This report evaluates strategies for community development along the Washington, D.C./Richmond, Virginia, corridor as part of a public transportation improvement program by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Using detailed and focused studies, the authors of the document advocate increased ridership of public transportation by encouraging settlement patterns and community development, as well as promoting multimodal transportation systems.

As a policy document, the study encourages the reduction of highway congestion, urban sprawl and energy waste in an area rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. The significance of this document can be measured by the wide audience it has reached, from state legislators to concerned citizens, and its adoption as policy by key groups in the corridor.

CREDITS...

• Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
• Community Design Group

JURY COMMENTS...

"New Urbanism" principles in America need to escape from an intellectual and academic debate and become firmly rooted and tested in challenging environments such as the D.C./Richmond commuter and car-dominated corridor. This project does that very successfully.

This project demonstrates design action opportunities with a beautifully succinct and well-crafted presentation that is full of intellect, specific principles, and focused on applied community design solutions.