The Board of Trade remains focused on advancing the priorities that matter most to Greater Washington. This April newsletter highlights a variety of engagements we have had across Greater Washington with members and public officials, as well as meaningful updates on the priorities we are following in the region. We also have a variety of member news updates that showcase regional collaboration!
Here are a few specific highlights you will read about:
Jack McDougle’s latest Viewpoint calls for reimagining K-12 education to better prepare students for the region’s innovation economy and long-term competitiveness.
The 106th Mid-Winter Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, brought together business, government, and civic leaders at the Washington National Cathedral for an evening celebrating regional relationships and collaboration.
A new Board of Trade article argues that Greater Washington needs a stronger mobility mindset and more coordinated transportation solutions to support growth and economic opportunity.
WMATA is marking 50 years of Metrorail service, recognizing Metro’s lasting role in keeping the region connected.
The newsletter also spotlights spring member programming, regional news, and member updates from organizations across Greater Washington.
This Washington Business Journal Viewpoint by Greater Washington Board of Trade President & CEO Jack McDougle argues that reimagining K-12 education is essential to the region’s long-term economic competitiveness and national security. As Greater Washington works to diversify beyond its reliance on the federal government, McDougle says schools must stop preparing students for an outdated economy and instead equip students with the foundational skills needed for a fast-changing, innovation-driven workforce. The piece frames talent as a form of economic infrastructure and warns that the gap between classroom learning and real-world demands has become too wide to ignore.
A central theme of McDougle’s viewpoint is that career readiness must begin in K-12, not wait until college. He calls for a shift from a “college for all” mindset to a broader “careers for all” approach, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity as essential competencies for every student. The article also highlights the growing importance of math, data literacy, and AI awareness, arguing that students should not just learn to use emerging technologies, but understand them well enough to apply them responsibly and creatively to real-world challenges.
As part of the Washington Business Journal Viewpoint series, the article concludes with a call for a regionwide strategy across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to better connect classrooms with the needs of industry. McDougle points to experiential learning models like Odyssey of the Mind and Junior Achievement’s 3DE as examples of how students can build practical skills through problem-solving and teamwork. He then outlines three pillars for reform: introducing digital literacy early, involving employers in shaping curriculum, and advancing students based on demonstrated competency rather than seat time, positioning Greater Washington to build the nation’s strongest K-12 talent pipeline.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.
READ MORE POLICY ISSUES AND TOPICS THE BOARD OF TRADE IS FOLLOWING
Hundreds of members, public officials, and regional leaders joined the Greater Washington Board of Trade on March 25 for the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner, presented by PNC, to share an evening grounded in connection, momentum, and purpose.
Set within the breathtaking Washington National Cathedral, this year’s event blended elegance, tradition, and a collective commitment to the region’s future. Thanks to the support of our presenting sponsor, PNC, guests enjoyed a memorable evening featuring a gourmet dining experience from Ridgewells Catering and an atmosphere designed to spark meaningful conversations and lasting relationships.
The Mid-Winter Dinner is more than a celebration; it is a cornerstone of regional leadership. For more than a century, this signature event has brought together changemakers to reflect, refocus, and recommit to advancing the Greater Washington region. In a moment when unity and cross-sector collaboration are more essential than ever, the evening underscored what is possible when our region comes together with clarity, purpose, and shared resolve.
Let’s carry the spirit of Mid-Winter forward by strengthening connections, shaping policy, and building a stronger, more resilient region for all.
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone offers a moment to reflect on our shared past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead to the future we aspire to build for generations to come.
Across the Greater Washington region, the Semiquincentennial will also bring unique celebrations, events, and opportunities that highlight our nation’s history and showcase the strength, diversity, and innovation of our regional community.
Browse the resources and festivities below to get a full picture of how Greater Washington will mark this once-in-a-generation milestone.
Regional Resources & Festivities:
American250
America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. This multi-year effort, from now through July 4, 2026, is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
Inspired by this monumental moment, the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service are building legacy restoration projects, civic learning opportunities and volunteer programs on the National Mall and at the White House and President’s Park.
Freedom 250 is a national, non-partisan organization helping lead the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday. Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of this anniversary year.
The Smithsonian will celebrate the nation’s successes, contemplate the consequences of our history, commemorate the sacrifices of those who have worked to uphold the nation’s ideals, and ask Americans to commit to advancing our democracy and preserving our shared future.
From monumental events and historic exhibitions to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Washington, DC already has an incredible lineup of ways to honor 250 years of American independence in 2026. Stay up to date with special programming and need-to-know info so that you can make the most of this unforgettable milestone.
