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INTERSECT Support Intersect, join WRN, visit: http://washingtonregion.net/html/contributionform.html. Summary: All articles by WRN staff unless otherwise mentioned. "The Future of Metro" WRN Forum January 10, 2002 As our region grows, how will Metrorail and bus service accommodate
new riders, improve service to existing communities, and increase access
and convenience for people of all incomes? After seven months of outreach and deliberation, the D.C. City Council
scheduled hearings to formally consider the Omnibus Housing Bill and
associated amendments, the next of which will be the D.C. Council Legislative
meeting on Tuesday, December 18th. Affordable housing activists characterize
the debate as a decision on what kind of city residents want Washington
to be. Housing activists say they want to see more benefits directed
toward lower-income groups facing rising rents and displacement. Council member Harold Brazil held a surprise meeting of his Economic
Development Committee on the 9th to mark up the same bill. Backed by
Council members Chavous and Fenty, Graham introduced two amendments.
One would require inclusionary development - a requirement that developers
of new residential buildings of more than 20 units must include 10%
of affordable units, half for under 30% AMI ($25,500) and half for under
60% AMI ($51,000) if the builder receives assistance of any kind from
the city. Brazil, Evans, and Catania expressed concern that the amendment
would be a disincentive to developers. The second amendment would create
a tenant assistance program, funded by 5% of the Trust Fund each year.
Brazil, Evans, and Catania opposed Mr. Evans on grounds, with which
some housing activists agree, that the Production Fund should not be
used for services. Council member Harold Brazil's Committee on Economic
Development scheduled a committee mark up for Graham's amendments to
the Housing Bill, for Wednesday, December 12th in which over six hours
of testimony from Mayor Anthony Williams' staff, developers, and the
real estate industry preceded that of any affordable housing activists.
Purple Line Endorsement will Benefit Inner Beltway Communities After months of debate, Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening, the Montgomery County Council, and a Prince George's County Council committee endorsed the inner Purple Line. The line, expected to be completed by 2012, will connect Bethesda to New Carrollton by way of a mostly above ground trolley system similar to those found in Dallas, TX, Portland OR, and Baltimore, MD. "This Purple Line will provide transit to people who need it most,"
said Gov. Glendening, announcing his endorsement outside a New Hampshire
Avenue strip mall in Langley Park. "It will take thousands of cars
off our roads, [and] encourage smart growth development in some of our
oldest communities and town centers." County Executive Douglas Duncan, who favors an outer alignment, argues that the inner line will do little to reduce traffic congestion. "I prefer the outer because it's where the growth is going to be, I think its more future oriented, and it allows people to access Metro from further out." Since the inner Purple Line endorsements, outer Line supporters suggested a variety of new alternatives to providing light rail access to existing communities - such as tunneling under the beltway. County Council President Blair G. Ewing voted for the inner Purple Line. "It provides transportation options to people much more likely to use mass transit because their incomes are lower," he said. Prince George's County Councilman Peter Shapiro (D.-Brentwood) added that "it's smart growth, revitalizing older neighborhoods." According to state transportation officials, the financial and environmental benefits of light rail with TOD designs implemented at station areas along with the Council and Governor's endorsement, put the state in a good position to receive funding from Congress, which is scheduled to reauthorize its federal transportation spending in 2003. "We must be united, or we will not receive national funding," says Glendening. The next hurdle for the Purple Line is a Maryland State Legislature endorsement to initiate the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Metro Considering Improvements to its Land Development Program Rethinking the Role of Parking in the Region The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF's) has just released a second report in a series on potential Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reforms, "Building Healthier Neighborhoods with Metrorail: Rethinking Parking Policies." The Bay Foundation considers better use of the $10 billion Metrorail system to be an important part of the solution to managing growth so that it enhances existing communities and lessens impacts on the Chesapeake Bay. The CBF report is aimed at helping the Metro board and local jurisdictions more creatively consider how investment policies can provide better access to stations. The report focuses on reexamining the role of park-and-ride and whether building giant parking garages at Metrorail stations is the best use of land and funds to improve system access and the system's role in meeting the travel needs of the region. The report finds that current decisions about parking facilities tend to be based on the narrow, short-term objectives of storing more cars at stations, with little consideration for the opportunity costs and continued inefficiencies resulting from such choices. CBF points out that park-and-ride access negates much of the air quality benefit of transit use, as automobile commute trips generate much Bay-harming NOx emissions simply by turning a car engine on. According the CBF, Metro's current de facto parking policy wastes much of the potential of the transit system to reduce pollution and stimulate development of healthier communities. Building Healthier Neighborhoods with Metrorail: Rethinking Parking
Policies is available at: New Report Calls D.C. Traffic and Pollution Estimates Flawed - Recent official air quality and transportation predictions for the
metropolitan Washington area are severely flawed, according to a study
released December 10th by a coalition of Washington area environmental
and civic organizations. The findings indicate the region will continue
to fail to meet federal health-based air quality standards. To learn more about smart growth policies, funding sources, networking Request for Photos WRN is looking for photos of what you like and don't like about the
intersections, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, building designs, parks,
and development near Metro stations and bus stops for our "Metro
In Your Neighborhood" slide show of how better development around
Metrorail stations can enhance surrounding communities. Send your favorite
or least favorite images to WRN - email or mail, or simply call us with
your suggestions.
