COG Briefs Congressional Delegation on Progress in Homeland Security
Members of the National Capital Region's Congressional delegation joined COG's Chief Administrative Officers Committee in October for a special briefing on the status of the region’s emergency preparedness plans. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Christopher Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), and James P. Moran (D-Va.) attended the session to review progress made and work in progress since recent Gulf Coast hurricanes. The session addressed evacuation planning, communication among officials and first responders, and plans to meet the needs of special populations.

COG Presents Homeland Security Plan
A new work plan was presented to COG's Board of Directors to guide members as they continue to assess the region's emergency plans. In the wake of havoc caused by recent natural disasters elsewhere in the country, COG's internal review focuses on examining where local efforts rely on state and federal assistance and how special populations, such as elderly and low-income citizens, are served by the current plans. Long-term goals will include planning a major regional emergency exercise in 2006 and finalizing an updated Regional Emergency Coordination Plan that is consistent with any new federal emergency planning mandates.

TPB Approves Two Major Transportation Projects
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board in October unanimously approved regional transportation plans that include two major transportation projects: High Occupancy Toll Lanes lanes and CapCom. Members agreed to add HOT lanes on the northern Virginia side of the Capital Beltway, and to fund a project currently known as CapCom, a transportation coordination center and program for the National Capital Region. Transportation departments have already agreed to supply the project with $400,000 over a five-year period beginning in 2005. CapCom has also received a congressional earmark of $1.6 million as well as $1 million in homeland security funds. The TPB expects the HOT lanes project to be ready for public use by 2010.

Regional Leaders Explore Solutions to Chronic Homelessness
As COG’s member jurisdictions seek new ways to address a shortage of affordable housing, the region’s elected officials gathered to discuss collaborative solutions for ending chronic homelessness at a one-day conference, Advancing Regional Collabaration to End Homelessness. COG’s Homeless Enumeration Report released earlier this year shows the number of people who are homeless in the metropolitan region rose for a fifth straight year. Many of them, however, are finding their way into programs that help solve the problems that lead to homelessness -- a significant trend that elected officials and nonprofit groups hope to build upon. "Every year we talk about the enumeration, but this year we are bringing together jurisdictions to talk about the results and what we can do about them," said Fran Becker, chair of COG's Homeless Services Policy Committee.

PLANNING

Cooperative Forecast Predicts Growth
The region’s latest forecast for population and household growth -- released in October -- reveals a robust economy that will continue to experience steady employment and population increases in coming decades. The Round 7.0 Cooperative Forecast predicts that by 2030 the number of jobs in the region will rise by 1.4 million – an increase of 49 percent -- from initial employment figures in 2000. During the same 30-year period, the region’s population is expected to increase by 2.1 million people and more than 821,000 households. "The good news is that we are growing and that we have a very robust economy,” said COG Board Vice Chair Jay Fisette. “The bad news for our jurisdictions is are potential issues of congestion as a result.”