PROGRAM SUMMARY

June Program:
Transportation's Role in Real Estate Development Decisions

June's program focused on the role transportation plays in real estate development decisions. National, regional and local transportation planning agencies have been grappling with the correlation between transportation and land use decisions. Transportation improvements are factored into land use planning and visioning but are not the driving force in these processes. Introductions were made by Beth Ann Ring of WDG Architecture as she gave her perspective on the topic from growing up in the Washington, DC metro area. The speakers represented both the private and public sector including Marsha Anderson Bomar, Founder and President - Street Smarts; Kathleen Penney, PE, Deputy Chief Engineer – DC Department of Transportation; Natasha Goguts, Civil Engineer for Infrastructure Project Management Administration – DC Department of Transportation; Karina Ricks, Citywide Transportation Planning Manager – DC Department of Transportation; and Donna Shafer, Executive Vice President – West*Group.

Ms. Bomar was the first to speak, informing the audience of options and solutions for current metro area transportation issues including funding opportunities. She drew from examples of successful transportation projects in Sandy Springs and Atlanta. Ms. Bomar also spoke about the overall perspective of the Washington DC metro area transportation needs.

Ms. Penney was next to speak, starting on the topic of the Anacostia Area. She gave the history of the waterfront area while focusing on past mistakes and how the City can learn from those mistakes. Her perspective was from what can be achieved through transforming land use in this area of the city. Ms. Goguts continued on with the topic of the Anacostia area. She discussed the importance of access to the communities along the South Capital Street Corridor and their vision for transforming the corridor. This vision includes both bridging the river and ballpark area improvements.

Ms. Ricks was next to speak as the third and final representative from the DC Department of Transportation. She spoke about the infrastructure for investment and gave some examples of investment projects like the 8 th Street / Barracks Row project. She discussed infrastructure investing as a way of revitalizing areas of the city which are in desperate need and its potential of creating a larger return in the long run. For example, she described how the City invested $8 million in the 8 th Street / Barracks Row project and is receiving a much larger return on the taxes.

Lastly, Ms. Shafer spoke about Tysons Corner including it's past, present and future roles in transportation. She began with a brief overview of Tysons Corner followed by describing current mechanisms already in place for the Dulles Access Toll Road, Route 7, and Route 123. Ms. Shafer described how transportation will drive the future of Tysons Corner and West*Group's comprehensive plan, including a task force which is testing different scenarios, to accommodate growth in the area.

The discussion included the private sector's perspective on where and when private development occurs, as well as how local and regional government policies and local land use decisions factor into these decisions. We heard about some of the exciting transportation initiatives and real estate developments happening in the greater Washington DC Metro Area.

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