BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair: William E. Hanna, Jr., Montgomery County, Maryland
Maryland members appointed by local jurisdictions:
Selected by legislative delegations from Frederick, Montgomery & Prince George's counties: Gloria G. Lawlah
Ruth R. Crone, Executive Director
777 North Capitol St., NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002-4239
(202) 962-3200
e-mail:
infocntr@mwcog.com
fax: (202) 962-3201
TDD: (202) 962-3213
World Wide Web:
http://www.mwcog.org
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments was formed in 1957 as an independent, nonprofit association of officials from eighteen local governments surrounding Washington, DC; members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures; and members of Congress. The Council functioned as a voluntary instrument for inter-local cooperation until its incorporation in 1965 as an intergovernmental agency of its participating county and municipal governments.
The Council develops regional responses to issues such as the environment, economic development, population growth, transportation, housing, health, public safety, human relations, and family concerns. It also is designated by the federal government as the regional planning organization for metropolitan Washington, DC. To assist with planning, the Council provides a regional geographic information system and specialized computer and technical services.
Annually, participating local governments and caucuses of state legislative delegations from the region choose the Board of Directors. The Board consists of twenty-eight membersfour selected from the District of Columbia; three each from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland, two from Prince George's County; one from each remaining local jurisdiction; and one member each from the Maryland and Virginia legislatures. The Council is supported by financial contributions from its participating local governments, federal and state government contracts, and through donations from foundations and the private sector.
Maryland members appointed by local jurisdictions:
Selected by legislative delegations from Frederick, Montgomery & Prince George's counties: Gloria G. Lawlah; Carol S. Petzold.
Ex officio: Henry M. Kay, Maryland Dept. of Transportation
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board was created in 1965 by a memorandum of agreement among officials of Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and local governments in the region. The Board was established to meet transportation planning requirements of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962, and, in 1966, became associated with the Council of Governments. The Board serves as the Council's transportation policy committee.
As a condition of eligibility for federal transit and highway assistance, the Board develops and adopts regional transportation plans and programs based on assessing and analyzing data on travel patterns in the Washington metropolitan area. Since 1991, the Board has directed the use of up to $250 million annually to reduce traffic congestion, meet air quality requirements, and guide development through highway and transit improvements (federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991).
Maryland members appointed by local jurisdictions:
Selected by legislative delegations from Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery & Prince George's counties: Arthur Dorman; James W. Hubbard.
Ex officio: Merrylin Zaw-Mon, Maryland Dept. of the Environment; Richard L. Sheckells, Jr., Maryland Dept. of Transportation.
In 1991, the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee was certified by the mayor of Washington, DC, and the governors of Maryland and Virginia to carry out planning requirements of the federal Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 in the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Committee develops strategies to reduce emissions that pollute the air. The Committee also conducts air quality regional planning to meet the 1999 federal deadline mandated for ozone reduction and other requirements to reduce pollution from ozone and carbon monoxide.
© Copyright November 12, 1997 Maryland State Archives