Overview
Held on November 19th, 2024 at WMATA HQ in Washington DC, 50 public and private industry leaders convened for the AEG DMV 24Q4 Stakeholder Challenge: Mobility & Clean Transportation. The purpose of this challenge was to: 1.) Agree on a critical obstacle to meet the DMV’s mobility and clean transportation goals; 2.) Align on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to best address these obstacles; and 3.) Enable stakeholders to volunteer as part of a Task Force to deliver the solution.
5 KEY THEMES
1. Equitable Infrastructure Development
Prioritizing projects like dedicated bus lanes, safe streets for walking and biking, and transit-oriented development to enhance accessibility and reduce single-occupancy travel. Examples include implementing a road diet on Central Avenue and extending bus lanes.
"A critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is working with the community, SHA and local decision makers to implement a road diet and make Central Ave. safe for walking, biking & accessing the bus & Metro." — Cheryl Cort, Coalition for Smarter Growth
2. Transition to Zero-Emission Technologies
Accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in public and private fleets, supported by policies like the ZEDZ (Zero Emission Delivery Zones) plan and electrification goals for public transport.
"100% of public buses, public fleets, private fleets of more than 50 vehicles, and taxis and limousines are to be zero-emission by 2045 (and 50% zero-emissions by 2030)." — Emile C. Thompson, DCPSC
3. Reducing Financial Barriers and Increasing Incentives
Addressing supply chain challenges to ensure sustainable procurement and maintenance of rolling stock to prevent service interruptions and meet emissions targets.
"Decreased supply and increased demand for rolling stock strain fleet operators, leading to a failure to adopt zero-emissions and degradation of the state of good repair." — Raymond Mui, DASH
4. Building a Skilled and Diverse Workforce
Fostering partnerships with local stakeholders, jurisdictions, and utility providers to build consensus and expedite project delivery, particularly for critical infrastructure like EV charging stations and bus depots.
"Metro doesn’t own street right-of-way or traffic infrastructure, so partnerships with local jurisdictional partners are key, requiring regular engagement, consensus building, and long lead times to implement bus priority projects." — Raka Choudhury, WMATA
5. Enhancing Stakeholder Collaboration and Education
Securing stable funding mechanisms and offering incentives for clean mobility projects, such as supporting fleet operators, managing curbside spaces, and implementing congestion pricing
"Regarding Mobility and Clean Transportation, to achieve the DMV Region's Climate, Health & Equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is to develop ZEDZ plan across the region." — Julie Manzari, Dominion Energy
Speaker Summary:
The discussion was kicked off with Opening Remarks, provided by Tom Webster (WMATA), followed by a panel on Policy & Commitments. Chairman Emile C. Thompson (DCPSC) highlighted electrification goals and regulatory strategies to accelerate EV adoption, focusing on incentives and infrastructure development to support a clean transportation future. Other panelists included Ann Shikany (US DOT), Clark Mercer (MWCOG) and Commissioner Michael T. Richard (MD PSC).
During the Speaker Challenge, each speaker provided an 8 minute and 5 slide presentation that concluded with this completed statement: “Regarding mobility and clean transportation, to achieve DMV’s climate, health and equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is ______.”
Julie Manzari discussed the importance of Zero-Emission Delivery Zones (ZEDZ) planning, emphasizing decarbonizing urban freight to meet the DMV region's climate and equity goals. Raka Choudhury addressed the benefits of dedicated bus lanes, advocating for expanding operational hours and faster implementation to enhance transit use and reduce single-occupancy travel. Cheryl Cort highlighted the need for transit-oriented development and safer streets in Prince George’s County, focusing on implementing a road diet on Central Avenue to improve walkability, safety, and access. Raymond Mui focused on the challenges of supply chain constraints for zero-emission buses, stressing the need for sustainable procurement to meet climate targets.
Participants agreed to prioritize this presented obstacle:
“Regarding Mobility and Clean Transportation, to achieve DMV's climate, health & equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is to increase hours of bus lane operations, and build new longer, more continuous bus lanes faster to increase transit use and reduce single-occupancy travel.” - Raka Choudhury, Director, Bus Priority, WMATA
Participants designed, presented, and selected a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to overcome the above critical obstacle. 17 leaders came together to form a Task Force to complete the above 90-day sprint and 12-month objective.
Other proposed 90-Day Sprints and 12-Month Objectives included:
Task Force Volunteers: Severin Skolrud, WSP - Lead, Elizabeth Perez, WSP, Mike Finnern, WSP, Eric Moberg, Pepco Holdings, Raka Choudhury, WMATA, Ronald Hobson, DC Green Bank, Alfred Carr, DC Dept of Energy and Environment, Jordan Henderson, DC Dept of Energy and Environment, Jonathan Rogers, Department of For-Hire Vehicles, Haley Peckett, Montgomery County DOT, Jennifer Monaco, VA Dept. of Rail & Public Transportation Sandra Marks, District Department of Transportation, Kai Hall, Greater Greater Washington, Linda Toth, Arup. Anna Gradishar, Arup, Bill Eger, ETHOS Sustainability. Sophie Jones, The George Washington University
Conclusion
The AEG DMV 24Q4 Stakeholder Challenge on Mobility & Clean Transportation convened 50 industry leaders to tackle critical barriers in advancing the DMV’s climate, health, and equity goals. The challenge highlighted the urgency of improving regional transit systems, adopting zero-emission technologies, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to implement scalable solutions. Key themes that emerged included enhancing transit infrastructure through dedicated bus lanes and transit-oriented development, addressing supply chain constraints for zero-emission buses, planning Zero-Emission Delivery Zones (ZEDZ) to decarbonize freight, and accelerating electrification through incentives and infrastructure development. As the newly formed Task Force embarks on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective, their unified efforts will be instrumental in transforming mobility and transportation into an equitable, sustainable, and climate-aligned system for the DMV region.