GW News Release: Area Transit Oriented Development

Regional Leaders, National Experts
Explore Area Transit Oriented Development

Ashburn, VA—National experts and regional leaders will discuss “Transit Oriented Development…Not Just TOD Adjacent Development” on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The George Washington University Virginia Campus in Ashburn.

Presented by the Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, this first of three seminars explores case studies and provides panel presentations on transit-oriented development – the popular trend in community development that provides a mix of housing, employment, entertainment, education, and retail services in compact, walkable communities centered around high quality multi-transit systems.

“We have the opportunity in this region to make decisions now that will not just improve the present and growing transportation crisis, but can become part of the master plan governing the growth of the area and benefiting the economic, social and environmental development of the entire region,” said John DeBell, DATA president.

Adds Patty Nicoson, president, Dulles Corridor Rail Association, “Our shared regional goals are a higher quality of life, greater mobility, reduced traffic congestion, accidents, and injuries, reduced or eliminated commuting time, greatly reduced pollution and environmental destruction, and healthier lifestyles. With the right collaboration and planning, Transit Oriented Development is a possible means toward achieving these goals.”

Keynote presenters are Mariia Zimmerman, vice president of policy for Reconnecting America and the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, and Ronald Kirby, director, Department of Transportation Planning, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Virginia Delegate Kenneth Plum, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald Connolly, and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York will explore regional issues with the experts.

Case studies include “TOD Design from the Ground-Up using Loudoun County’s PDTRC” by Randolph Sutliff of McCandlish & Lillard, Moorefield Station; and “A New TOD Proposal” by Antonio Calabrese of Cooley, Godward, Tysons Corner Center.

Seminar panelists include Stuart Mendelson, Holland & Knight and former supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Douglas Carter, Air Rights; and Will Schroeer, ICF Consulting, Minneapolis.

For more information, visit www.datatrans.org. To register for the event, E-mail info@datatrans.org or call 703-817-1307. Registration fee is $25 for DATA members; $40 for nonmembers. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. with case studies and panel presentations from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The seminar is scheduled at the George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn, VA, Room 101.