Newsroom

May 14, 2014

According to an annual report by the Council of Governments, there are 11,946 homeless people living in the Metropolitan Washington region – a 3.5 percent increase from 2013. The report, Homelessness in Metropolitan Washington , which contains the results of the 14th annual count of the region’s homeless population, was released during the COG Board of Directors meeting.

May 14, 2014

The 2014 Foster Parents of the Year for metropolitan Washington were honored at the Council of Governments May Board meeting for their commitment to their foster sons and daughters as well as to the children’s birth families. The foster parents were praised for developing productive partnerships with the birth families that benefitted the children and entire communities.

May 12, 2014

The 2014 update to the region’s Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan has entered its next phase: the federally required Air Quality Conformity Analysis, to assess whether future vehicle emissions under the proposed plan will exceed regional budgets approved by the federal government. The analysis will be completed by September, in time for the Transportation Planning Board to review the results before considering the update for final approval in October.

May 12, 2014

Fairfax County Supervisor and COG Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee Chair Penny Gross spoke at Smithsonian Garden Fest on May 9 as part of National Drinking Water Week. She encouraged people to protect area waterways use water wisely and drink tap water while local water utilities provided reusable bottles and fresh tap water to attendees.

May 7, 2014

As communities across the country embrace sustainable initiatives the Washington area is a leader in implementing sustainable infrastructure through actions such as growing our uses of solar energy building super-efficient housing and incorporating sustainability principles into our unique mix of government commercial and residential development in the Region’s Activity Centers. These efforts are changing the face of several communities.

May 6, 2014

On Saturday, May 3rd, the Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee sponsored the 23rd Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony in honor of fallen corrections officers at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. The ceremony commenced National Correctional Employees Week, and brought together local officials from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia as well as correctional employees and their families from around the United States.

May 5, 2014

The latest growth forecasts from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) predict more than 1.5 million new jobs and 2 million new residents in the Washington region by 2040. Most of this new growth will occur in denser, mixed-use housing and job centers known as Activity Centers, according to the forecasts. COG works directly with its member jurisdictions to update its "Cooperative Forecasts" on a periodic basis. The forecasts predict how much the region will grow in coming deca​

Apr 28, 2014

The region is making some progress in implementing key priorities spelled out in the Regional Transportation Priorities Plan, according to a preliminary assessment presented to the Transportation Planning Board in April. The assessment found that local, state, and regional transportation agencies are pursuing many of the individual strategies in the plan. It also found that more people will, in the future, have access to or will be using more efficient travel modes like transit, bicycling, and w​

Apr 28, 2014

With the “Ozone Season” starting for 2014, officials want the region to continue its positive trend in air quality. Starting today, Air Quality Awareness week is part of a nationwide effort to increase awareness of the connection between air quality and public health.

Apr 24, 2014

When people think about things that add to air pollution power plants and large vehicles they see on the road may come to mind first. But off the road and often out of sight there are other significant sources too.