Established by the General Assembly in 2020, VA250 serves to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the Independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In observance of America’s 250th anniversary, Maryland is looking back at its state’s contributions to American history through the eyes and experiences of fellow Marylanders. This commemoration is for every one of us, from the Chesapeake Bay to the mountain peaks out west. Attend events, get involved, give back, and gain perspective.
In spring 2026, Mount Vernon will unveil a revitalized George Washington exhibit. This updated space will focus on why Washington matters today and how the decisions he made in his lifetime continue to impact us in the 21st century.
In celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary, the Daughters of the American Revolution are privileged to present this special event, which will underscore the immense contribution of women veterans and spotlight the impact they have made throughout our nation’s history.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will recognize the historic milestone of America’s independence and celebrate the unparalleled tradition and legacy of America’s motorsports industry.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness. Learn more about the Board of Trade and its mission at www.boardoftrade.org.
Transportation in Greater Washington is no longer just about traffic, transit lines, or long-planned infrastructure projects. It is about whether the region can function in a way that supports growth, access, and competitiveness in a very different economic and workforce environment than the one our systems were originally built to serve.
At our recent Executive Lunch, sponsored by United Airlines, leaders from across the region discussed what modern mobility really requires. The conversation moved quickly from airports and Metro to congestion, housing, workforce access, and regional coordination. Underneath it all was a broader question: are we designing a transportation system around how people actually live and work today?
A Strong System Still Has User Experience Gaps
There was broad recognition around the table that Greater Washington has major transportation assets. Leaders pointed to progress at Dulles International Airport, including United’s new concourse opening later this year and longer-term efforts to continue modernizing the airport experience. Participants also noted the value of transit access to both airports and the importance of major investments already underway across the region.
But one of the clearest themes from the discussion was that mobility is defined not only by what gets built, but by whether the system works in real life for the people who rely on it. Again and again, the conversation returned to time, convenience, and connectivity.
Even where transit exists, it is often neither seamless nor fast enough, nor connected enough, to compete with the flexibility people need in their daily lives. For many residents, especially outside the urban core, driving remains the only practical option. For others, transit works for some trips, but not for the cross-regional movement that increasingly defines work and life in Greater Washington. That gap between access on paper and usability in practice is where much of the region’s frustration now sits.
Mobility Is Now a Workforce and Competitiveness Issue
That challenge is bigger than commuting. When mobility systems are fragmented or inefficient, they affect where employers locate, whether workers return to offices, how students access internships and campuses, and how families manage time and opportunity.
That was one of the strongest takeaways from the lunch: mobility is no longer a standalone transportation issue. It sits alongside housing, workforce, and economic competitiveness as part of the same regional challenge. Systems originally designed around traditional downtown commuting now have to support more varied movement across the region while also responding to changing work patterns, affordability pressures, and employer needs.
What Is the Region Solving For?
The conversation also surfaced a harder but important question: what, exactly, is Greater Washington trying to optimize for?
Is the goal to reduce congestion? Supporting downtown recovery? Expanding transit access? Improving convenience? Advancing sustainability goals? Increasing economic competitiveness? In practice, the region is trying to do all of those things at once, often through systems built separately and still operating that way today.
That fragmentation remains one of the region’s biggest obstacles. Transportation systems have been developed over time across jurisdictions and agencies, with priorities that do not always align. No single project will solve that. A rebuilt bridge, a new lane, or a transit extension can help, but the broader point raised around the table was that the region needs a more integrated approach, one that reflects how people move today, not how systems were designed decades ago.
Keeping Greater Washington connected will require more than investment alone. It will require stronger coordination, a clearer focus on outcomes, and a willingness to think regionally about mobility, access, and growth. That is not a secondary concern. It is foundational to the region’s future.
To learn more about how your organization can be involved in our energy initiative, reach out to [email protected].
Insights from the Table is a membership-driven series of takeaways from our Executive Lunches, where local and regional leaders help inform the Board of Trade’s thinking and shape the work we do in a rapidly evolving environment. These conversations help surface the practical challenges, emerging priorities, and regional opportunities that matter most to Greater Washington’s future.
The Board of Trade remains focused on advancing the priorities that matter most to Greater Washington. This March newsletter highlights a variety of engagements we have had across Greater Washington with members and public officials, as well as meaningful updates on the priorities we are following in the region. We also have a variety of member news updates that showcase regional collaboration!
There is a lot moving across the region right now.
