Newsroom

Jun 21, 2011

Livability is a major buzz word in planning circles right now – for good reason. It’s a wide-ranging concept encompassing several factors that make places well livable: transportation choices affordable (and desirable) housing good schools rewarding careers clean environment lots of green and open space etc. It makes sense that livability is one of the main pillars of Region Forward since the goal of RF is to ensure that the impact of growth in metro Washington is positive on all these and

Jun 20, 2011

Americans shouldn’t hold their breath for congestion pricing at least according to Joe Peach at This Big City . Congestion pricing which involves charging a fee to enter part or all of a central city by car is aimed at encouraging alternatives to drive-alone commuting by making more climate-friendly modes of transport economically more attractive. It works. As Peach points out London launched congestion pricing in 2003 and it has had a major impact on reducing the amount of cars entering th​

Jun 15, 2011

Fifteen projects, totaling $6.5 million, aimed at improving and increasing transportation options for low-income commuters and people with disabilities were approved by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at its June 2011 meeting.

Jun 15, 2011

At the Region Forward Coalition kickoff event on June 10 Barbara McCann Executive Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition spoke about her experience leading the Coalition how its mission aligns with Region Forward and what Coalition members can do to make sure they are successful in making a more accessible sustainable prosperous and livable metropolitan Washington region.

Jun 14, 2011

Creating the Region Forward vision was hard work. Using Region Forward to measure progress prioritize needs and jumpstart projects will be an even more challenging endeavor. Fortunately the new group responsible for taking Region Forward to the next level is more than up to the task.

Jun 9, 2011

On June 8 two gatherings were held that reinforced why Region Forward holds great promise to be a catalyst for renewed regional focus and action.

Jun 8, 2011

A 15 percent increase in the participation rate for SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamps program) could generate approximately $70 million in additional economic activity in the metropolitan Washington region.

Jun 8, 2011

We’ve written previously about the understandable dilemma environmentalists often face when confronted with the notion of putting a price on nature . How exactly do you put a dollar figure on the planet? It seems almost offensive to compare clean air and water to Dior bags and Blu-Ray players. However when rationality isn’t sufficient to promote environmental protection (we only have one planet after all) it may be necessary to look to the almighty dollar.

Jun 7, 2011

The iconic Metro map is being redesigned more than thirty years after it was first unveiled. The original designer Lance Wyman has been chosen to update his creation. There are a lot of issues to consider such as geographic accuracy vs. clarity what services to include (commuter rail connections the Purple Line streetcars etc.) the addition of new lines and upcoming changes to existing lines (Silver Line Blue Line changes) and how to manage long station names just to name a few.

Jun 6, 2011

Unless the world starts taking serious action on climate change very soon we may all be tuning into The Weather Channel rather than Cinemax for our horror fix. That’s the point of a recent piece in Newsweek in which Sharon Begley puts the future of the planet should we continue to dawdle on climate change into terrifying perspective .