Posts by Laura DeSantis

For example, in Montgomery County, the state will build a $63 million interchange at Georgia Avenue (MD 97) and Randolph Road, to speed up traffic near the Glenmont Metro station. With ramps and longer crossings, the interchange will further degrade pedestrian access to nearby shopping from residences.

For the amount spent on this project, the county could build much of the long-discussed Georgia Avenue bus rapid transit project from Wheaton to Olney instead.

Montgomery County is pushing another grade-separated interchange at the Veirs Mill Road (MD 586) and Randolph Road. Based on past experience, we can expect that the planned Veirs Mill bus rapid transit project (the county's largest bus route) will continue to lose out to the expensive interchange for priority.

The interchange would not only compete for funds with this proposed rapid bus corridor, it would also make conditions much worse for the many pedestrians who cross these roads to stores and bus stops at the intersection. Read the whole list of the county's priority transportation projects here.

In Prince George's, despite numerous setbacks, the 6,000-acre greenfield Westphalia development project outside the Capital Beltway and miles from the nearest Metro station still maintains a top ranking on the list from local elected officials. The price tag for the road infrastructure to serve this massive tract of largely undeveloped land is $460 million.

The transportation projects would convert Pennsylvania Avenue (MD 4) into a freeway from the Capitol Beltway to Woodyard Road (MD 223), and add 4 interchanges along the way. The Westphalia plan calls for adding 14,000-15,300 new residential units and up 6 million square feet of commercial space.

The county transportation lists also contain important transit, bike, and pedestrian projects, but often these proposals languish while road projects advance. Other important transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and complete streets solutions never even make the list. We need to fund projects that meet the growing demand for more transportation choices that save time, energy, and money.

If Marylanders are asked to pay more, each dollar must be invested wisely. Residents need better and more affordable transportation choices. So where should this money go?

First, let's fix Maryland's existing infrastructure, like our aging roads, bridges and transit systems. Then, let's build modern transit to move more people efficiently and competitively, while providing alternatives to congested highways like the Beltway, I-95, and I-270. It's long past time for critical rail investments like the Purple Line, Baltimore Red Line and MARC expansion, and better bus service.

At the local level, state revenue to local governments should go to fix and maintain local street connections, sidewalks, and bikeways for existing communities.

Moreover, given high unemployment, smart growth transit options can help the economy. Public transportation and road maintenance are the biggest job creators. According to the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, investments in road maintenance projects create 9% more jobs than spending on new highway capacity; increasing transit capacity creates 19% more jobs than new highway capacity.

If Marylanders are going to pay more, we deserve to know what the money will buy. We need a bill that that specifies smart, fix-it-first policies for the state. Otherwise, we're just throwing our money into the dark.

Rhode Island Avenue. Photo by rachelg-dc.

National Capital Trolley Museum. Photo by Marc Tomik.

Glover Park. Photo by Michael T. Ruhl.

Silver Spring. Photo by Andrew-Benson.

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Columbia Heights. Photo by guy_incognito.

Eastern Market. Photo by James...Campbell.

15th Street. Photo by Joe in DC.

Silver Line construction, Tysons Corner. Photo by 1 brian.

McPherson Square. Photo by Joe in DC.

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Pennsylvania Avenue. Photo by Joe in DC.

Electric delivery. Photo by jsmjr.

Logan Circle. Photo by tedeytan.

Whitehurst Freeway. Photo by msdeena.

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Sunrise. Photo by pablo.raw.

Eckington. Photo by tedeytan.

Old Convention Center site. Photo by Michael T. Ruhl.

L'Enfant Plaza. Photo by gringo_loco87.

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Santa at Eastern Market. Photo by ekelly80.

Eastern Market. Photo by ekelly80.

Great Falls. Photo by pablo.raw.

8th and V NW. Photo by msdeena.

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"This is DC?" Rail~Volution arrives

Every year hundreds of the country's leading transit experts, architects, planners, civic activists, and decision makers gather at the Rail~Volution conference. This year Washington, DC hosted and we learned from our guests that we have a lot to celebrate about the progress of our home region.

More than a few attendees exclaimed: "This is DC?" They were blown-away by our walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods, by the city's revitalization, by our suburban transit renaissance, by Capital Bikeshare, and more (and yes, they still have Metro envy). The hard work of an army of volunteers, staff from DC and other local jurisdictions, the DC business improvement districts, and our team at CSG resulted in a great conference. Attendees participated in eye-opening tours, forums on the latest in transit communities, a special set of local sessions, and a jam-packed film festival.

Transit communities advance in Prince George's

Prince George's made big strides toward tapping the vast potential of its 15 Metro stations. The CSG has long campaigned for investing in this remarkable asset to take further advantage of the multi-billion Metro investment, to address unbalanced commuting patterns, and to revitalize older, inner suburbs.

In his first year in office, County Executive Rushern Baker championed transit-oriented development and a new Economic Development Incentive fund. As unanimously passed by the Council, the record $50 million fund will support investment in transit-oriented development and inside-the-Beltway communities, serving as a catalyst for sustainable, long-term economic development.

