Washington Regional Network

 for Livable Communities
Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities

INTERSECT

Newsletter of the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities
April 12, 2001 - Volume 5 Number 3

Campaign to Halt Potomac River Bridge & Highway

By Cassie Seiple, WRN Coordinator

"The days of paving over existing communities are long gone," Dolores Milmoe, the Maryland Co-Chair of a new civic-lead campaign, asserted to a vocally supportive audience. At news conferences in Maryland and Virginia, Solutions Not Sprawl – A Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Transportation kicked off their campaign to oppose new Potomac River Bridges and their connecting highways.

The speakers panel at both news conferences on Monday, March 26 exemplified the wide range of Solutions Not Sprawl supporters – citizen groups, developers, and elected officials in DC, Maryland, and Virginia – and expressed the views of the over fifty (largely grassroots) organizations signed on in support of the Solutions Not Sprawl Mission. Panel member Nick Austin, a D.C. high school student, spoke for future generations when he explained that sprawl reduces access to jobs in the district.

Solutions Not Sprawl advocates using transit and town centers instead of highways as the magnets for new growth in the region. This approach provides more travel options, an improved quality of life in communities all over the region and protects neighborhoods and dwindling open spaces. In response to press questions Laura Olsen, the Regional Co-Chair of Solutions Not Sprawl, encouraged the region to envision the future of its communities, "Do we want continued sprawl, more traffic, and neighborhoods where kids can’t even safely walk to the library? No, we want to provide better choices, sensible development near Metro and communities where we can safely walk and bike."

Extensive press coverage reflects the resonance of this issue in the region and has included comprehensive reports on all major television and radio stations and local newspapers including the Washington Post and the Washington Business Journal. Stories have ranged in focus from studies showing that this multi-billion dollar project would not solve traffic problems on the beltway, to the detrimental effects on the economy in DC and Prince George’s County and the environment. For more information on the Solutions Not Sprawl Campaign: contact mailbox@solutionsnotsprawl.org, visit www.solutionsnotsprawl.org or call 202/332-3301.

Metrorail Expands Bike-on-Rail Program

Thanks to years of urging by the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA), Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) staff announced a major expansion of the system’s Bike-on-Rail program when the Metro Board’s Operations Committee met on March 22. All changes will be effective for a six month trial period from May 29 through the end of November. During this time WMATA will closely monitor the impact that the enhancements have on the system and other riders.

First, the midday hours of access for passengers with bikes have extended two hours (10:00 to 4:00 PM, rather than 10:00 to 2:00). Second, for the first time ever, cyclists will be able to board trains with their bikes in the early morning, from 5:30-6:30 AM, on weekdays, making it possible for commuters to commute both ways with their bike on board. Finally, in a major change, cyclists would be able to board any uncrowded car of a train via the front and back doors of the car. This latter step means that instead of 4 bikes per train on weekends, 16-24 bikes could be carried on Metro trains (depending on the length of the train). On weekdays, when only 2 bikes are permitted per car, most trains could carry up to 12 bikes. Bicyclists can never enter a car through the middle doors, which must remain clear for emergency exits. As always, bicyclists enter and move through the system using the elevators not the escalators.

This program is a 6-month trial period. If followed properly these steps will strengthen the Metro-cycling connection. Please show your support for these changes by remembering and reminding others of the rules for bikes on Metro.

Bike to Work Day: On Friday, May 4 join one of fourteen bicycle convoys at locations all over the region to celebrate clean and easy bike commuting. Bicyclists will converge on Freedom Plaza for a rally (Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, NW) from 8:00-9:00am featuring food, coffee, speakers, and major prize giveaways (like bikes and other gear). To register, visit: http://www.waba.org.

"Metro In Your Neighborhood" — WRN’s Redevelopment Program

New development next to Metrorail stations can enhance community safety and promote convenient access to neighborhood retail stores. To engage communities in the redevelopment of underutilized land near metro stations, WRN has hired a Redevelopment Coordinator, Jim Schulman of Sustainable Community Initiatives (SCI) to develop "Metro In Your Neighborhood," a visual educational tool. It will be used to help communities envision neighborhood supportive pedestrian–friendly transit oriented development (TOD) around Metro stations, especially those slated for WMATA Joint Development. The Redevelopment Committee is developing a comprehensive strategy to promote community understanding and support of well designed transit-oriented development.

