 Environmental News Brief
Presented by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council for the Baltimore Regional
Transportation Board | |
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Dear Monica,
The following news "briefs" highlight recent news regarding
transportation-related environmental issues, primarily air quality, affecting
the Baltimore region. Please note that this brief is not all inclusive of the
variety and magnitude of activities in the region. It is intended for
informational purposes only; refer to the source, guidance, or program for
additional information. |
Regional Sustainability
Symposium
On March 29, 2010, over seventy-five
local leaders attended the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's Regional
Sustainability Symposium. The event was organized by BMC's Regional
Sustainability Committee (RSC) and hosted at the Randallstown Community Center
in Baltimore County. The Symposium was an opportunity for government
employees and involved citizens to learn what our region is doing to foster
sustainability.
The day's presentations ranged from a
keynote address on sustainable development efforts across the country to a
panel discussion on climate change policy, a case study on sustainable
business practices from McCormick & Co., and a dialogue on effectively
spreading the message of sustainability. The symposium closed with an
interactive discussion on the next steps for our region.
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May is Clean Commute Month!
 Ah, May! It's the time when the days become noticeably
longer and flowers are in full bloom. It's also the month when both
temperatures and pollution levels rise throughout the Baltimore region. A lot
of that pollution-as much as one third-comes from tailpipe emissions.
That's why May is Clean Commute Month and why the Baltimore Metropolitan
Council and the Clean Commute Partnership are asking citizens to explore
transportation options and try at least one alternative to driving alone.
Clean Commute options include riding transit, biking, teleworking, and
carpooling. Give it a try this May. Find out how at
www.cleancommutemonth.com or look for our Clean Commute Month booth at
these great events:
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Towsontown Festival on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2
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Baltimore Flower Mart on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8
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Carroll County Herb Festival at Piney Run Park on Saturday, May 8
>> Find out more at cleancommute.com
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A New Dialogue About the Region's Future:
imagine 2060
 Contribute your ideas to help make this region and our
communities great places to live and work - for you, your children, and your
children's children.
Citizens and organizations from around the Baltimore region are invited
to take part in an exciting new series of public workshops to
imagine the future of transportation.
Workshop participants will have an opportunity to share their values
and ideas about how future transportation initiatives can make the region a
better place to live. Later public workshops will deal more specifically with
the planning process to achieve this vision. Workshops have been scheduled in
each of the region's jurisdictions. Here are the remaining dates:
- Wednesday, April 28, 6 - 8 p.m.
Westminster Senior
Center
125 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157
- Thursday, April 29, 6 - 8 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting
Room
105 West Chesapeake Ave., Towson, MD 21204
- Monday, May 3, 6 - 8 p.m.
State Center, Building 4
201 W. Preston Street - Atrium, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Tuesday, May 4, 7 - 9 p.m.
Howard Community College,
Duncan Hall - Kittleman Room
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD
21044
- Tuesday, May 11, 6 - 8 p.m.
County Administrative
Building, 2nd Floor Conference Room
220 South Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
Doors open 30 minutes prior to each workshop. Additional details
about transit access, driving directions, and how to RSVP for an upcoming
public workshop can be found by visiting the link below.
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Take the imagine 2060
Survey or Join the Online Community
Here are two other ways you can connect to the new imagine 2060
initiative.
The BRTB is looking for widespread input from around the region. Whether or
not you can attend a workshop, please take a few minutes to complete the
imagine 2060 online values survey.
>> Complete the survey
Imagine 2060 is now on Facebook and Twitter. Join the online
community for the latest news, current information and additional ways you can
be involved.
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Green Projects of Note
Baltimore Selected for a Climate Showcase Community Grant
The City of Baltimore is one of 20 cities
selected to receive funding from the EPA to implement climate change
initiatives. The City will train student coaches from Johns Hopkins
University to engage with nonprofits, benchmark their energy use, and conduct
visual energy audits of their buildings. Students will receive 50 hours of
training on energy benchmarking, auditing, employee engagement, identifying low-
and no-cost energy savings, and connecting their clients to energy efficiency
incentives.
Based on these audits, the coaches will identify energy efficiency
measures in the buildings of nonprofit organizations.
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Upcoming Events
Garlic Mustard Challenge
Date: May 2, 2010
Time: 1 to 4:30 pm
The Friends of Patapsco Valley and Heritage
Greenway, Inc. and Patapsco Valley State Park are co-sponsoring the 11th annual
Garlic Mustard Challenge. Help pull out this invasive species.
>> Find out how to volunteer
2010 Transportation Research Board Environment and Energy Research
Conference
Date: June 6-9, 2010
Location: Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
This conference brings together more than a dozen TRB Energy and
Environmental committees meeting jointly with the AASHTO Standing Committee on
the Environment and serves as a platform to develop better transportation
solutions through the integration of diverse environmental (human and natural)
and transportation perspectives.
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In the News |
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Baltimore Sun
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Forbes
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Baltimore
Sun
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Reuters
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Links of Interest |
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Sara Tomlinson
Environmental Planning Specialist
410-732-0500 Ext. 1035
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Baltimore Metropolitan Council | 2700 Lighthouse Point
East, Suite 310 | Baltimore | MD |
21224 | |
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