At its December meeting, the TPB approved a resolution to begin work on implementing the aspirational initiatives from Visualize 2045, the region’s new long-range transportation plan.
When the TPB endorsed the initiatives in 2017 and again when it approved them as part of Visualize 2045 in the fall, it called on its member jurisdictions and agencies to commit to fully explore the concepts contained in the initiatives and to act to implement projects, programs, and policies to fully realize potential improvements in the transportation system’s performance.
To get started, TPB Chair Charles Allen asked staff to work with subject-matter experts to identify specific actions that TPB members could take—individually and collectively—to make these projects, programs, and policies part of future long-range plans.
In November, subject-matter experts from TPB’s technical subcommittees returned to the board with 13 recommendations for things the region could do to advance the initiatives. Of these, five were activities that TPB staff could take on.
These recommendations were rolled into a resolution up for approval by the board in December.
13 ways the region can reach its transportation aspirations
The resolution approved by the TPB this week directs TPB and Commuter Connections staff to:
- To prioritize high-capacity transit stations (including Metrorail, commuter rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), light-rail, and streetcar) to make it easier for people to get to the stations on foot or by bike.
- To expand the National Capital Trail and create a National Capital Regional Trail Network that extends to all TPB member jurisdictions.
- To better incentive people to change their commuting habits, look at how to use games and rewards to enhance existing applications and programs.
- To develop a process for TPB member jurisdictions to work with WMATA on targeted employer outreach.
- To develop policy templates for small and mid-size employers to adopt FlexTime and telework programs.
Two other actions in the resolution call on transportation agencies in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to work together to develop a consistent tolling policy for express or congestion priced lanes throughout the region. And, to work with local jurisdictions and planning agencies to develop a framework of preferred standards for development density, operations, and service to support different types of BRT systems in the region.
In addition, the COG Board of Directors approved a resolution focused on land-use and building more housing. The COG Board directed area planning and housing directors to assess the region’s ability to provide more housing, particularly within regional activity centers and around high capacity transit stations. These activities specifically speak to the TPB’s initiative focused on bringing jobs and housing closer together.
TPB Chair Charles Allen introduced the latest Visualize 2045 resolution as a first step, “a concrete effort towards projects, programs, and policies that this region would fund and implement in the coming years and make them part of future updates to Visualize 2045.”
Listen to the board discussion:
Read more about the recommendations.
Read the resolution as adopted.