The next Intersect will include a summary of WRN's November forum, "The Future of Washington's Neighborhoods", with Dr. Alice Rivlin of the Brookings Institution, as well as the latest transportation planning news from Maryland and what Virginia groups think Governor elect Mark Warner can do for smart growth. Upcoming Events Saturday, December 15, 9am - 3pm. Forum on 14th Street Development
in Columbia Heights, sponsored by ANC 1A. Developers will present information
about the 12 proposals for 3 vacant sites near the Columbia Heights
metro and be available for audience questions. Location: Lincoln School
Auditorium, 3101 16th Street, NW (Columbia Heights metro). Refreshments
will be served. For more information, call 202/588-7278. Wednesday, December 19, 2pm. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) meeting of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG), 777 N. Capitol St, NE (Union Station metro). For more information call 202/962-3311 or visit http://www.mwcog.org/trans/cmtes.html. Job Listings 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 thanks the following individual and organizational donors for their
continued support of WRN's programs advocating for livable communities
in the National Capital Region: Walt Rybeck, Allen Muchnick, Rebecca
Harriett, Dawn Alexander, Jeff Lee, John & Gail Harmon, Gerald Allen
Schwinn, Dale Tibbitts, Anne Ambler, Joanne Droppers, Harry Sanders,
Simi Batra, Bill Mosley, Richard Reis, Kent Cooper, Tim Stephens, Linda
Keenan, Marc Elrich, Merrill Boone, Jeffrey Blum, Bill Wilkinson, Lee
Epstein, Meade Berman, Ancient Forest Adventures, and the League of
Women Voters of the National Capital Area. Thank you! ________________________________________________________________________ WRN advocates transportation investments, land use policies, and community designs that enhance existing communities and the environment of the National Capital Region. Cassie Seiple, Intersect Managing Editor. Comments and articles welcome. Views expressed are not necessarily those of WRN. Washington Regional Network For Livable Communities 1777 Church Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 Phone:
(202) 667-5445
Fax: (202) 667-4491 Email:
staff@washingtonregion.net Web: http://www.washingtonregion.net WRN Contribution Form ___ *** Add $20/person for Intersect to be faxed long-distance or mailed (to cover costs). Individual Contribution Categories: ___ Limited Income $15 ___ Basic Individual $35* ___ Supporter $80* ___ Sustainer $120 Organizational Contribution Categories: ___ Small $60* ___ Basic $200 (Intersect sent to up to 3 individuals* & recognition in Intersect 2x/year) ___ Sustaining $500 - Intersect sent to up to 15 individuals by email or local fax*
Please attach separate sheet for additional persons: Salutation: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Name: Title: Organization: Address: Email: Home Phone: Work Phone: Fax: Affiliation(s): Send WRN updates via: ___ email ___ regular mail ___ fax ___ do not send updates ___ Interested in volunteering. Please contact me. ___ Please keep my name/information confidential. Please return this form with a check payable to WRN, 1777 Church St, NW, Washington DC, 20036. WRN is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Thank you! ________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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