PEC works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. The following highlights reflect our work in 2023.
Transportation Solutions
As high gas prices, traffic congestion, strain on the state budget and concerns about pollution prompt widespread calls for change, PEC supports a new transportation vision for Virginia.

Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities: A Resource Guide
This guidebook is intended for local government staff, community stakeholders, and residents interested in revitalizing downtown main streets, making neighborhood streets safer, and connecting parks, civic and natural amenities with trails.

CODE RED: A Call to Action for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
On July 13, PEC joined The Coalition for Smarter Growth and 39 other organizations from Maryland, D.C. and Virginia in calling on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to take urgent action on climate change, housing, racial and economic inequity, sprawl and unsustainable transportation.

Regional Transit Vision Plan – Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission recently released the Regional Transit Vision Plan, a product of collaborative and data-driven efforts to establish a unified long-term, clear, efficient and effective transit service for the Charlottesville region. The proposed vision network recommends improvements for Albemarle, Greene, Nelson, Fluvanna, and Louisa counties and the City of Charlottesville.

Bike to Work Week Was a Great Success!
A huge thanks to everyone who worked, rode and promoted Bike to Work Week to ensure it was an astounding success. We had ten events in one week (including Riverfest), all of which were fun and invigorating.

2023-2028 Strategic Plan
The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan sets a direction for the years ahead.

Resources from Our Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities Workshop
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities workshop on March 31! This half-day workshop focused on giving your town or village the tools, resources, and contacts you need to implement pedestrian, streetscape, trail and traffic calming projects. It was also an opportunity to network with other local leaders interested in making their Piedmont communities more vibrant and walkable.
Third Annual Mobility Summit Celebrates Success, Launches Collective Work Plans
For the third February in a row, the Piedmont Mobility Alliance came together in Charlottesville to celebrate progress, discuss ways to broaden participation, and lay out some specific work plans for 2023.

Metro Silver Line Extension Opens in Loudoun County
Metro’s six new Silver Line stops opened this week, including service to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County. This once-in-a-generation investment enables a more sustainable future in the D.C. region and Virginia.

Regional traffic congestion, pollution in the Occoquan?
Last November, PEC wrote about the threats posed to Prince William County’s long-standing Rural Crescent by three major land use decisions.