About Us

COG is the one place in metropolitan Washington that regularly brings leaders together to develop solutions to the region's major challenges. COG prepares plans enabling the region to receive federal funding, provides members with research and data to inform decision-making, and offers a wide range of programs, including commuter services, cooperative purchasing, technical assistance and grants, and public outreach campaigns.

Transportation

Through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), area officials, planners, and engineers ensure a well-managed and maintained transportation system. The TPB, which is staffed by COG, conducts the federally mandated transportation planning process for the region and ensures the uninterrupted flow of federal transportation funds that area jurisdictions receive.

Environment

COG's work engages leaders in various environmental fields from water quality experts to climate scientists. Together, they are advancing regional efforts to restore local waterways, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, promote recycling, and enhance and preserve green space and agriculture.

Community

Area officials and experts, including planning and housing directors and child welfare and health officials, work together with their counterparts at COG to help shape stronger communities throughout the region.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together as part of its work to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.

Video Series: Collaboration in Action

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Introducing Collaboration in Action, COG's video series hosted by Executive Director Clark Mercer. The series spotlights COG's work with member jurisdictions and private, nonprofit, and civic organizations on a wide variety of programs and initiatives that improve the quality of life for everyone in our DMV region.

Come along as Clark takes you behind the scenes of several of our initiatives, spreading the word about the value of regional partnership and highlighting the leaders and experts in our network that are making a positive impact in our communities.

Don't miss an update or new episode of our Collaboration in Action video series by joining our newsletter list: mwcog.org/subscribe

SEASON 1

EPISODE 2: Safe Streets in the DMV

COG is back with another episode of Collaboration in Action, taking you behind the scenes into the many ways in which we work with our members and partners to support a better DMV region. In this episode, we're diving into the important topic of roadway safety and how we are working to eliminate roadway fatalities and make streets safe for all road users through initiatives such as the Street Smart safety campaign, infrastructure upgrades through our Regional Roadway Safety Program, and new legislative solutions such as exploring reciprocity agreements for automated tickets across jurisdictions.

Learn more about these efforts in the video above, where COG Executive Director Clark Mercer is joined by District of Columbia Councilmember and 2024 TPB Chair Christina Henderson, VDOT Northern Virginia's Multimodal Transportation Planning Manager and TPB Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Chair Heidi Mitter, and City of Alexandria Complete Streets Program Manager Alex Carroll.

Guests:

Christina Henderson, District of Columbia Councilmember and 2024 Transportation Planning Board Chair
Heidi Mitter, VDOT Northern Virginia Multimodal Transportation Planning Manager and 2024 TPB Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Chair
Alex Carroll, City of Alexandria Complete Streets Program Manager

Resources:

COG's Street Smart Safety Campaign
Technical assistance grants through COG: Transportation Land-Use Connections (TLC) and Regional Roadway Safety Planning Program
More on ticket reciprocity in metropolitan Washington

EPISODE 1: Restoring the Anacostia

MORE:

Visit the episode page for more information and links to additional resources.

CONTACT: communications@mwcog.org