Over the next year, WRN’s Redevelopment Program aims to accomplish the following:

  • Catalyze an improved WMATA land development ("Joint Development") process.
  • Foster well-designed and well-managed planning processes in the communities around Joint Development sites.
  • Connect WRN’s work on transit-oriented development to our broader efforts to advocate affordable housing policies in Washington, D.C. and the region.
  • Develop a citizenry that is well educated about the benefits of community supportive transit-oriented development, especially in communities around Metro sites that are targeted for Joint Development.

Thanks to a generous contribution by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Redevelopment Program will purchase a digital camera and presentation equipment necessary to customize "Metro In Your Neighborhood" for each community it is presented to.

If you have any questions about the Redevelopment Program’s objectives or strategies, would like to see the first year report, or are interested in visioning TOD in your community, please contact WRN or Jim Schulman at jschulman@igc.org.

Atlanta Study Links Vehicle Use to Asthma

A new study of asthma hospitalizations around the time of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta concludes that decreasing vehicle use and promoting mass transit dramatically reduces hospitalizations for asthma attacks. Published in the February 21 edition of Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found that the city's strict limits on personal vehicle use, coupled with heavy promotion of mass transit during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, resulted in a 23% decrease in morning rush hour traffic and a 42% drop in daily hospitalizations for asthma among children between the ages of one and sixteen.

To read the study, visit http://www.jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n7/abs/joc90862.htm.

Affordable Housing Gets the Attention of District Officials

By Janet W. Brown, WRN Board Member

Recent events have made it impossible to ignore the District’s affordable housing needs. On March 26th, the heads of the DC’s Office of Planning and the Department of Housing and Community Development were guests at a community forum entitled "DC Development – for Whom?" sponsored by the Council of Latino Agencies, Manna CDC, and the Latino Development Corporation. On April 10th, the DC Coalition for Housing Justice held a "Peoples' Hearing On Affordable Housing," in which tenants from all over the city expressed their perspectives on the lack of quality affordable housing. Councilmembers Jim Graham and Adrian Fenty attended the event as did representatives from the DC Office of Planning, the DC Department of Community Development, DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, and the DC Housing Authority.

At both events, in varied and spirited presentations, a diverse group of residents aired their needs and grievances. A Bell High School student spoke of the "complete disrespect" of the owner of their apartment building for residents. Steeply rising rents, said others, mean people can't afford to stay – and can't afford to move. An immigrant mother of four, when she reported the lack of electricity, was told "if she had complaints, she could move." The cycle of homelessness and buildings not kept to code is hard to break without sufficient housing options for low income families. Tenants trying to buy their buildings (in DC, tenants have the first right to purchase if the building is sold) sought legal and technical assistance to make the right a reality. Renters asserted that they are a sizeable and stable portion of the housing population. A twenty-three year renter said, "even though we are not owners, we’ve been investing in [our apartment] as if it was our own home." "The way to build stable neighborhoods is to actually leave the people standing in those neighborhoods," one tenant association member summarized.

These personal testimonies to the difficulties surrounding access to decent affordable housing continued for several hours. The official's responses and promises (of the Mayor's housing legislative package recently released) sounded flat by comparison. Mayor William's proposed legislation, released April 2nd, includes protection for existing affordable housing ($10 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund to help tenants stay in Section 8 buildings whose contracts are expiring), incentives for developers to build affordable units, and regulatory reforms, including new codes. His objective, "housing for ALL the people" is unimpeachable, and the proposed measures are important first steps. But housing advocates will find insufficient attention and priority for low-income rental families. Council Member David Catania introduced legislation that would include tax relief for owners of low-income housing who extend their contracts with the city. It is clear that the crisis for affordable housing is generating attention, and public officials are listening.

To get involved, or for more information about making the link between what lower income residents, especially renters, need and the funding and legislation that is being proposed, contact the DC Coalition for Housing Justice: http://www.zzapp.org/cisdc or call 202/265-2659.

Note: WRN’s "Housing Policy for the City: Proposals to Meet the Crisis in Affordable Housing in the District" is now available on our web page.

Bill Introduced for Potential NY Ave Metrorail Station Funding

The "New York Avenue Metro Special Assessment Authorization Act of 2001" (Bill 14-147) authorizes a special assessment on properties located near the planned New York Avenue Metrorail Station. This legislation has been introduced to create a Metro Benefit Assessment area by which private landowners would contribute $25 million toward the design and construction of the proposed new Metrorail station near New York & Florida Avenues, NE. Chairman Cropp introduced this legislation on behalf of the Mayor and it was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue, which is chaired by councilmember Jack Evans, of Ward 2.

