Advocating for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all.
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Zoning for Positive Change in DC
April 23, 6:30 pm via Zoom
2025 Livable Communities Leadership Awards & Reception
The countdown has officially begun for our annual Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award & Reception and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering in the heart of Downtown DC on the rooftop of the beautifully restored and expanded Martin Luther King Jr Library.
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Latest Happenings
CSG News: Smart Growth Social, Metro funding, and speaking up
Our annual Smart Growth Social is back and tickets are selling fast! Join us for a night of fun, networking, and inspiration – all while supporting our work for a more livable, sustainable region. Special guest speaker, David Zipper, a contributor to Bloomberg CityLab, Vox, and The Atlantic, will talk about how we save transit and our vibrant cities.
CSG comments on VDOT 495 Southside
The Coalition for Smarter Growth submits the following comments on the Preliminary Alternatives and Screening Evaluation presented by VDOT in September 2023 for its 495 Southside Express Lanes study.
CSG in the News: As Va. officials review SMART SCALE, some regional planners worry about shifting priorities
October 2, 2023 | Virginia Mercury | Nathaniel Cline “We certainly think there’s a lot of focus on highway road expansion statewide and no focus on climate change impacts with this approach,” said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
CSG in the News: Metro’s Financial Crisis Demands Leadership from D.C. But the Prospect of New Taxes is Making Politicians Skittish.
“I think they’re frustrated with having to lead the way, but I do think it is so much easier for the District to lead on this,” says Stewart Schwartz, the executive director of the influential Coalition for Smarter Growth and a veteran of many Metro funding debates.
TAKE ACTION: VDOT’s “495 Southside Study” is biased toward building more toll lanes. What happened to the promise of Metrorail?
Alexandria was promised future Metrorail across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to connect Virginia and Maryland when the bridge was reconstructed 15 years ago. And WMATA is currently studying a Blue Line loop across the bridge. But, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is racing ahead with a biased study designed solely to extend High Occupancy Toll Lanes (aka “Express Lanes”) from Springfield across the bridge to MD210. The comment period ends on October 10!
