The Future of Transportation and Planning: Increasing Accessibility Reducing Pollution Connecting Neighborhoods and Improving

Metropolitan areas throughout the country face issues related to traffic and congestion, connectivity of communities and neighborhoods, and access to affordable and reliable public transit.  For example, some communities do not have pedestrian walkways or bike paths for short trips within or between neighborhoods. Walkable, bikeable, and public transit-accessible communities often lack affordable housing, while areas with higher concentrations of affordable housing many times bear disproportionate burdens of pollution.



To address these issues, the Washington Metro area, and the District of Columbia, in particular, is in the midst of an extreme transportation-system makeover.  This panel will discuss the thoughtful, cooperative and innovative work that is underway, as well as a future vision for a cleaner, more equitable, and more accessible transportation system.  It will explore solutions to reach these goals, including the trend toward transit-based development; providing greater connectivity between neighborhoods; addressing that “last mile” for those that rely on public transit for work or school;  the expansion of walkable and bikeable streets; the future of ride-share; and how to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles on the road today, including through electrification.