Government Eco-Action Monday: Smart Growth?

”No matter how many light bulbs we change, no matter how many hybrid cars we put on the road, we cannot significantly reduce energy use and carbon emissions without changing development patterns.” So said former Maryland governor and current Smart Growth Leadership Institute President Parris N. Glendening while addressing the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) conference last month.

He emphasized the growing ‘’sense of urgency” about development policies he championed while in office from 1995 to 2003. As governor, Glendening had initiated Smart Growth ”as a broad urban planning” program to help halt urban sprawl, create more green space, alleviate traffic, improve public transit, and address other development issues.

As numerous states, all with their own versions of Smart Growth, started tackling more and more complex challenges, the result was a coalition of national, state and local organizations known as Smart Growth America (SGA). A project of SGA, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute was established to help state and local elected, civic and business leaders design and implement effective development strategies.

A recent report that SGA released detailing states’ transportation stimulus money reveals that nearly one-third of the funds, $6.6 billion, is going towards building new road capacity. Only 0.9 percent is being spent on public transportation, and 2.8 percent on non-motorized projects (eg, pedestrian and bike lanes).

Only seven states are dedicating more than 10 percent of their funds to expanding public transportation, pedestrian and biking options. Among them (OK, so it’s not technically a state) is the District of Columbia, with 41 percent of its funds going toward non-motorized projects. However, DC hasn’t designated any funds to public transportation. While the District might be maxed out on capacity for new bus and rail lines, it could certainly use the funds for much needed upgrades and repairs.

Up the road, Maryland has similarly allocated zip to public transport, although it has commendably not committed any funds to new highway capacity – instead, choosing to focus on preservation of its existing system. And across the river in Virginia, public transport has fared no better, also at 0%, while new highway capacity gets a whopping 30%.

While the stats might reflect national trends, the District, Maryland and Virginia – all with an abundance of eco-friendly policies and programs already in place – can do much better. We know what new highway funding means – more cars on the road and more CO2 in the air. Might be growth but certainly not smart.

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User Atwater Village Newbie