Not all of it fits neatly into one category, and not all of it is happening in one place. Some of the biggest conversations shaping Greater Washington this spring are unfolding in Richmond and Annapolis. Others are playing out in the District, through the D.C. mayoral race, the evolving council landscape, and ongoing debates about how the city grows, governs, and competes.
Taken together, they point to something bigger: this is a moment when leadership, infrastructure, workforce, and policy decisions are converging in ways that will shape the region’s future.
Transportation is one of the clearest examples. Metro funding remains a central regional priority, not simply as a transit issue, but as part of the broader question of how Greater Washington supports mobility, access, and long-term economic growth. At the same time, conversations around autonomous vehicles continue to test how quickly local policy can keep up with emerging technologies and changing transportation models.
The American Legion Memorial Bridge is another example of how these issues are becoming more connected. What was once framed primarily as a roadway project now sits inside a broader conversation about corridor planning, congestion, transit, and multimodal investment. After the previous P3 arrangement ended, Maryland shifted toward a more expansive approach that includes transit, ridesharing, bicycle and pedestrian connections, and related improvements across the corridor. That broader lens is important, and it aligns with the kind of holistic, multimodal thinking the Board of Trade has continued to emphasize.
Energy is also becoming harder to separate from growth and competitiveness. Discussions around grid reliability, energy demand, and data centers are no longer niche policy conversations. They are increasingly tied to business investment, infrastructure readiness, cost, and the region’s long-term ability to support innovation, retain growing companies, and create the conditions for business expansion.
That broader competitiveness conversation also includes how the region supports business growth from within. Across Greater Washington, there is growing recognition that success is not only about attracting the next major employer. It is also about helping existing companies grow, scale, and stay here. That includes stronger support for firms that have moved beyond the startup stage but need better access to capital, operational guidance, and regional networks to reach the next level.
The workforce conversation is shifting too. Leaders are looking beyond immediate hiring needs to think more broadly about federal workforce transitions, changing skill demands, and how technology is reshaping the labor market. That, in turn, is putting more attention on education, certifications, and better coordination between employers and workforce systems.
Meanwhile, activity in the Virginia and Maryland General Assemblies continues to shape the landscape in real time. Budget debates, transportation funding questions, tax policy, workforce priorities, and business climate concerns are all part of that picture. These are state-level decisions, but their effects are regional.
And then there is D.C., where the upcoming mayoral race and council contests carry implications that extend well beyond campaign politics. The mayoral race reflects competing ideas about affordability, growth, labor, and development, all at a time when the city is still working through downtown recovery, fiscal pressure, and broader economic transition. That matters for the District, but it also matters for the region as a whole.
What ties all of these conversations together is not that they are identical. It is that they increasingly overlap. Mobility affects growth. Energy affects competitiveness. Workforce affects business planning and opportunity. Elections affect policy direction. State budget decisions affect regional systems. And for employers, institutions, and civic leaders across Greater Washington, those intersections matter.
That is the Board of Trade’s role in this moment: helping bring together business, policy, and civic perspectives across jurisdictions so that members are not just reacting to individual headlines, but engaging with the bigger regional picture.
Our spring calendar is taking shape around many of the issues already driving conversation across the region, from elections and legislative developments to energy, mobility, education, workforce, and business growth. These gatherings are not just opportunities to stay informed. They are opportunities to engage with peers, hear directly from decision-makers, and contribute to the conversations helping shape your business and Greater Washington’s future.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to a large crowd assembled in downtown Washington, D.C., for USDOT’s National AV Safety Forum.
The conversation around autonomous vehicles has moved well beyond theory. At the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National AV Safety Forum on March 10, federal officials and industry leaders made clear that the question is no longer whether this technology is advancing. It is whether government can create a regulatory path that keeps safety at the center while allowing innovation to move from pilots to real-world deployment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) used the forum to outline a federal automated vehicle framework focused on safety oversight, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, and enabling commercial deployment.
That matters for Greater Washington. In cities such as Phoenix and Los Angeles, AV deployment is already moving beyond pilot programs, with expanding service, transit connections, and new operational investments showing what real-world integration can look like. Yet Greater Washington still does not have a clear regional path for fully autonomous vehicle deployment.
Federal momentum is real, but local policy still determines what happens on our streets
One of the clearest messages from the forum was that federal leadership can help modernize outdated rules, set clearer standards, and build public confidence in autonomous vehicle technology, especially because many existing safety rules were written for vehicles built around a human driver. NHTSA’s framework reflects that reality.
