infrastructure now.
“This plan is one of the most extensive and progressive transportation plans of any suburban community in our region, and is in keeping with Montgomery County’s record of innovation in land use transportation and housing policy,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
“Rapid Transit represents Montgomery’s best, most affordable option for providing needed traffic relief to residents,” Schwartz said. “The old model of building ever more and wider roads for cars has not worked; we have to figure out how to move more people, more sustainably, with the infrastructure we have and Rapid Transit will do that.”
The plan lays the groundwork for a high quality transit network, based on successful bus rapid transit systems around the country, which would connect the County’s key economic and commercial centers, many of which are not currently served by Metro. The service would operate like Metrorail on county roadways, including features like dedicated lanes, comfortable stations, off-board fare payment, and frequent, speedier service to provide commuters relief from some of the longest commute times in the nation.
After reviewing hundreds of public comments, the Board spent many hours making edits and additions to this long range plan. One key change was the inclusion of a “performance standard” that would help ensure the County commits to a high level of transit service.
Kelly Blynn, Montgomery County Transit Organizer for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, highlighted that piece, noting that it was a break from the thinking of the past that often unfairly shortchanged transit.
“In order for this plan to be successful, we must be willing to place transit on equal footing with cars, and dedicate car lanes to transit where it can move more people than individual vehicles can,” Blynn said.
However, Blynn expressed concern that other new language in the plan, pressed by the State Highway Administration, would place too high of a standard on moving cars through without considering a more proper standard of what approach would move the most people. “It’s something we will be monitoring,” said Blynn.
In addition, the Board increased the size of the network, adding a critical connection on the map to Clarksburg, a planned community in need of transit options. Upcounty activists cheered the move.
“The Upcounty is the fastest growing region of Montgomery County,” said Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board member Beth Daly. “The extension of Rapid Transit north on 355 is a step in the right direction to for Clarksburg residents, offering them an express transit option to get to Shady Grove Metro and work centers quickly.”
The Board will now send its recommendations, officially known as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan to the County Council, who will review the plan starting in September. The plan will most likely first be reviewed by the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, and then move to the full Council.
About the Coalition for Smarter Growth
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Its mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies needed to make those communities flourish. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website at www.smartergrowth.net.
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Maryland Transportation Authority Report Glosses Over Shortfall in Future Predicted Trips
The Maryland Transportation Authority issued a press release today about a report done with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and promoted time savings and traffic relief as a result of the Intercounty Connector.
“First, it’s not surprising that some people experience time savings from using the high speed ICC over local roads, but how many trips out of the hundreds of thousands of daily trips in the area encompassing the Beltway, I-270 and I-95? ” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. ” The real question is whether the fact that a small percentage of trips save time was worth the $3 billion cost of the ICC (more with debt costs), as compared to a wide range of other investments.”
Public-Private Toll Deals Have Taken Control of Public Process and Ignore Local Concerns
“Every Virginia resident should be concerned about how the Public Private Transportation Act is distorting transportation decision-making and shutting down objective public review and debate,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
Today, the McDonnell administration announced their pursuit of a Public-Private Transportation deal for a HOT lanes project on I-66. This announcement comes on the heels of a vote by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, protesting the decision to exclude rail transit options as priorities for the I-66 corridor and asking for reconsideration of the plan. The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted in May, just a few weeks after public comments on the I-66 proposal.
PRESS RELEASE: Route 1 Transit Study — Diverse Groups Support Comprehensive Approach
For Immediate Release:
June 20, 2013Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, CSG, 703-599-6437
June 20, 2013Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, CSG, 703-599-6437
A diverse set of groups working on affordable housing, conservation, transit, smart growth and bicycle pedestrian issues sent the following letter last week to Fairfax and state officials. We have already received a positive response from Supervisor McKay, Fairfax transportation staff, and the lead planner for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit.
JOINT LETTER REGARDING RICHMOND HIGHWAY TRANSIT STUDY
Coalition for Smarter Growth, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, Friends of Dyke Marsh, Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, Community Preservation and Development Corporation, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, Sierra Club – Virginia Chapter/Mount Vernon Group, Wesley Housing Development Corporation of Northern Virginia, United Community Ministries, Audubon Naturalist Society, Spring Bank Community Association & Friends of Quander Brook
June 12, 2013
Thelma D. Drake
Director, Department of Rail & Public Transportation
600 East Main Street, Suite 2102
Richmond, VA 23219
Jeff C. McKay
Supervisor, Lee District
Franconia Governmental Center
6121 Franconia Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
Gerald W. Hyland
Supervisor, Mount Vernon District
2511 Parkers Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306
Re: Route 1 Transit Study
Dear Director Drake and Supervisors McKay and Hyland:
We are pleased to hear that a comprehensive $2 million study of transit alternatives for the Richmond Highway Corridor will begin this year. We represent conservation, affordable housing, community development, bicycle, transit, conservation and smart growth organizations that share a commitment to the sustainable, inclusive and economically competitive revitalization of the Richmond Highway Corridor.
Designing the most effective and best-suited transit system for the corridor will require attention to the interaction between land use, transit, housing, market demand, bicycle, pedestrian, and natural resource conservation. The transit mode selected must be tied to the type of land use, levels of density, and service needs of residents. Ridership is profoundly affected by the mix-of-uses, urban design, density, range of housing types and incomes, and safe access to the stations by walking and bicycling.
It is particularly critical that affordable housing be addressed at the earliest stages of study because the mere act of launching a major study of new transit service can create speculative pressures on existing market-rate affordable housing and displacement of lower -income residents. Preservation of existing affordable housing and inclusion of new affordable housing in new development should be included in any comprehensive transit and land use study. The study should also draw from many of the lessons learned from the planning for Tysons Corner, Columbia Pike and Beauregard corridors, in terms of linking transit, land use, and affordable housing.
