In the era of a climate crisis, making room for greenhouse gas emitting vehicles is not the answer

THe American Legion Bridge in Rush Hour Traffic Photo Credit: SeENu/FLickr

The population of the Washington, DC metropolitan region is growing rapidly. It’s also already feeling the effects of the climate crisis, as rising temperatures and more intense storms raise water levels in the Potomac River, damage our infrastructure, and send pollution streaming into our drinking water supply.

Now is the time for serious, forward-thinking climate action - even on the local level. As more and more young people reject car ownership and culture, it seems like a no-brainer for governments to invest in mass and micro transit options that will take vehicles off our continually congested roads.

But Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Virginia Governor Northam have decided that the answer is to spend millions to expand the American Legion Bridge over the Potomac River to add… two more lanes.

We say, Not so fast. Along with our partners at the Audubon Naturalist Society and Rock Creek Conservancy, we’ve written to the Governors to express our grave concerns over the thinking and decision-making process behind the expansion of the American Legion Bridge.

Read the full letter

Grave concerns

Along with the leadership of the Audubon Naturalist Society and the Rock Creek Conservancy, we’ve written to Governors Hogan and Northam to express our concerns regarding:

1) A Flawed Process - The announcement of these projects and proposed contracts do not conform to the process outlined and agreed upon by the Maryland Board of Public Works and lack needed input from local elected officials and their constituents.

2) Lack of Environmental Impact Studies - It is unlawful to proceed in securing implementation partnerships and contracts without completion and consideration of Environmental Impact Studies and related mitigation.

3) Poor Regional Planning - In the era of climate crisis, making room for more greenhouse gas emitting vehicles on our roadways is irresponsible 20th century planning to address a 21st century problem. We need to implement solutions that move people around our region with net zero climate impacts.

4) Water Quality Degradation - Adding impervious surface of the magnitude of these projects will irreparably degrade water quality in our precious local streams, including Rock Creek, in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and ultimately in the Chesapeake Bay.

5) Damage to Quality of Life - Residents will lose hundreds of acres of irreplaceable wildlife habitat, river and streamside recreational spaces, and carbon-sequestering parkland in our region’s most densely developed areas.

Read the full letter

How you can help

Please read our joint letter to the governors, which outlines the lack of environmental impact studies and other serious shortcomings in their proposal. Let Governor Hogan and Governor Northam know you don’t think an expansion of car culture is the solution to climate change and congestion.

Most importantly, stay tuned for upcoming action alerts to fight against proposed short-sighted project and ensure a solution that protects our water, our wildlife, and quality of life.