Newsroom

Oct 12, 2011

In a weird way among the most frequent themes we return to on this blog when discussing the environment and climate change are the non-environmental and climate benefits of taking action on these issues. Even if we decide to completely neglect the moralistic arguments put forth by environmentalists and/or the scientific evidence put forth by researchers for why we should diversify our energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions there are still two huge reasons to do so: economic growth

Oct 6, 2011

The three largest jurisdictions in the region (Fairfax Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties) are planning for dramatic transformations and showing that density transit and mixed-use development are not antithetical to the suburbs.

Sep 30, 2011

This week The Guardian asks if Britain’s love affair with the car has ended . Rates of driving in the UK have decreased dramatically over the past few years especially among young people. Why are young Brits eschewing the personal automobile? The piece points to two motivating factors: an increase in gas prices (and Europe already had vastly higher gas prices relative to the US ) as well as the proliferation of programs like ZipCar that allow people to have a car only when they need one. ​

Sep 29, 2011

Last year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded MWCOG with a “Smart Growth Implementation Assistance” grant to develop a climate change adaptation plan for metropolitan Washington. To help guide the plan’s development the EPA and MWCOG recently held four workshops with local officials focusing on specific sectors likely to be impacted. This is a two part series based on those workshops. Part one focused on the water and building sectors while part two focuses on the t

Sep 23, 2011

Yesterday’s metro DC Car Free Day far surpassed last year’s participation rate with a record-breaking 12000+ pledges ! That in and of itself is a great accomplishment but combined with Bike to Work Day earlier this year which also broke its previous record with over 11000 participants demonstrates ever-increasing interest among Washington area residents in alternatives to driving.

Sep 20, 2011

As we noted in August DC area residents are some of the most economically confident in the nation . Even as the region’s unemployment rate has ticked up slightly over the past few months the region remains in a relatively strong position. Washington’s supercharged housing market is frequently cited as an example of the DC area’s protective economic bubble. The commercial construction sector is beginning to show similar vibrancy.

Sep 15, 2011

Last year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded MWCOG with a “Smart Growth Implementation Assistance” grant to develop a climate change adaptation plan for metropolitan Washington. To help guide the plan’s development the EPA and MWCOG recently held four workshops with local officials focusing on specific sectors likely to be impacted. This is a two part series based on those workshops. Part one focuses on the water and building sectors while part two focuses on the transp

Sep 15, 2011

Even as metropolitan Washington’s population continues to increase rapidly – growing by about 15 percent in the past ten years – crime in the region has decreased markedly. This is an incredibly important fact because no matter how hard we push to make the region better if the crime trend were pointing in the opposite direction other improvements would perhaps deservedly fade into to the background.

Sep 8, 2011

To meet our shared goals outlined in Region Forward better coordination of transportation and land use is essential. But before local governments can launch projects that promote transit-oriented development complete streets and bicycle and pedestrian safety they often need some support.

Aug 30, 2011

While catching up on some non-Hurricane Irene news yesterday we noticed an interesting set of articles presenting two problems – environmental and climate degradation and economic uncertainty – that can be solved through a common solution: promoting and creating green jobs.