Few problems touch all the residents of our district quite like transportation problems. Our community is united in ranking our transportation infrastructure as a most serious challenge. And since transportation is intimately tied into the environment and the availability of clean energy, it becomes an even greater focus for the community as a whole.

We've known for decades that we must have a two-pronged approach - public transport and road construction. It's time that we place greater effort into the public system -- to help clear the air, reduce greenhouse emissions, unclog the road, and provide reliable, efficient transportation for all who choose not to drive to work and play.

My plan:

• Create a dedicated source of consistent, reliable revenue for Metro train and bus services, by working with the other players in the region, including the federal government. Use the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a model.
• Build the Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton, ultimately creating a “Circle Line” to ring the city. As a marathon runner who trains on the trail, I greatly appreciate the trail’s value, but I believe construction can be done in an environmentally-friendly manner and light rail will serve the need for better public transportation.
• Expand the Green Line to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
• Work with our neighboring states to build a state-of-the-art high speed rail line connecting Washington to Boston, cutting down on I-95 traffic as well as short-haul air travel.
• Suspend construction of the ICC – it is a 1950’s highway that has no place in the 21st century.
• Improve the quality of our roads and decrease construction time and costs by using higher quality road materials. Do it right the first time.
• Replace incandescent traffic lights with longer-lasting, low maintenance, energy efficient LEDs, which have the added benefit of being more visible during hazardous driving conditions.
• Study the implementation of a European-style traffic signaling system to alert drivers that the signal is changing (flashing red to yellow to green), similar to the countdown-style pedestrian time signals now being deployed throughout the region. Improve signage, and add more frequent and helpful dynamic messaging on the Beltway, markings directly on the roads as well as overhead, congestion detection and protection sensors on major thoroughfares, and the expansion of variable lane signals as are currently in use on Georgia Ave. and Colesville Rd.
• Encourage the use of car-sharing programs such as Zipcar, currently available in DC.
• Implement a “feebate” system, where a fee on the sale of energy-inefficient vehicles such as SUVs is used to rebate the purchase price of hybrid vehicles.
• Encourage mass transit use by providing free broadband wireless access.