WRN has advocated basing the private sector contribution to the NY Ave Metro on land value rather than total property value (land plus buildings), square footage, distance, or some other measure. Those who benefit the most from their proximity to a new Metro Station should contribute the most but not be penalized for the maintenance and construction of buildings on their property (which a tax based on total property value would do). For a copy of past Intersects with articles on the NY Avenue Metro station visit: www.washingtonregion.net/html/newsletter.html.

A Public Roundtable on this legislation will be held Thursday, April 26, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at One Judiciary Square 441 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC. WRN encourages supporters of a NY Avenue Special Assessment District based on land value to testify, by calling Ms. Schannette Grant at 202/724-8058, no later than 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2001.

Solutions to Sprawl – A Visual Tool for Citizen Groups

Thanks to a committed core of WRN volunteers, the "Solutions to Sprawl" slide show is being scheduled for community groups and civic associations all over the region. "Solutions to Sprawl" outlines the problems associated with sprawl traffic congestion, loss of farmland and open space, air and water pollution, poor access to jobs and activities, and disinvestment in existing communities with examples in the metropolitan Washington region. The slide show then presents four principles for smarter growth and suggests several specific actions local citizens can take to promote a network of walkable communities linked by quality transit, laced with parks, and surrounded by greenbelts, with the District of Columbia and Arlington as the hub of the region.

WRN would like to thank the volunteers who have committed to presenting the "Solutions to Sprawl" slide show. If you are interested in volunteering to give the slide show or would like to schedule a slide presentation at your next community meeting/event, please contact the WRN coordinator.

Job Listings

  • WRN Internship: assist the WRN coordinator with various duties including: preparing the monthly newsletter, organizing quarterly forums, and maintaining contact databases. This three month part-time internship is unpaid with flexible hours. Send resume, cover letter, writing sample and dates available to WRN. This internship would be of particular interest to students of urban planning, political science, environmental studies, communications and association/ non-profit management.
  • Friends of the Earth seeks DC Environmental Network Coordinator. The Coordinator is responsible for developing the capacity of DC based community and environmental groups to address pressing environmental problems in their neighborhoods and citywide. Visit: http://www.foe.org/jobs/dcencoord.html.
  • STPP, the Surface Transportation Policy Project, seeks Grassroots Coordinator and DC Intern. For more information visit: http://www.transact.org.
  • The Citizens Planning and Housing Association seeks Director of Transportation to implement and advance CPHA's transportation policy, planning and organizing objectives in the Baltimore region. Send a resume, cover letter and writing sample to Terri Turner, Citizens Planning and Housing Association, 218 W. Saratoga, 5th floor, Baltimore, MD 21201.
  • The Thunderhead Alliance, a growing coalition of state and local organizations advocating for bicycle-friendly communities, seeks DC Executive Director, contact Susie Stephens, Managing Director at susies@methow.com or visit: http://www.thunderheadalliance.org.

