Regional and Federal

Image: John J Young

With over 5 million people, 8 congressional districts, 3 state-level governments, and 22 local jurisdictions, the Washington region certainly has its complexities, but it also has a rich history of working together through the regional Council of Governments (COG) and partnering on major projects like the Metro system. The Coalition for Smarter Growth has played a central role in promoting a more sustainable and equitable way for our region to grow via a network of walkable, inclusive transit-oriented communities (TOCs). Our 2002 Blueprint for a Better Region illustrated this approach, and led to the 2005 Reality Check visioning exercise, and the Council of Government’s (COG) 2010 Region Forward vision plan, and 2021 resolution to prioritize development at high-capacity transit stations.

Our Work in the DC region

Climate change and the regional Transportation Planning Board (TPB): We have just nine years to slash our greenhouse gas emissions and transportation is now our #1 source.  Our recent report shows electric vehicles will not be enough, transit-oriented communities are key to reducing emissions from driving. We are pressing regional officials to do more and move faster to shift funds from highways to transit and TOCs, both at COG’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB)  and at the Northern Virginia Regional Authority. Learn more >>>

Improving our Regional Transit Network: Having teamed with business allies in the MetroNow coalition in 2018 to win the first-ever dedicated funding for Metro, we are now working with MetroNow and other partners for Better Buses — more frequent, reliable and affordable, with improved networks and dedicated bus lanes, while continuing to press WMATA on safety, maintenance, transparency and communications. Learn more >>>

Latest Happenings

MetroNow Statement on Leadership Changes at WMATA and Operator Recertification Lapses

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MetroNow released the following statement on the WMATA operator recertification lapses and leadership changes at WMATA
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CSG Comments: May 2022 Visualize 2045

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Our primary comments are contained in the joint letter with over 30 other organizations from across TPB’s region.
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LETTER: May 2022 Visualize 2045 Sign-On

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Yet the TPB board members made no substantive changes, and the
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Nightime picture of a bus leaving the Rosslyn Metro Station in NOVA, with a trail of red and orange lights..

ACTION ALERT: Demand climate action from your local elected officials

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Transportation is the #1 source of our regional greenhouse gas emissions, and we have just 8 years to slash those emissions. Yet, our local and state elected officials who sit on the regional Transportation Planning Board (TPB), are not taking the urgent – and feasible – steps necessary to reduce emissions from our region’s transportation system. They need to hear from you! 
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RELEASE: Statement by CSG Executive Director Stewart Schwartz on Gas Prices and Suspension of the Gas Tax

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Better, lasting solutions are needed including more sustainable community designs to end our oil dependency
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