Newsroom

Dockless bikeshare increases shared bike use significantly. That was the good news from the May 31 Dockless Bikeshare Workshop. However, free from fixed docking stations, participants learned that dockless bikes don’t respect jurisdictional lines. Inter-jurisdictional coordination and cooperation is essential.

COG Environmental Planner Heidi Bonnaffon is raising awareness about the region’s valuable water resources.​

The third annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week was held June 2-10, and COG partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Program, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Virginia Conservation Network, and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to raise awareness about this valuable environmental and economic resource and recognize the partnerships at all levels that are making Bay restoration possible.

Launched over a decade ago, the TLC program provides local jurisdictions with professional consultants to help work on creative and sustainable small-scale plans and projects. One by one, these projects help further TPB goals to create more livable, walkable, bikeable, and transit accessible communities throughout the region. The TPB has completed over 100 projects to date.

Today, more than 17,000 of metropolitan Washington area commuters braved the rain by leaving their cars at home and hopping on their bicycles for this year’s Bike to Work Day. The weather did not dampen the celebrations at the nearly 100 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, where bicyclists received their free event t-shirt and were treated to food, beverages, prizes, and the chance to share the ride with other commuters.

With an expansion of 17 new pit stops for 2018, commuters on bicycles will have more options for celebrating Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18.

The TPB approved nine projects across the region to receive $500,000 in technical assistance through the Transportation Land-use Connections (TLC) Program.

According to a 2018 report by COG, there are 10,480 persons experiencing homelessness in the area—a 6 percent decrease (or 648 people) from 2017. The report, Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington, contains the results of the 18th annual census, a one-day snapshot, of the region’s residents experiencing homelessness within nine area jurisdictions.

Foster parents from 10 jurisdictions across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia were honored today by the COG Board of Directors as the region’s 2018 Foster Parents of the Year. A ceremony for the foster parents was held during the board’s May meeting.