Upcoming Events

  • Monday, April 16, 5:30pm - 7:30pm. DC Vote's "Bonfire of the 1040's Tax Day Protest" Featuring Civil Rights Leaders and music by Chuck Brown. Bring copies of your tax forms to throw into the symbolic fire. Put an end to taxation without representation in the nation's capital. Upper Senate Park, on Constitution Avenue, across the street from the Capitol (South of Union Station Metro). Contact DC Vote at 202/462-6000.
  • Wednesday, April 18, noon - 2pm. Meeting of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), 777 N. Capitol St, NE (Union Station Metro). Contact: 202/962-3311.
  • Wednesday, April 18, 8:30am - 2:00pm. The Environmental Project’s Maryland Global Warming Workshop, at Frederick Community College. The workshops will review the current science and policies associated with global warming, discuss existing Maryland initiatives, and consider statewide strategies and programs. Attendees include state agency personnel, representatives from companies and businesses, individuals from non-profit organizations, and educators. To register visit: http://www.environmentproject.org.
  • Thursday, April 19. In celebration of Car Free Day and Earth Day the Sierra Club will be handing out thousands of postcards and fliers at transit stations to raise support for the proposed purple line. For more information contact 703/312-0533.
  • Saturday, April 21, 8am - noon. Community Service and Anacostia River Clean-Up and 10am-4pm Neighborhood Celebration and Events (free, rain or shine). Sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Association. The event will be held at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, contact Kym Elder 202/426-5961, e-mail: kym_elder@nps.gov.
  • Saturday, April 21. Anacostia Earth Day Clean-Up and Celebration. A river cleanup of the tidal river at four sites and a celebration with poetry jam and trash sculpture contest to be held at the brand new Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, MD. More info at: http://www.anacostiaws.org.
  • Saturday, April 21, 9am - noon. Retaining People: Density and Development. The fourth Clarendon Alliance Urban Design Forum Series, at the George Mason University, Arlington Campus. The event is free. Contact the Clarendon Office for a reservation, e-mail: tomf@clarendon.org, phone: 703/276-0228.
  • Saturday, April 21 - 25. Forum 2001 Solar Energy: The Power to Choose, The National Solar Energy Conference – includes over 200 presentations on the entire range of solar technologies. Location: Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC. Sponsor: American Solar Energy Society, visit: http://www.solarenergyforum.org/ e-mail: ases@ases.org, phone: 303/443-3130.
  • Saturday, April 21, 9:00am - 12pm. Stream Clean-up, Location: Four Mile Run Park, 3700 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria VA Web site: http://www.alexearthday.org/Projects/StreamClean-up/ Contact: Adrianna Ross e-mail: adrianna1@home.com, phone: 703/883-4686.
  • Saturday, April 21, 11am - 2pm. Earth Day in Barry Farm, a clean up and beautification day with a picnic lunch, work in partnership with the Barry Farm Resident Council to paint over graffiti, plant flowers, and clean up. Meet at the Anacostia Metro Station and we'll walk to Barry Farm together. Questions? 202/610-3360.
  • Sunday, April 22, 10am - 2pm. Earth Day - Schoolyard Garden Ground Breaking Help The Corcoran In-School Program work with students, teachers, parents, and neighbors install a schoolyard garden at Fletcher-Johnson public school in NE DC (4650 Benning Road, NE). Contact: Julia Moe at 202/338-6863.
  • Saturday, April 28, 9:30am - 12:30pm. Neighborhood Planning Workshop: Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights, Pleasant Plains and Parkview. This is one of 39 workshops which will help shape the Mayor's proposed FY2003 Budget. Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th Street. RSVP: Vincent Valdez, Ward 1 - Cluster Two Neighborhood Planning Coordinator at 202/442-7600.
  • Sunday, April 29, 7am - 9am. A town hall meeting: "The Region 2001–Growth, Sprawl, and Economic Development" broadcast as a live call-in radio show (DC 101.1FM and AM 980), sponsored by Metropolitan Council of Governments and Clear Channel Communications. The show will feature elected officials from around the region and will be hosted by Jerry Phillips.
  • Tuesday, May 1, noon - 2pm. Fair Growth: Connecting Sprawl, Smart Growth, and Social Equity, presented by the Fannie Mae Foundation. This session will address the issue of making smart growth fair for everyone. Speakers will discuss the importance of including affordable housing and other equity issues in the smart growth debate and explore local barriers and opportunities for fair growth. Speakers include: Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink; Rolf Pendall, Cornell Uiversity; Cheryl Cort, President, WRN. Reserve Officers Association of the U.S. One Constitution Ave. NE. Includes a light lunch. RSVP to khassan@fanniemaefoundation.org by April 27th.

Support Intersect, Join WRN

This newsletter is a free service to those interested in creating more livable communities. Please help WRN continue to report on these issues; join WRN and support Intersect. WRN welcomes all donations but a basic membership is $35 for individuals and $200 for organizations.

WRN would like to thank the following for their recent contributions: Kathleen Pritchard, Cynthia Rubenstein, and the Piedmont Environmental Council. In particular, WRN would like to acknowledge Steven Waters for generously donating his time to updating and improving the WRN web page.

INTERSECT! is a publication of the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities.

WRN advocates transportation investments, land use policies, and community designs that enhance existing communities and the environment of the National Capital Region.

Contributions help cover the costs of producing INTERSECT as well as WRN's other activities including forums, workshops, and reports. WRN Contribution Form.

Cassie Seiple, Intersect Managing Editor.
Comments and articles welcome

Views expressed are not necessarily those of WRN.

    Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities
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    Phone: (202) 667-5445  ¨ Fax: (202) 667-4491
    Email: staff@washingtonregion.net

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