Newsroom

Apr 2, 2014

If the metropolitan Washington region were to get 5 percent of its electricity from solar it would reduce carbon emissions the equivalent of taking 789000 cars off the road and would generate $5.3 billion in economic activity . To help local governments realize the benefits of solar power COG is participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Sunshot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge.

Mar 31, 2014

Both Maryland and Virginia have announced updated plans to keep their respective commuter rail systems in a state of good repair and to expand capacity on existing routes to serve more riders. The states submitted the updated plans for inclusion in the 2014 update to the region's Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan, or CLRP, which identifies hundreds of regionally significant projects and programs that area transportation agencies expect to be able to afford to build or implement by 2040.​

Mar 27, 2014

“The Purple Line is going to be built” pronounced Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett to a room of over 250 locally elected civic and community leaders gathered at a workshop at the University of Maryland on March 21 to discuss community development challenges and opportunities along the region’s first rail line that will travel exclusively between Activity Centers outside of the District of Columbia. The Purple Line illustrates how our region has evolved from a “mono-centric” region wi​

Mar 26, 2014

At its March 2014 meeting, COG's Climate Energy and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC) officially launched a new awards program to recognize and encourage public agencies, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders in their efforts to achieve local and regional climate and energy goals.

Mar 25, 2014

Mary Anne McKown, a manager with more than 22 years of experience, 14 of which included leading homeland security and emergency management projects, has been selected as the Managing Director of the National Capital Region's Homeland Security Program Management Office (PMO.) The PMO was established last fall to coordinate and direct homeland security programs for the National Capital Region. The PMO will be housed at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Mar 24, 2014

On March 13 and March 19, the Transportation Planning Board welcomed more than a dozen staff of local elected officials from across the region to the latest session of the TPB's Community Leadership Institute, or CLI. The two-day workshop engaged participants in experiential learning activities and group discussions to better understand how transportation decisions are made throughout the Washington region, including at the local, state, and regional levels. This was the twelfth CLI session sinc​

Mar 20, 2014

In one of the country’s most competitive and high cost housing markets it is essential that local government play a role in ending homelessness on the local and regional level. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) released a report highlighting the adoption and use of 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness by our region’s jurisdictions. The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness model was first proposed by the National Alliance to End Homelessness a non-profit organization based in W​

Mar 17, 2014

Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have submitted 11 major projects to be included in this year's update to the region’s Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan, known as the CLRP. The CLRP is a collection of hundreds of regionally significant projects and programs that the local, state, and regional transportation agencies in the Washington area expect to be able to afford to build or implement by 2040. The Transportation Planning Board updates the plan annually to include new ​

Mar 13, 2014

Paul Quander is the appointed Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice of the District of Columbia. The Deputy Mayor has had a long career in litigation civil service and criminal justice. As Deputy Mayor Mr. Quander oversees a wide array of public safety services including the Metropolitan Police Department Fire Department Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and an array of other public safety bodies for the District of Columbia. He is a native of the District and a proud r​

Mar 13, 2014

Growth. It’s one of the region’s most important issues so it’s not surprising that it was once again front-and-center at the March 2014 COG Board of Directors meeting. Area leaders approved a new round of long-range forecasts discussed economic trends with one of the region’s leading experts and kicked off a new information and policy series on the infrastructure needed to support and sustain the coming people and jobs.