Posts by Rita Abou Samra — Community Engagement Committee
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Don’t have a costume yet? Try our urbanist Halloween costume generator.
If you’ve procrastinated on coming up with a costume this year, we’re here to help. Check out our urbanist Halloween costume generator—just find your birth month and day. Happy Halloween from GGWash! Keep reading…
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As climate change intensifies, how can the region adapt to extreme heat?
How will the Washington region be affected by extreme heat as the planet continues to heat up, and how can we adapt? That’s the topic national and local experts discussed in an event held jointly by the Urban Land Institute and Greater Greater Washington on Thursday, August 8. Keep reading…
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East of the Anacostia residents discuss how transportation can be more equitable
Communities east of the Anacostia River have historically faced less investment from the city. The road network is largely built around automobiles, and geographic challenges like steep hills mean that getting around can be inconvenient and unsafe, especially for people walking, scooting, or bicycling. Keep reading…
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Metro, bus, scoot, or bike? Maybe I’ll take the water taxi to work today.
The Potomac Water Taxi Service is more than a recreational boat that tourists flood to every year to see the cherry blossoms and that sports fans use to cruise to Nats Park and Audie Field. It’s also a useful transportation system for commuters—I should know, because I take it to work myself. Keep reading…
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Temporary uses enliven cities. Why are they so hard to build?
Temporary urbanism, like holiday markets, beer gardens, and Park(ing) Day parklets, are an increasingly important part of our cities. But in many places, including Tysons, zoning regulations make them difficult to build. Keep reading…
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People use the built environment how they need it, not always how it’s intended
Ever since the opening of Phase I in October 2017, the Wharf in DC has seen flocks of people at its restaurants, historic fish market, boardwalk and various piers. The “Recreation Pier” has public swings that are one of the first urban elements you see when entering the Wharf through 7th Street. Keep reading…
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Tysons East wants to draw the “creative class,” and get them to stay
Lots of people come to the glitzy, suburban Tysons East neighborhood to work, but most of them leave as soon as the workday is over. Tysons wants to change that. Keep reading…
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Harassment is a universal problem on transit. Addressing it could boost ridership.
If we want people to use Metro, we first need to make sure the service is useful—that means frequent headways, accessible stations, affordable fares, etc. But beyond that, it's important to demonstrate that riders will be safe, both on the train and in the areas around stations. Keep reading…
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Don’t have a costume yet? Try our urbanist Halloween costume generator.
If you’ve procrastinated on coming up with a costume this year, we’re here to help. Check out our urbanist Halloween costume generator—just find your birth month and day. Happy Halloween from GGWash! Keep reading…
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How other cities use messaging to make transit cool
Ad campaigns in other cities point out the fun and virtue of using transit, while those we see on the Metro in DC mostly warn us about suspicious packages and urge us to be alert for thieves. Keep reading…