ARE WE THERE YET? D.C.’S TRANSPORTATION BLUEPRINT|WHUT

“Are We There Yet?”

ARE WE THERE YET? – D.C.’S Transportation Blueprint
WHUT’s “Blueprint America” Special to Broadcast March 2
Hosted by Kojo Nnamdi

ARE WE THERE YET? – D.C.’s Transportation Blueprint will broadcast on WHUT Howard University Television Tuesday, March 2 at 8 PM. “Evening Exchange’s” Kojo Nnamdi hosts a panel of transportation experts to explore the Washington metropolitan area’s transportation blueprint, and where it is taking us.

“Its not about getting people from point A to point B, but more about building better communities,” said Robert Thomson aka “Dr. Gridlock” of The Washington Post, one of three guests panelists along with Ron Kirby, Director of Transportation for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; and Alice M. Rivlin, Senior Fellow and Director of the Greater Washington Research at the Brookings Institute.

Plans have been in the works to modify, expand and accommodate the area’s residential and business growth — light rail, connectors, bike lanes and trails, road/highway improvement – while maintaining environmental sustainability. With an expanding commuter population, planners are looking to alternatives to growing a “car culture.” “As far as our blueprint, we are depending on Metro railing,” said Ron Kirby.

However, the best made plans have recently come up against significant roadblocks and challenges including budget shortfalls and the blizzard of 2010. “It [the blizzard] exposed what we all knew and that is we are very dependent on public transportation and we need a better system that works well…” said Alice Rivlin.

“Are We There Yet?” is part of the outreach initiative for the PBS series Blueprint America. Blueprint America is a precedent-setting multi-platform initiative for PBS— developed and produced by Thirteen/WNET, and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation — harnessing the power of public broadcasting’s most prestigious programs including “The NewsHour,” “Now,” and “World Focus,” primetime documentaries, community and educational outreach, and the web to shine a spotlight on America’s infrastructure. (For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/blueprintamerica/.)

WHUT, a PBS member station, is owned and operated by Howard University in Washington, DC. It is the first African American owned public television station in the United States and provides PBS programming and local specials to over 2 million viewers in the Washington metropolitan area.