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.

Transportation

Highway Safety

The final Highway Safety rule was issued in March 2016. The first targets were set by state DOTs in August 2017 when state DOTs submitted their new Highway Safety Plans to FHWA, including measures and targets for the upcoming year.

In January 2019, the TPB adopted the regional Highway Safety Targets. The next set of annual targets will be brought to the board for consideration in December 2019, with adoption scheduled for January 2020. Staff will continue to coordinate with state DOTs and collect more information on safety actions and outcomes across the region, with a goal of sharing best practices and making more effective use of federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds.