February 20, 2010 | 2 Comments
By Megan McConville

The Washington, D.C. metro area has the second highest percentage of public transit commuters in the United States, behind only New York City. Many of those riders walk to the Metro or the bus, …

Read the full story »
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Cars, Clean Fuels + Vehicles, Sustainable Transport, Technology + Innovation, Uncategorized »

Is D.C. ready for Electric Vehicles?
March, 11 2010 | No Comment
If DC is going to be ready for the arrival of electric cars later this year, it's going to have to begin installing more public charging stations, like this one in Oregon, soon.  Photo: Todd Mecklem, flickr.

If D.C. is going to be ready for the arrival of electric cars later this year, it's going to have to begin installing more public charging stations, like this one in Oregon. Photo: Todd Mecklem, flickr.

They’ve been all over the news lately – the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Roadster. And they’re coming soon: Electric vehicles are expected to hit the streets late this year. If they make the splash automakers and sustainable transport advocates hope they will, they could change our world. Nissan’s President and CEO predicts that 10% of cars sold by 2020 will be electric vehicles, and 56,000 Americans have already pre-ordered the Leaf.

The success or failure of electric cars does not depend solely on working out the kinks with the cars themselves.  Cities will play a major role in determining how far this technology goes. The municipal level is where two critical issues will be resolved: 1) the reinforcement of the local electric grid and, 2) the development of charging infrastructure. Without effective action on these fronts, electric cars will be basically unusable.

These issues are particularly pressing in D.C. Read the full story »

Moving through the Recession, Part 3: Metro Confronts Estimated $189 Million Budget Shortfall
March, 5 2010 | No Comment
Moving through the Recession, Part 3: Metro Confronts Estimated $189 Million Budget Shortfall

As the latest installment of its series Moving through the Recession, TheCityFix DC conducted an email interview with Thomas Harrington, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Director of Long-Range Planning.  Parts 1 and 2 …

Transportation in Jobs Bill: Chance to Act on Lessons Learned
March, 2 2010 | One Comment
Transportation in Jobs Bill: Chance to Act on Lessons Learned

Last week, the Senate passed its jobs legislation, which would send $19.5 billion to the highway trust fund and extend the 2005 transportation law (SAFETEA-LU). The House will act on jobs legislation this week.
Among …

D.C. Council Evaluates Aftermath of Snowstorms
February, 27 2010 | 3 Comments
D.C. Council Evaluates Aftermath of Snowstorms

More questions were asked than answered at this morning’s public oversight hearing on the District’s response to the recent “snow events” (i.e. back-to-back blizzards in February.) The hearing, held in the John A. Wilson Building, …

Voinovich and Other Lawmakers: Let’s Get to Work on Reauthorization
February, 26 2010 | One Comment
Voinovich and Other Lawmakers: Let’s Get to Work on Reauthorization

On the heels of Senator George Voinovich’s announcement earlier this week that the Senate will take up the long-term reauthorization of the U.S. transportation bill this year, Voinovich (R-OH) and several colleagues gathered at the …

BRT in Montgomery County: Lessons from Curitiba
February, 26 2010 | No Comment
BRT in Montgomery County: Lessons from Curitiba

Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal wrote a post for Maryland Politics Watch about his recent trip to Curitiba, Brazil, where he learned about bus rapid transit, since Montgomery County is exploring BRT as a transit …

Montgomery County’s Mixed-Use Zoning Proposal Gets Mixed Reception
February, 26 2010 | No Comment
Montgomery County’s Mixed-Use Zoning Proposal Gets Mixed Reception

Earlier this week, the Montgomery County Council endorsed revisions to its zoning code that would include a proposed mixed-use zone. The Council is expected to approve the changes next week.
In an effort to update …

Pedestrians Still Struggling with Snow
February, 25 2010 | No Comment
Pedestrians Still Struggling with Snow

For many of us, memories of Snowmageddon and Snoverkill are fading along with the melting snow.  But the region’s recent snowstorms are still affecting the lives of pedestrians in Columbia, Maryland.  Even worse, these pedestrians …

Snow Removal Best Practices: The Right Path
February, 20 2010 | 2 Comments
Snow Removal Best Practices: The Right Path

The Washington, D.C. metro area has the second highest percentage of public transit commuters in the United States, behind only New York City. Many of those riders walk to the Metro or the bus, …

Speak Out on D.C. Snow Removal Efforts at Public Hearings
February, 19 2010 | One Comment
Speak Out on D.C. Snow Removal Efforts at Public Hearings

Those of you who have been following snow removal efforts in the D.C. area will now have several opportunities to voice your opinions in the coming weeks.
D.C. Council Member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) has announced …

Capital Region Transportation Planning Board Highlights Transit, Livability
February, 18 2010 | No Comment
Capital Region Transportation Planning Board Highlights Transit, Livability

Today’s National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) meeting was evidence of a region ready to embrace sustainable planning, enhance its transit offerings, and improve its environment. The TPB is the federally designated Metropolitan …