The county and state also announced a major mixed-use development at New Carrollton Metro Station and the move of the state's housing agency to the station.

Fairfax County commits to a transit future

One year ago we held a "Future of Fairfax" summit for elected officials, local planners, business leaders, and civic activists. At the summit, Chair Sharon Bulova declared her support for transit and transit-oriented development as the future of the county and essential for both economic development and protecting the environment. In the year since, Fairfax County has led the way in advancing Phase 2 of Metrorail to Dulles, seeking cost savings, and a commitment of funding from the state.

The county also made progress on Tysons Corner, approving the first of 12 large mixed-used developments proposed under the new plan. In updating its planning policies and standards for its biggest urban center, the county is creating policies that can be extended to its revitalizing commercial corridors. These include a strong plan for bicycle and pedestrian access from surrounding communities to the Metro stations, the first application of stronger urban stormwater management standards, and steps toward achieving affordable housing goals.

With continued population growth, the county's commercial corridors with their acres of parking lots offer the best opportunity to absorb new homes, offices and retail, while creating mixed-use, walkable, bikeable, and transit-accessible neighborhoods that generate less traffic and help protect remaining forested green spaces. The Coalition for Smarter Growth continues to press for revitalization in these commercial corridors, places like the Richmond Highway (Route 1) Corridor, and Bailey's Crossroads.

The Purple Line advances and Montgomery commits to a transit future

Big news came in October when the Federal Transit Administration approved the Bethesda-Silver Spring-New Carrollton Purple Line light-rail project for "preliminary engineering." This is the critical stage when construction plans are developed and the alignments and stations are more clearly defined.

The Purple Line will provide thousands of people a traffic-free alternative for traveling to work and contribute to the revitalization and economic success of inside-the-Beltway communities in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and it is only one part of the transit future that Montgomery County now envisions.

County Executive Ike Leggett launched a Rapid Transit Task Force to study and advance a 150 mile network of rapid transit long proposed by Councilmember Marc Elrich. The network is seen as critical for enhancing the economic competitiveness of the county, supporting economic growth while providing high-speed alternatives to sitting in traffic. The county hopes to create a national model with the system and attracted a $260,000 seed grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Stepping backwards: BRAC and the return of zombie highways

The scope of the traffic problems resulting from the Department of Defense's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) moves started to become apparent in 2011. DOD's decision to move over 20,000 jobs away from locations with Metro and commuter rail service ignored the huge transportation impact and left local and state governments with a multi-billion dollar bill for infrastructure. There is no better illustration of the impact of poor location decisions on transportation and the importance of transit-oriented development for our future than the BRAC moves.

DOD's return to a 1950's suburban office campus model was paralleled in 2011 by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton's revival of a 1950's and 1960's idea for an Outer Beltway and up to two Potomac River bridge crossings. We call it the Zombie Highway for its eerie ability to come back from the dead, with various studies in 1989, 1997, 2001, and 2004.

The project would divert scarce transportation funds from fixing critical commuter corridors, do nothing to relieve traffic on existing roads, and fuel scattered development in rural areas in Stafford, Prince William, and Loudoun counties in Virginia, and Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland. The Secretary designated the proposed highway as a "Corridor of Statewide Significance" and lobbying groups began a renewed push for bridges from Great Falls and Loudoun into Potomac and the Montgomery Agricultural Reserve. One group and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell reportedly pushed the issue in a closed door meeting with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and DC Mayor Vince Gray.

The push for the Outer Beltway has been part of an overall shift in Virginia away from supporting transit and the core traffic issues of Virginia's metropolitan areas in order to fund questionable rural highways. Hundreds of Virginians have signed our petition against the Outer Beltway and historic preservation groups have joined the fight because the first phase of the highway would run through hallowed ground at the historic Manassas National Battlefield.

If you care about smart transportation solutions and sustainable growth for our region, then we hope you will join the Coalition for Smarter Growth and our partners in what promises to be a tough fight in 2012 to stop this project.

So what's next? Keep an eye out for our next post, which will look ahead to 2012. CSG will work to continue the progress we saw in 2011, and you can count on us to continue fighting the Zombie Highway and proposing more sustainable transportation solutions. We hope you'll join us as we move the region forward, whether you attend one of our events, testify at a local hearing, or become an official sponsor of our work with a donation of $100, $64, or $32.

Have any honorable mentions for the top five smart growth moments of the year? Post in the comments!

Dupont Circle. Photo by ekelly80.

Waiting to cross. Photo by mystadobalina.

Trackwork. Photo by mystadobalina.

Holiday Market. Photo by suburbannation.

Vacant. Photo by mystadobalina.

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Tweed ride. Photo by uno000.

Hill East. Photo by I Coleman.

Rock Creek Park. Photo by pablo.raw.

Meridian Hill Park. Photo by nevermindtheend.

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Downtown. Photo by Natalia Esina.

New York Avenue. Photo by mystadobalina.

Downtown DC. Photo by mystadobalina.

Rock Creek Park. Photo by ekelly80.

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