Annual Membership Luncheon to Feature Expert on Growth Issues
The 2005 Membership and Awards Luncheon will feature Robert E. Lang, founding director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech in Alexandria and an expert on issues related to suburban development. Join COG at the National Press Club on December 14, where you can network with colleagues as we honor the region's outstanding leaders, review accomplishments of the past year and preview COG's annual video. Guests are encouraged to register online to ensure a seat reservation.

COG Sponsors Summit on Day Laborers
Local officials from throughout metropolitan Washington joined day labor center administrators, human services providers, and local business representatives for a day labor summit held at COG. Organizers believed it was the first time nationally that the day labor issue has been discussed at the regional level. Greenbelt Mayor Judith Davis, Herndon Mayor Michael O’Reilly, Montgomery County Council President Tom Perez, Prince George’s County Council Members Will Campos and Camille Exum, Rockville Council Member Robert Dorsey, and Takoma Park Council Member Terry Seamens were some of the other leaders that joined in the regional conversation.

Radio Campaign Encourages Recycling
COG's two-week radio ad campaign that began November 7 encouraged residents and businesses in the area to take on the responsibility of recycling. Advertisements ran through November 20 on five local stations to educate the public and raise awareness on the importance of recycling. The $45,000 radio buy was funded largely by area sponsors, incluing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the District of Columbia, the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and Fairfax County.

TRANSPORTATION

Officials Ahead of Schedule in Optimizing Traffic Lights
Transportation officials are ahead of schedule in "optimizing" traffic signals throughout the region. Officials told the Transportation Planning Board at COG during its November meeting that about 1,100 intersections were optimized in the three-year period ending in June 2005, exceeding the goal of 900. Signal optimization is a traffic engineering concept that re-times traffic signals to to help reduce vehicle delays.