Category: Regional and Federal

Release: CSG Applauds Re-Introduction of the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act; Urges Congress To Act 

Release: CSG Applauds Re-Introduction of the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act; Urges Congress To Act 

Recently, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA)  introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act. The bill will help fund transit operations costs, including here in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. In response, Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, issued the following statement.

RELEASE: Visualize 2050 public comments (Dec 2023)

RELEASE: Visualize 2050 public comments (Dec 2023)

“According to the TPB staff summary, the ‘overarching themes’ of the almost 1,000 comments submitted by the public on proposed regional transportation projects were ‘strong positive sentiment’ toward rail, bus, walking and biking projects and ‘strong negative sentiment towards roadway widening and expansion projects.’ We’ve seen this pattern over the years on various TPB plans, with the public repeatedly calling for a shift in spending priorities to emphasize walking, biking, transit and investments to meet safety and climate goals,” said Bill Pugh, AICP, Senior Policy Fellow for CSG. 

RELEASE: 18 Groups say FUND METRO!

RELEASE: 18 Groups say FUND METRO!

In advance of the December 14 meeting of the WMATA board, a coalition of non-profit groups organized under the “Fund Metro!” banner are calling on Governor Moore, Governor Youngkin, Mayor Bowser, our legislators and our local elected officials to put transit first. For Metro that means paying 100% of the operating gap remaining after WMATA’s $100 million in cost savings and no shift of capital funds to operations. 

Joint WABA-CSG letter on Increasing Road Fatalities and Visualize 2050

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) – two of the region’s leading advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities – respectfully write to provide comment on the ongoing and disturbing traffic fatality and serious injury trends highlighted by TPB staff in their draft Annual Regional Transit and Highway Safety Targets report and presentation. 

TPB Nov 2023 Board Comments

We ask TPB members to make safety investments for vulnerable road users a higher priority in your Visualize 2050 project submissions and in your local plans, budgets, and project designs. Please see our joint letter with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association in the meeting packet. 

State Carbon Reduction Strategies need to incorporate TPB climate goals, findings & strategies

At the Oct. 18 TPB meeting, state DOT’s will brief you on their draft Carbon Reduction Strategies. The states are required to consult with TPB on these plans before they submit them to the federal government next month. The Coalition for Smarter Growth encourages TPB members to closely review and provide feedback on these strategies.