November 8 , 2005
GROWTH ISSUES SWING GUBERNATORIAL RACE:
Virginians Vote for More Tools to Manage Growth Indicating Wariness about Transportation Funding
"Tim Kaine's focus on helping communities to better manage growth as the best approach to reducing traffic congestion tapped into passionate, bi-partisan concerns. It helped him to win significant votes in the heavily republican outer suburbs," said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth and coordinator of a transportation reform campaign called Reconnecting Virginia. PRESS RELEASE »

October 17, 2005
VBT TRANSPORTATION ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN MISSES THE POINT
The statewide business-backed campaign, Virginians for Better Transportation, launched a series of TV, radio and print ads today, pushing for more money for transportation. The Coalition for Smarter Growth and Piedmont Environmental Council -- leaders of the competing Reconnecting Virginia campaign – responded:

“VBT’s ads appear to target both supporters of roads and transit to win support for tax and toll increases, but they still miss the point,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “If we don’t address where and how we are growing, both road and transit spending will be wasted.”
PRESS RELEASE »

October 6 , 2005
GROUPS CHALLENGE VDOT WISH LIST
The Coalition for Smarter Growth and Piedmont Environmental Council today challenged the statewide business-backed campaign for massive increases in transportation taxes and tolls -- a campaign based entirely on a VDOT-generated, $203 billion wish-list of projects. The groups called for a complete reevaluation of the VDOT estimates and fundamental reform in transportation and land use planning necessary to reduce transportation costs before any discussion of new funding. PRESS RELEASE »

September 12, 2005
BUSINESS LEADERS WANT MORE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION? ADOPT KEY REFORMS FIRST  
On the eve of the second set of debates between gubernatorial candidates in Virginia, the smart growth community challenged the transportation agenda pushed by key segments of the business and development industry. PRESS RELEASE »

August 24, 2005
BRAC PROPOSAL WOULD GRIDLOCK THE FORT BELVOIR AREA
A draft study released on the eve of the vote by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission regarding the proposed shift of tens of thousands of jobs from Arlington, Alexandria and DC, shows that the arterial roads and highways in the Fort Belvoir area will be overwhelmed by traffic in both 2010 and 2020.
PRESS RELEASE »

August 2, 2005
NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESIDENTS RANK TRANSIT AS #1 PRIORITY
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority released a public opinion poll August 2, 2005 looking at transportation priorities of Northern Virginia residents as part of their efforts to create a regional transportation plan. By nearly a 2 to 1 margin, transit outranks roads and highways as people’s number one priority. View the full report (PDF).

January 6 , 2005
VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC-PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION ACT SPAWS QUESTIONABLE ROAD PROJECTS, SELC STUDY SAYS
The 1995 Virginia law that invites private entities to fund and build toll roads in Virginia has resulted in some projects circumventing normal state transportation planning processes, according to a study released by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Use of the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) has evolved over the last decade, limiting public input on proposed road projects and cutting short consideration of alternatives.
READ THE PPTA REPORT BY SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER »
MEDIA COVERAGE  »