Statement by Ward3Vision, Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), and Coalition for Smarter Growth
Category: Resources
CSG News: If we don’t act, who will?
We face great challenges but also have many opportunities to act locally – to make our world a better place. Every day the CSG team and our supporters speak up for more sustainable communities and transportation. So we hope you’ll weigh in this month on the important local issues highlighted below, and connect with fellow advocates at one of our Smart Growth Socials!
COMMENTS: Serious concerns about the K Street Transitway
We are enthusiastic supporters of your bold bus priority program, and the vision for the K Street Transitway project that you shared in 2019. However, we wish to express our great concern about the changes to the K Street Transitway design reflected in the semi-final 65% design stage.
COMMENTS: Thrive Coalition Sign-on Letter (Fall 2022)
September 30, 2022
Montgomery County Council
Council Office Building
100 Maryland Ave, 6th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
Re: Support for Thrive Montgomery 2050
Council President Albornoz and Councilmembers:
The undersigned organizations are excited for the County Council to strengthen and approve Thrive 2050 this fall. Thrive is the right direction and vision for Montgomery County.
Thrive — as currently written and with the inclusion of new chapters on equity, the economy, and the environment — will set the county on a new path toward more sustainable, inclusive policies that will help to spur our economy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and break down the county’s east-west divide. Although it is a visionary document, that vision matters. The best way for us to grow is compactly in complete communities with a robust transit system, abundant housing for people of all incomes, and a natural environment and infrastructure that will help us to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
These are policies supported by our organizations and residents alike. In a statistically significant poll from Data for Progress, 55% of likely Democratic voters in Montgomery County expressed support for Thrive, with the strongest support from Black or African Americans, people under 45, and renters. In another poll, 61% of respondents supported the construction of duplexes, townhomes, and/or apartments in their own neighborhood and 76% supported redesigning roads to prioritize safety over vehicle speeds. Nspiregreen’s additional outreach also showed majority support across Thrive’s issues and policies.
But Thrive is only the beginning. We look forward to working with you, your successors, and the community over the next three decades to bring Thrive’s vision into reality. For now, our organizations urge you to make the amendments needed to make Thrive an even stronger document, and then to pass the plan by the end of this County Council term.
Sincerely,
Montgomery for All
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Action in Montgomery
Audubon Naturalist Society
Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County
Sierra Club – Montgomery County
Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
Montgomery Housing Alliance
HAND (Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers)
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Enterprise Community Partners
Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland
Action Committee for Transit
Testimony: Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) for Prince George’s County Appointment
CSG supports the appointment of Mr. Johnson as Director of DPW&T. We are excited to support the movement of DPW&T towards safer streets, more reliable and frequent transit, and access to thriving businesses and neighborhoods.
Testimony: ZC 22-RT1 Racial Equity Tool
We are pleased to offer our comments on the work of the Zoning Commission in order to implement the directive from the updated Comprehensive Plan that requires that all zoning actions be viewed through a racial equity lens.
CSG COMMENTS: NVTA TransAction Plan
We urge you to review and consider the joint letter of 12 Northern Virginia organizations regarding TransAction 2045. These are not new concerns – we have pointed to the shortcomings for some time. We also urge you to reject this TransAction plan and create a new more effective, affordable and sustainable plan.
NVTA TransAction Joint Letter
We write to you today in support of regional transportation planning that identifies cost-effective, sustainable, and equitable solutions to improve mobility and helps inform investments through NVTA’s 6-year program.