Stewart Schwartz

NEW: Video from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority shows how the new Long Bridge for trains and a parallel bridge for pedestrians & bikers will be constructed over the Potomac River. Major construction work is expected to start next year, currently the projected completion date is 2030.

This month, we honor the rich culture, profound history, and enduring legacy of Latino communities across the United States. We recognize their vibrant achievements and invaluable contributions that are part of our national story.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Image credit: Marco Sanchez

🍂Join us on October 30 at Eastern Market for Smart Growth Social 2025, where urbanism meets Halloween fun 🍂

Come for the community, stay for the inspiration from Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

Kick off Halloween weekend with an optional urbanist costume contest 🎃

RSVP: lnkd.in/eJ7DPq6f

Paris before and after street transformation

New urban forest planted in front of Paris City Hall

A Paris “School Street” where cars are removed and people space/tree planting are added

According to the City of Paris, in the last 10 years 150K trees have been planted & 45ha of parks created in the already hot city, all intended to not only improve quality-of-life today, but also help the city adapt to & manage summer heatwaves of 50℃ (122F) by 2050.

Just the start.

Common sense.

Justices asked to decide when a cell phone 'touch' becomes reason for a traffic stop - Maryland Matters Maryland's highest court was asked Friday to determine how much a driver has to be handling a phone before police have sufficient reason to pull the driver over for using a cell phone while driving.

Maryland needs to ban all cell phone use by a driver.
“People initiate phone calls all day, every day, by pressing a cell phone in their car,” says state's Chief Justice, as if such behavior is not a deadly threat to those in the car and around it.
marylandmatters.org/2025/10/03/j...

Go small, or go home.

Index motor tax to vehicle size & weight please @darraghobrientd.bsky.social. If people want to drive big, they should pay big. And any EV subsidies should favour small vehicles.

#RoadBloat

"Over half of the e-cargo bike mileage ridden during trials substituted for car use."

doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...

IMF, World Bank to increase investments in climate action to meet countries' needs The World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are deepening their cooperation to help countries scale up action to confront the threat of climate change.

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IMF and World bank increase investments in #ClimateActionto meet countries’ needs

We need to take urgent action to avoid the worst of #ClimateChange!

support for policy reforms & climate investments

thecable.ng/imf-world-bank-...

🌎🌍🌏
via @thecableng

Cartoon worm, man accuses women of being “anti-Car “…

I don’t hate cars. Like most North American males I was raised to think cars are cool, and as a design nerd, few objects are more eye-catching.

I hate surrendering our streets, our cities and our lives to them.

Car dependence isn’t freedom.

Great cartoon by @robcowan.bsky.social #CarDependency

Connected network of streets for people instead of cars in the Gràcia community in Barcelona

Connected network of streets for people instead of cars in the Gràcia community in Barcelona

Connected network of streets for people instead of cars in the Gràcia community in Barcelona

Connected network of streets for people instead of cars in the Gràcia community in Barcelona

I often think about how so many cities are absolutely AGONIZING over the idea of turning a single street, or even a block, into a people-place and pedestrian stroll, while thriving communities like Gràcia in Barcelona are filled with so many streets & squares with no cars, or at most “tamed” cars.”

Photos of the 'Gyeongui Line Forest Park' project in Seoul: a linear park repurposed from a former railway line, that contains trees, shrubs, flowers, rest areas, cafes, kiosks, water installations, and views of the city.

Photos of the 'Gyeongui Line Forest Park' project in Seoul: a linear park repurposed from a former railway line, that contains trees, shrubs, flowers, rest areas, cafes, kiosks, water installations, and views of the city.

Photos of the 'Gyeongui Line Forest Park' project in Seoul: a linear park repurposed from a former railway line, that contains trees, shrubs, flowers, rest areas, cafes, kiosks, water installations, and views of the city.

Photos of the 'Gyeongui Line Forest Park' project in Seoul: a linear park repurposed from a former railway line, that contains trees, shrubs, flowers, rest areas, cafes, kiosks, water installations, and views of the city.

A former railway line reborn as a green lifeline, Seoul’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a neighbourhood regeneration project spanning six kilometres and two different districts. It is an elegant repurposing of obsolete infrastructure made feasible when the century-old tracks were buried underground.🧵

The Top 8 Reasons People are Choosing Cargo Bikes over Cars Cargo bikes, with a distinctive design and functionality, are capturing the imagination of city dwellers, eco-conscious individuals and more

The Top 8 Reasons People are Choosing Cargo Bikes over Cars.
momentummag.com/the-top-reas...

