April newsletter

Get your tickets, take action, and more...

Dear {{FirstName or 'Friend'}}, Snag your tickets for our 25th Anniversary celebration on May 12th from 6-8pm! We’ll be on the rooftop at the Capitol View at 400 with stunning views of the Capitol and Union Station. We’ll take a look back and a look ahead, celebrate and catch-up after two years apart!

Regional

Our climate can’t afford business as usual (comment here) The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board just released its regional transportation plan for public comment (due by May 1). Transportation is our #1 source of greenhouse gas emissions, and officials must prioritize walkable, equitable transit-oriented communities over highway expansion to reduce fossil fuel and car dependence and help solve our climate crisis.

CSG to be on WAMU 88.5 (April 5 at 3pm, listen in) Sonya Breehey, our Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager and longtime bike/ped advocate, will be live in studio with Kojo Nnamdi for Kojo In Your Community – How can we make the roads safer for all?. Be sure to tune in and share your support for swifter action to make our streets safer for walking, biking, and scooting.

Free Island Press e-book (download) Our friends at Island Press Urban Resilience Project just released their FREE e-book: "Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities." The compilation celebrates our collective progress in creating resiliency, while highlighting how far we have yet to go.

D.C.

Help eliminate parking requirements for affordable housing! (take action) Good news! The DC Zoning Commission is considering: 1) eliminating parking requirements for affordable housing units, and 2) reducing parking in mixed-income projects in exchange for more affordable units. This could lower building costs and increase affordable housing.

Chevy Chase DC Small Area Plan draft (April 7, register) Ward 3 Vision and Historic Chevy Chase DC are hosting a panel to discuss what’s next for the Chevy Chase DC Small Area plan. The draft plan is out for public comment with a Mayor’s hearing on April 26 and comments due May 13. The plan aims to address community ambitions for sustainable growth, Main Street character, increased housing choices, and social inclusivity.

Parking cashout We started our campaign for a parking cashout in 2017 and, at long last, it's hitting the streets! According to this law, employers that offer a free or subsidized parking benefit to an employee must give them the choice to use the value of the benefit to ride transit, bike, or walk to work if they turn down the parking benefit.

Maryland

Join our Montgomery for All April meeting (April 21, register) We'll hear from four of Montgomery County state delegates about the 2022 legislative session in Annapolis and what’s next in state policy for housing, land use, and transit.

Weigh in on the North Bethesda BRT (deadline: April 29, take survey) Take the survey about the North Bethesda Transitway, which will run from Montgomery Mall to either North Bethesda or Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station, tying together thousands of jobs and residents, retail, and schools.

Invest in Montgomery County bus riders (take action) This budget season, Montgomery County has a chance to invest in the future of its bus system and in a better life for bus riders. Our Montgomery Better Buses coalition is pushing for Bus Rapid Transit construction, bus lanes, free fares, and more!

RISE Prince George’s at the Better Block Suitland party (April 8, register) Join us to discuss the innovative work of Creative Suitland and its Empty Spaces Creative Places program and county redevelopment plans near the Suitland Metro station. After our meet up, stay for the Creative Suitland block party with food trucks and socializing!

Virginia

CSG/CASA kick off Safe Streets Bailey’s campaign We kicked off our Safe Streets for Bailey’s Crossroads campaign on March 15th with a rally and canvass launch!

The community is home to a large immigrant population where many rely on walking, biking, and the bus. Yet, the main roads are unsafe due to dangerous road design. Check out some of our press hits.

Fairfax Connector Transit Strategic Plan (take the survey) Fairfax County wants to hear from you as it finalizes its plan to improve bus service in the county. Share your support for faster, more frequent and convenient options for taking the bus.

NoVA Community College Green Festival (April 19 & 20, register) Northern Virginia Community College is hosting its annual Green Festival in April. Sonya Breehey, CSG’s NoVA Advocacy Manager, will be presenting on sustainable ways to get around the region and why reducing vehicle miles traveled is a key climate solution.

Thanks for all you do,

Stewart Schwartz Executive Director Coalition for Smarter Growth

Images from Joe Flood, Ayesha Amsa, Chadisia Stadler, Island Press, Daniel Kelly, Ron Eichner, Oren Levine, Visit Annapolis, MW Transit Photos, Jane Lyons, Creative Suitland, Sonya Breehey, MW Transit Photos, John Brighenti

Support a thriving D.C. region today by donating!

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