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What's Happening In Transportation

For information about the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), browse the latest issue of TPB News.

Regional Car Free Day is September 22!

Regional Car Free Day includes a series of events intended to encourage residents to leave their cars at home, or to use alterative forms of transportation such as public transit, carpools, vanpools, telework, bicycling or walking. The TPB approved the Regional Car Free Day 2010 Proclamation at its July monthly meeting.

TPB Participates in Submission of a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant

The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program is sponsored by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and provides competitive funding for grants that support improvements to multi-jurisdictional regional planning efforts that integrate housing, transportation, environmental impact, and economic development. The deadline for applications is August 23. COG will apply for such a grant on behalf of a regional consortium. At its July meeting, the TPB adopted Resolution R2-2011, approving its participation in this region-wide consortium.

TPB Approves Projects for Funding Under FTA JARC and New Freedom Programs

The TPB continues its commitment to deliver transportation services to persons with disabilities and low-income workers through adopting Resolution R24-2010, which approves ten projects for funding under the FTA Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom programs. Additional details about these projects, including information about the solicitation process, may be found here.

TPB Approves Submission of a "TIGER II" Pre-Application for a Regional Bike Sharing Project

At its June meeting, the TPB adopted Resolution R25-2010, which approves the submission of a Regional Bike Sharing pre-application under the DOT TIGER II Program. TIGER II makes competitive $600 million for discretionary surface transportation funding. Pre-applications for TIGER II are due July 16,and final applications are due August 23.

TPB Approves Project Submissions to the CLRP and TIP

The TPB adopted Resolution R22-2010 on May 19 to approve project submissions for the inclusion of air quality conformity assessment for the 2010 CLRP and the FY2011-2016 TIP. More than 300 comments were received on the project submissions during the public comment period, which ended on May 15. For more information on the adopted resolution and on significant project submissions, click here.

TPB Approves Scope of Work for Air Quality Conformity

At its May meeting, the TPB approved a scope of work that reflects the tasks and schedule designed for the air quality conformity assessment of the 2010 CLRP and FY2011-2016 TIP. Click here for more information.

Eight TLC Projects Approved for FY2011

The Transportation/ Land-Use Connection (TLC) Program provides support to local governments in the Metropolitan Washington region as they work to improve transportation/ land use coordination. On July 21, the TPB approved eight technical assistance projects for the FY 2011 round of the TLC Program.

TPB Approves National Capital Region Freight Plan

The National Capital Freight Plan defines the role of the Freight Program within the TPB transportation planning process, provides information on current and forecasted freight conditions, identifies regional freight concerns such a safety and security, and presents a National Capital Region Freight Project Database. On July 21, the TPB Adopted Resolution R1-2011 approving the National Capital Region Freight Plan.

State of the Commute 2010 Survey Results Presented to TPB

The State of the Commute Survey is a random sample survey that is conducted on a triennial basis to monitor trends in commuting behavior, and to gauge attitudes about commuter assistance services. Highlights from the 2010 State of Commute Survey were provided to the TPB at its July meeting.

TPB Approves Next Steps for the Conversation on Setting Regional Transportation Priorities

The Conversation was an event held on May 26 for members of the TPB, TPB Technical Committee, TPB Citizen Advisory Committee, and TPB Access for All Advisory Committee to engage in interactive discussion of regional transportation challenges and opportunities, and possibilities for enhancing the process of setting and implementing regional priorities. A report summarizing the results of this event was presented to the TPB at its June meeting, and the TPB approved a series of Next Steps at its July meeting.

TPB Approves MOITS Strategic Plan

At its June meeting, the TPB adopted Resolution R26-2010, approving the strategic plan for the Management, Operations, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (MOITS) Planning Program.

TPB Receives Final Results for "What Would it Take" Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scenario

The "What Would it Take" scenario starts with goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for 2030 and beyond, and examines how such goals might be pursued in the transportation sector. At its May meeting, the TPB was briefed on the final results from the analysis of this scenario. Click here for more information.

TPB Approves FY 2011 UPWP

The TPB Approved the FY 2011 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) during its montly meeting on March 17. The UPWP is a federal requirement, and incorporates in one document all federally assisted state, regional, and local transportation planning activities proposed to be undertaken in the region from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. The UPWP also provides a mechanism for the coordination of transportation planning activities in the region. For more information about the UPWP, click here.

Region Wins Nearly $60 Million in Federal Stimulus Funding to Improve Transit

The TPB was awarded $58.8 million in stimulus funding from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) TIGER Program on February 17th. This funding improve bus transportation along priority corridors in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia; enable priority bus transit to connect Prince William and Fairfax Counties and the City of Alexandria with the District of Columbia; and create a a multimodal Takoma/Langley transit center in Prince George’s County.

TIGER, which stands for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, is a competitive grant program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that makes $1.5 billion available for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure projects. For more information on this award, inclduing the TPB application, click here.

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