Tonight in Alexandria, VirginIa - a red sky of warning rises behind the memorial to George Washington.

Duke St in Alexandria, image by Bill Pugh

Let's support a more vibrant, walkable, inclusive Duke Street, including more housing options and affordable housing.

Thursday, September 25, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria

Can't attend in person? Register for Zoom:

www.alexandriava.gov/news-plannin...

Today is the last day to get your early bird tickets for SGS!

This year is unlike any other Smart Growth Social, as it falls on the day before Halloween! You don’t want to miss out!

Ticket includes wine, beer, food, fun! 🍂 🎃
RSVP today and save:

secure.everyaction.com/9tRhMhLZM0-a...

Attending great housing forum hosted by @nvaha.bsky.social sharing range of solutions for meeting Northern Virginia housing needs.

So exhausting..

No, Defensive Walking Isn't The Solution For Road Deaths - Jalopnik It's victim-blaming, it's bull, and it's not the solution we need.

“In 2023, cars and their drivers killed 8,820 American pedestrians and bicyclists — 7,314 pedestrians and 1,166 cyclists. They injured another 136,281, an increase of over 5,300 injuries from 2022.”

Put the responsibility where it belongs. Via @jalopnik.bsky.social www.jalopnik.com/1979666/defe...

A former expressway. Now a place for an evening stroll. Nighttime on the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul.

Good morning with good news: Mckinsey Global Institute forecasts global EV sales will surge to "40%-59%" by 2030 from 22% in 2024!

Global EV sales are up 25% in the first 8 months of 2025, compared to same period in 2024.

They gain ~5 points/year.
www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-rese... #energysky

Great transit trip on return fm National Center on Smart Growth taking the @wmata.com P14 to the Green Line at College Park/UMD station. Seamless, quick transfer. 1/

12 Things You Can Do Right Now to Fight Climate Change Individual action is one of the greatest tools at our disposal in the fight against climate change. Check out these 12 easy-to-follow tips.

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12 Things You Can Do Right Now on Climate Change
1 Switch to 100% green power
2 Save energy
4 Avoid plastic
5 Sharing is caring!
7 Avoid flying
9 Get on your bike!

www.bit.ly/12climateactions

#ClimateAction 🌎🌍🌏

A Rhode Island Wind Farm Changed Their View. And Their Lives, for the Better.

A Rhode Island Wind Farm Changed Their View. And Their Lives, for the Better. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/c...

Link here Great Seneca Transit Network Sees Significant Increase in Ridership after One Year of Service. MCDOT ridership numbers show a more than 70% increase in total bus ridership on a key bus route along Shady Grove Road.

Great Seneca Transit Network Sees Significant Increase in Ridership after One Year of Service. MCDOT ridership numbers show a more than 70% increase in total bus ridership on a key bus route along Shady Grove Road.

Checking out @wmata Metrorail train control room and walking along the catwalk in the tunnel gives one real appreciation for Metro staff who maintain and operate our amazing transit system.

Continuing our tour of critical @wmata.com infrastructure, learning about the old but reliable signaling system. A top priority for our region needs to be funding for a new modern signaling system for Metrorail. It will allow for running more frequent trains.

Connect with community activists, public servants, and urbanists at Smart Growth Social.

October 30, 2025, 6:30 pm
Eastern Market

RSVP here: secure.everyaction.com/9tRhMhLZM0-a...

📷: @natalifg.bsky.social (center), SGS 2024 keynote speaker, with @stewartcsg.bsky.social & @cmkisicki.bsky.social

On the DMVMoves task force tour of @wmata.com command center. You cannot come away and not be impressed by the modern technology, and the professionalism of the Metro staff. Thank you to Metro staff and regional leaders who have funded our world class transit system.

Tired of sitting in traffic? Today is Car Free Day. A day to try out @wmata.com Metrorail/bus, local bus, commuter rail VRE& MARC, or biking to work & nearby stores. We @betterdcregion.bsky.social are working every day to expand opportunities to walk, bike and take transit for our health & community

It’s official…Metro is APTA's 2025 Transit Agency of the Year! 🎉
This honor reflects the dedication of our talented team, our essential value to the region we serve. We appreciate the support of our partners, customers, & community 👏

Learn more: wmata.com/about/news/M...