DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, has circulated his budget recommendations to be voted on by the full committee tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25, at 12:30 p.m.

The recommendations include:

• To hold dangerous drivers accountable and reduce traffic fatalities, $7.1 million for creating a new infraction point system as part of the STEER Act where DPW booting and towing teams will prioritize vehicles with repeat, recent, and dangerous driving violations;
  
  
• To reduce greenhouse emissions and pollution, retaining the District’s leading national standards around building energy efficiency and net-zero emissions building codes for new construction;
  
  
• For improved DC nightlife and commutes for late-night workers, maintaining all 24/7 bus service and fully funding WMATA, including implementation of WMATA’s Better Bus redesign;
  
  
• For a cleaner Anacostia River, restoring $1.9 million in funding in the “bag fee” fund to clean the Anacostia River, fund the workforce responsible for removing litter from the river, and expand access to river activities;
  
  
• To ensure low-income residents benefit from improved air quality and more energy-efficient homes, dedicating at least $2.7 million annually to modernize homes of low-income homeowners with energy efficient HVAC systems and appliances through DOEE’s Healthy Homes program;
  
  
• To grow and protect the DC Green Bank from future cuts, $250,000 allowing the DC Green Bank to explore “green bonds” to fund sustainable infrastructure; and
  
  
• To grow the District’s economy and build community through vibrant street life, $1.5 million for identifying and permanently closing three streets and transforming them into pedestrian-only plazas by the end of FY27.

“This is supposed to be a ‘growth’ budget. You can’t ‘grow’ DC with more air and water pollution, more traffic, more dangerous drivers, more emissions, and more broken promises on clean energy investments – that’s not being clear-eyed about tough decisions, that’s kicking the can down the road. Our Committee goals are growth-oriented: Generating more clean electricity here, in the city, is a billion-dollar opportunity to create many new DC jobs and reduce monthly bills. Getting people out of cars and onto public transit is good for business. When the air in our homes and the water we drink is clean, people put down roots. When drivers slow down, through design or enforcement, people feel safe to spend more time exploring their neighborhood,” said Councilmember Allen. “These will be the underpinnings of every successful city over the next 50 years and the Mayor’s drastic cuts to these programs are short-sighted and should be fought for everyone’s benefit.”

Below is a summary of key transportation and environmental priorities in the Committee’s budget:

Street Safety and Holding Dangerous Drivers Accountable through the STEER Act

Councilmember Allen funds the creation of a point system tied to Automated Traffic Enforcement violations that would allow the Department of Public Works to boot and tow vehicles with repeat, recent, and excessive dangerous driving violations as part of the continued implementation of Councilmember Allen’s STEER Act. Ten or more points within six months may result in booting or towing of vehicles.

The point system would prioritize boot and tow resources for vehicles engaged in dangerous driving and require drivers to take a safe driving course before receiving their vehicle back. This builds on last year’s STEER Act investments, which gave the DC Attorney General authority to bring civil lawsuits against drivers from any state and a first-in-the-nation “speed governor” program for people convicted of criminal reckless driving.

Ensuring the District Remains a National Leader on Climate and Renewable Energy, Despite Catastrophic Cuts to Funding

The recommendations include rejecting proposed pauses or rollbacks to two of the District’s landmark laws tackling the largest source of pollution and carbon emissions coming from buildings. The nation-leading Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) law has been replicated in New York City, Colorado, and Washington State and should be credited as one way the District has dramatically advanced US efforts to fight climate change.

“Making the hard decision now to stay the course will reward the many people with large buildings who have put the work in to meet compliance and make real improvements,” said Councilmember Allen. “We’ll continue to work with buildings out of compliance, but we have to recognize we want to give our children a city where the buildings are part of the solution, not one more problem we deferred away.”

The Net-Zero Building Code requires all new construction projects are built to net-zero standards, recognizing buildings account for nearly three quarters of all emitted greenhouse gases in DC and a major source of local air pollution with wide environmental and health impacts..

The Committee dedicates $2.7 million toward the Healthy Homes program to modernize older homes owned by low-income residents with new HVAC, electric appliances as well as upgrades to the home’s wiring and structure as needed.

However, it could not fully restore the $71.4 million cut from the fund, which will make it harder for large commercial and residential building owners to comply with BEPS. Here is the new five-year spend plan for the SETF, following the Mayor’s choice to dedicate the bulk of SETF spending to DC government electric bills:

Of note, the Committee transferred funding for an additional manager to help lead the Department of Building’s Green Buildings Team to assist with implementation at every stage of construction or inspection.

Finally, the Committee funds $250,000 for the DC Green Bank to explore the possibility of the bank accessing “green bonds” as a new revenue source for sustainable infrastructure in future years rather than relying on the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund, from which the Mayor plans to cut more than $150 million over the next two years to pay DC government’s utility bills.

Honoring Our Promise to Clean Up the Anacostia River

The Committee rolled back a broken promise in the Mayor’s budget that swept money from the “bag fee” that collectively pays for Anacostia River clean-up efforts — including essential stormwater management activities. The law has been enormously successful at both reducing plastic bag use at grocery stores and employing DC residents to keep the river clean, protect access to the riverbanks, and educate residents on the river’s value and history. In the last two budget cycles, the Mayor has twice tried to zero out the fund, and twice the Committee has rejected it.

Investing in WMATA, Future of Public Transit on H Street NE

The budget advancing out of committee sustains 24/7 bus service as part of the District’s annual investment in WMATA and includes funding for WMATA’s Better Bus Project, which will roll out on Sunday, June 29.

The Committee is unable to reverse cuts that would conclude DC Streetcar service by Sept. 30, 2027. The budget being considered tomorrow includes required planning in FY26 on what the future of public transportation should be to connect the RFK campus with Benning Road, H Street, and Union Station.

Sustains Funding for Sidewalk Repairs, Capital Bikeshare, and E-Bike Vouchers

Despite the larger issues above, most people experience the committee’s work when using a sidewalk, road, or bike lane. Others do when riding Capital Bikeshare or their own e-bike around, which continues to set new records almost every month. The budget to be considered includes an expansion of Capital Bikeshare by $13 million, maintains the boost in funding provided by Councilmember Allen last year to repair sidewalks faster at $103.5 million, dedicates $31.8 million for bike lane construction, $200 million for street paving, and includes $250,000 continued funding for the District’s e-bike voucher program.

The Committee on Transportation and Environment will meet at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow – the hearing can be streamed here. The committee is chaired by Councilmember Allen and has Councilmembers Parker, Lewis George, and Henderson as members.

The full Committee Report is available upon request immediately and will be posted online shortly after the vote.