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NCSG hosts over 100 stakeholders to make the Purple Line Corridor a great place to live

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NCSG hosts over 100 stakeholders to make the Purple Line Corridor a great place to live

On Friday, March 22, NCSG hosted over 100 policy nonprofit leaders, policy advocates, and political leaders at the 2019 PLCC Stakeholder Workshop. The meeting was held as part of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition’s (PLCC) commitment to engaging and organizing stakeholders in the region.
The event included a panel of speakers, as well as break-out sessions to discuss challenges and future plans for the region.

Speakers included:

  • County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County
  • Floyd Holt, Office of Prince George’s County Executive
  • Mike Madden, MDOT Maryland Transit Administration
  • Fred Craig, Purple Line Transit Partners
  • Celeste James, Kaiser Permanente
  • David Bowers, Enterprise Community Partners
  • Gerrit Knaap, National Center for Smart Growth, UMD

The Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC) is a program of the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) working to ensure that investments in the MTA’s planned light rail, the Purple Line, will offer the maximum economic, social, and environmental opportunities to the residents and businesses along the corridor. The PLCC is made up of for-profit, nonprofit, political, and community stakeholders across Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

More information at purplelinecorridor.org.
Image by Jelena Dakovic
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Nick FinioApr 08No Comments

City planners need to talk about race. The lives of our residents depend on it

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City planners need to talk about race. The lives of our residents depend on it

In an article for Greater Greater Washington, authors Brittany Drakeford (a PhD student in the UMD URPD Program) and Ras Tafari Cannady II make the case for equitable planning. They argue that planners must acknowledge urban planning’s racially segregated history and seek to correct the pollution and health burden that past decisions have placed upon Black and Latino citizens.

If planners don’t address this context, they are bound to reinforce the effects of discriminatory land-use practices and perpetuate inequitable health outcomes in the very communities they are charged with serving.

The authors cite best practices from across the US. Among these best practices is the Maryland Environmental Screen Tool (MD EJSCREEN Tool), developed at the University of Maryland by the Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health Laboratory (CEEJH Lab) and the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG).
Brittany Drakeford is a PhD student in the University of Maryland’s Urban and Regional Planning and Design program. She is also a planner with the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission (Prince George’s) and a 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Leader.

Ras Tafari Cannady II is an experienced Senior Urban Planner with the Prince George’s County Planning Department (M-NCPPC), focusing on Urban Design and Zoning.

Image by Brittney Drakeford.
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Nick FinioMar 13No Comments

Maryland climate scientists urge the State to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act

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Maryland climate scientists urge the State to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act

NCSG Director Gerrit Knaap is among the 10 Maryland climate scientists who have sent an urgent appeal to Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
The legislation would require the state to use 50% renewable energy electricity by 2030, with a mandate for 100% renewable energy by 2040.

“Until there are more rational federal policies it is up to states, local governments, businesses and institutions to rapidly reduce their emissions. Fortunately, many states are taking action to do just that. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan penned a Washington Post opinion piece in December expressing his commitment to the emissions reductions required under the [international] Paris [climate] agreement. But Governor Hogan and the General Assembly will have to do more than just make pledges.

“You have to act…As one of the most affluent and best-educated states in the most powerful nation on Earth, Maryland has an obligation to lead.”

More information about the appeal and the Clean Energy Jobs Act at Maryland Matters blog.
Image by the City of Annapolis.
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Nick FinioMar 05No Comments