TPB News Analysis Quantifies Drop in Roadway Congestion During Recent Papal Visit Oct 21, 2015 A Transportation Planning Board analysis has quantified the traffic effects of Pope Francis' recent visit to the Washington region. The analysis, which showed sharp drops in rush-hour congestion on area roadways during the visit, demonstrates that modest reductions in driving during peak periods can yield dramatic improvements in travel conditions.
TPB News Fifty Years Ago, TPB Established as Region's Official Metropolitan Planning Organization Jun 30, 2015 Fifty years ago today, on June 30, 1965, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board was officially incorporated as the Washington region's federally designated metropolitan planning organization, or MPO.
TPB News Major Transit Projects in Various Stages of Planning and Implementation Highlighted at Regional Forum Jun 23, 2015 A long list of new transit services or significant enhancements slated to come online in the Washington region over the next few years were highlighted at a recent gathering of transit agencies and operators from across the metropolitan area.
TPB News Al Grant, COG's First Transportation Planning Director, Remembered For His Leadership and Contributions to the Region Jun 16, 2015 When Al Grant arrived at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) in 1966, he brought with him a wealth of experience. The former chief bridge designer for the District of Columbia's Department of Highways and Traffic would lead COG's new transportation planning department and staff responsible for supporting the newly-minted Transportation Planning Board (TPB). Grant passed away in April.
TPB News Findings of Regional Vehicle "Census" Point to Slower-Than-Expected Air Quality Gains Jun 9, 2015 Every three years the Transportation Planning Board carries out a regional vehicle "census" to determine the year, make, and model of nearly every car and truck registered in the Washington region. The analysis yields important information about the changing age and make-up of the region's vehicle fleet that helps the TPB refine its forecasts of future vehicle-related emissions of key air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
TPB News As Ozone Seasons Gets Underway, Air Quality Analysis of 2015 CLRP Update Kicks Off Jun 2, 2015 Ozone season is underway in the Washington region. That means that area environmental agencies together with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments are monitoring concentrations of the harmful pollutant and issuing alerts for days when concentrations are expected to exceed healthy levels. Summer is the peak season for ground-level ozone because of the abundance of direct sunlight as well as more stable weather patterns, which can lead to greater air stagnation.
TPB News Memorial Day Holiday Traffic Expected to Peak on Thursday, Not Friday TPB Weekly Report May 18, 2015 Traffic on Washington area highways ahead of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to reach its worst point on Thursday afternoon, running counter to a common perception that the Friday before the holiday weekend is the worst time to travel.
TPB News Workshop Examines What It Takes to Create Safe and Inviting Pedestrian Spaces TPB Weekly Report May 12, 2015 Sometimes a few small changes can transform an uninviting, vehicle-dominated city street or intersection into a space where pedestrians feel safe and welcome, encouraging more travel by foot and a more vibrant street scene.
TPB News Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects in Northern Virginia to Receive Federal "Transportation Alternatives" Funding TPB Weekly Report May 4, 2015 The Transportation Planning Board recently approved a number of pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects in Northern Virginia to receive funding under the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.
TPB News TPB to Congress: Increase Transportation Funding, Renew Focus on Maintenance and Multimodalism TPB Weekly Report Apr 27, 2015 A year after urging the United States Congress to act to avoid a looming insolvency of the federal Highway Trust Fund, the Transportation Planning Board at its April 15 meeting called on the lawmaking body to substantially increase federal transportation funding and to fund priority needs like system maintenance and multimodal travel options.