News Highlight Electric Vehicle Planning Moves Forward with New Partnership Sep 30, 2011 COG advanced regional electric vehicle planning by joining the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), an industry association of vehicle and equipment manufacturers, energy providers, component suppliers and end users.
Region Forward Blog Young Brits are driving less France is celebrating TGV anniversary by expanding it and nuclear power will grow less than expected Region Forward Sep 30, 2011 This week The Guardian asks if Britain’s love affair with the car has ended . Rates of driving in the UK have decreased dramatically over the past few years especially among young people. Why are young Brits eschewing the personal automobile? The piece points to two motivating factors: an increase in gas prices (and Europe already had vastly higher gas prices relative to the US ) as well as the proliferation of programs like ZipCar that allow people to have a car only when they need one.
Region Forward Blog Adapting to Climate Change in Metro Washington (Part 2) Region Forward Sep 29, 2011 Last year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded MWCOG with a “Smart Growth Implementation Assistance” grant to develop a climate change adaptation plan for metropolitan Washington. To help guide the plan’s development the EPA and MWCOG recently held four workshops with local officials focusing on specific sectors likely to be impacted. This is a two part series based on those workshops. Part one focused on the water and building sectors while part two focuses on the t
News Highlight Anti-Idling Campaign Communicates Directly with Bus and Truck Drivers Sep 28, 2011 This summer, COG coordinated a Driver Recognition Program to honor truck and bus drivers and their companies for reducing engine idling.
News Release Nearly 12,000 Go Car Free or Car-Lite Sep 27, 2011 This year's Car Free Day drew nearly 12,000 participants, breaking the event's previous record and surpassing last year's figures by 70 percent.
Region Forward Blog Record-breaking Car Free Day shows growing interest in alternatives to driving Region Forward Sep 23, 2011 Yesterday’s metro DC Car Free Day far surpassed last year’s participation rate with a record-breaking 12000+ pledges ! That in and of itself is a great accomplishment but combined with Bike to Work Day earlier this year which also broke its previous record with over 11000 participants demonstrates ever-increasing interest among Washington area residents in alternatives to driving.
News Release TPB Briefed on Housing and Transportation Costs in Region Sep 21, 2011 Two initiatives will provide policymakers and the public with better information about how the region’s five million-plus residents get around and how much it cost for them do so.
Region Forward Blog Commercial construction rebounds in metro Washington Region Forward Sep 20, 2011 As we noted in August DC area residents are some of the most economically confident in the nation . Even as the region’s unemployment rate has ticked up slightly over the past few months the region remains in a relatively strong position. Washington’s supercharged housing market is frequently cited as an example of the DC area’s protective economic bubble. The commercial construction sector is beginning to show similar vibrancy.
News Highlight COG's David Robertson Recommends Metropolitan Business Planning in Capital Business Column Sep 16, 2011 In a Washington Post Capital Buinsess op-ed published on September 18, 2011, COG Executive Director David Robertson urges area leaders to look for ways to diversify the D.C. region's economy.
News Highlight COG's Ron Kirby Particpates in National Journal Transportation Debate Sep 16, 2011 On September 16, National Journal brought together a group of political leaders and experts at Union Station to discuss the need to improve America’s aging infrastructure during a time of massive deficits and demands for fiscal restraint. COG Transportation Planning Director Ron Kirby was one of the featured speakers.