Therefore, we request that the transit study not only evaluate the various transit modes (Metrorail, light-rail, street car, bus rapid transit and enhanced bus), routing, alignment, service structure and ridership, but that it also include within its scope the following key factors:
- Land uses – mix-of-uses, urban design, density
- Housing – strategies and plans for preservation of existing affordable housing and inclusion of new affordable housing in mixed-income development
- Market Demand – needs of lower income residents, access to jobs, demand for multi-family housing, and growing demand to live and work near high-capacity transit
- Bicycle/Pedestrian – safe access to transit including street design, sidewalks and crossings, station location, and bike facilities (bike lanes, cycle tracks, racks/storage and bikeshare)
- Natural Resources – preserving, enhancing and expanding parks, native trees and vegetation, biodiversity and streams; retrofitting of improved stormwater management including low-impact approaches, and enhancing water and air quality.
We also request that the study include a very robust public outreach and input process, reaching the full range and diversity of residents of all income levels and ethnicities, partnering with community groups to expand outreach and communicating with people with limited English. Our organizations have much to offer in terms of public outreach and technical expertise, and we request to be included at the earliest stages of scoping for the study and throughout the process.
The study should include establishment of a balanced and inclusive stakeholder task force utilizing regular meetings with government staff and consultants. Some of our groups would like to serve on any task force or other committees set up to help guide the study.
We are very pleased that we will soon see planning for new transit in the Richmond Highway Corridor and look forward to being included in the process. We also look forward to your response to our requests.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Stewart Schwartz
Executive Director
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Shannon Steene
Executive Director
Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services
Rick Keller
Chair
Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter
Mt. Vernon Group
Glenda Booth
President
Friends of Dyke Marsh
Bruce Wright
Chairman
Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
Shirley Marshall
Executive Director
United Community Ministries
Michelle Krocker
Executive Director
Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance
Shelley Murphy
President/CEO
Wesley Housing Development Corp. of Northern Virginia
Michael Pitchford
President and CEO
Community Preservation and Development Corporation
Conrad Egan
Chairman
Community Preservation and Development Corporation
Martin Tillett
Spring Bank Community Association & Friends of Quander Brook
Stella Koch
Virginia Conservation Associate
Audubon Naturalist Society
About the Coalition for Smarter Growth
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Our mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies needed to make those communities flourish. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website at www.smartergrowth.net.
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STATEMENT: Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board Approval of $17.6 Billion Six-Year Capital Spending Program: A Road to Ruin?
Statement on Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board Approval of $17.6 Billion Six-Year Capital Spending Program
A Road to Ruin?
Today with no debate, the appointed Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the largest transportation spending program in Virginia history, $17.6 billion in capital spending.
“We are shocked by the lack of discussion of the spending priorities in the Six-Year Plan, by the failure to tie the program to specific policy goals, and the assumption that simply adding road capacity will solve our transportation problems. The plan includes a number of wasteful mega-projects that have been strongly criticized as unnecessary including Route 460 ($1.4 billion), the Coalfields Expressway ($2.8 billion), Charlottesville Bypass ($244 million), N-S Corridor ($1 billion plus), and a long range $11.4 billion plan for I-81.
The CTB doesn’t understand the benefits of more efficient land use – of cities, towns, and compact transit-oriented development — along with transportation demand management programs (carpooling, telecommuting, etc.) that reduce driving demand. They don’t understand changing demographics and market demand that have led to big declines in vehicle miles traveled. The plan includes just 9% of the total for transit even though 69% of the state population lives in the Urban Crescent.
In short, we believe this program will be remembered for squandering billions of tax dollars while making Virginia’s patterns of development less efficient, more oil dependent, and less competitive.”
Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director
About the Coalition for Smarter Growth
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Our mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies needed to make those communities flourish. To learn more, visit the Coalition’s website at www.smartergrowth.net.
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At Public Hearing, Montgomery County Residents Say They Are Ready for Rapid Transit
Dozens of Montgomery residents packed the Montgomery County Planning Department headquarters in Silver Spring Thursday evening to support the Planning Department’s goal of advancing a new rapid transit system for Montgomery. Citing the proposed system’s potential for offering the best solution to the County’s traffic challenges, reducing local air pollution from car emissions, and providing more affordable transit options and access to jobs for working families and young people, the residents asked the Planning Board to adopt the proposed system into Montgomery’s General Plan for transportation.
PRESS RELEASE: Coalition for Smarter Growth Recognizes Developer Jerry Halpin with its 2013 Livable Communities Leadership Award
WASHINGTON, DC – Last night the Coalition for Smarter Growth presented its Tenth Annual Livable Communities Leadership Award to Gerald T. (Jerry) Halpin, the founder of WEST*GROUP, for his determined leadership in the transformation of Tysons, one of the nation’s most important redevelopment projects. They also recognized the Fairfax County staff for their hard work and important role in developing and implementing the Tysons plan.
Press Statement: Maryland Senate Passes Transportation Funding Bill
In response to the Maryland Senate’s vote in favor of the transportation bill (HR 1515), Coalition for Smarter Growth Executive Director Stewart Schwartz issued the following statement: “The Maryland Senate made a winning decision today for Marylanders. Passing the transportation bill means desperately needed transit projects like the Purple Line, Baltimore’s Red Line and MARC upgrades can go forward. Transit projects like these are top priorities to give Marylanders affordable transportation choices, relief from numbing traffic, and cleaner air.”