But AV deployment will not be decided at the federal level alone. In Greater Washington, state law, local permitting, roadway ownership, emergency response protocols, and agency coordination all shape whether companies can move from testing to service.
Today, D.C.’s legal framework remains limited to testing. In Maryland, SB909 would establish statewide standards for fully autonomous vehicles, but it remains pending. In Virginia, SB670 would create a framework for commercial fully autonomous vehicles, yet lawmakers delayed action and may revisit it next year.
If federal officials are signaling that the U.S. needs clearer rules of the road, Greater Washington cannot answer with a patchwork of delays, half-steps, and conflicting local standards.
NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison speaks with representatives from Waymoe, ZOOX, and Auroro during the USDOT National AV Safety Forum.
The DMV’s fragmentation is not just inconvenient. It is a competitive disadvantage
This region already knows the cost of fragmentation. Transportation, land use, and infrastructure decisions are too often made jurisdiction by jurisdiction, even when the economy functions as one region. Autonomous vehicle policy is now running into that same problem. A technology that may function seamlessly in one jurisdiction becomes harder to scale if every border introduces a different set of rules, approvals, or operating conditions.
Meanwhile, the industry is not standing still. Waymo is already operating at significant scale nationally, with more than 400,000 weekly rides and nearly 200 million fully autonomous miles on public roads. In Phoenix, the company has continued expanding service and investing in U.S. fleet manufacturing. In Los Angeles, it has tested ways to connect AV service with public transit trips. Greater Washington, by contrast, is still working through the rules needed to move beyond testing.
If this region wants to attract investment, support innovation, and shape how these systems fit into transit and regional mobility, it cannot remain a market where companies can test but not meaningfully deploy.
This should not be a debate about one company. It should be a debate about the right framework
The Board of Trade’s role is not to pick winners. It is to help shape the policy environment the region needs to compete.
That means being clear-eyed about both opportunity and responsibility. AV policy should be safety-first, with transparency, clear interaction protocols for first responders and law enforcement, strong data and cybersecurity expectations, and coordination with existing transportation systems. Maryland’s pending bill offers one example of what that framework can include, from insurance and first responder interaction plans to compliance with federal safety standards and data privacy protections.
But getting the framework right is not only about managing risk. It is also about unlocking real public benefits. Autonomous vehicles can help expand mobility for seniors and people with disabilities, support first-mile/last-mile connections to transit, and reduce dangerous human driving behaviors that continue to contribute to roadway deaths. At the forum, NHTSA acknowledged AVs’ potential safety and mobility benefits while making clear that enforcement and oversight will remain essential.
For Greater Washington, this is not a theoretical debate about the future. It is a practical policy question about how we modernize our transportation system to make the region more connected, more accessible, and more economically competitive.
USDOT Secretary Sean Duff discusses autonomous vehicle safety with Waymo at USDOT National AV Safety Forum.
A clear regional path is within reach
The path forward should be straightforward. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia need to move toward a more aligned framework for testing, deployment, and commercial operation. Local governments and transportation agencies should treat AVs as part of a broader mobility strategy, especially where they can complement transit through first-mile/last-mile connections, station access, and congestion relief. And the region needs to stop confusing caution with inaction. Safety oversight and public trust are essential, but endless delay is not a strategy.
The federal government has signaled that it wants to modernize the regulatory conversation around autonomous vehicles. Greater Washington now has an opportunity to lead with a framework that reflects both innovation and responsibility.
The Board of Trade will remain actively engaged in that work, bringing together business, government, and transportation stakeholders to support a more integrated, regionally aligned approach to autonomous vehicle policy that prioritizes safety, builds public trust, and recognizes AVs as one part of a larger system for improving mobility, access, and regional competitiveness.
Check out more of where our organization is focused in the region on our Policy & Priorities page.
Engage Further on Transportation in Greater Washington
In this Washington Business Journal Viewpoint, ‘A New Era of Collaboration: We Need the Big Three to Finally Bring the DMV Together,’ our President & CEO Jack McDougle, argues that Greater Washington’s economic competitiveness now depends on sustained, measurable regional coordination among Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. It points to the Feb. 5 meeting of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser as a promising signal, but emphasizes that symbolism must turn into a new operating model built on alignment and execution.
The piece outlines a blueprint for regionalism that treats the DMV as one integrated “portfolio,” combining Maryland’s bio-health and research strengths, Virginia’s tech and defense corridors, and D.C.’s urban core and global visibility into a single growth engine. It calls for public institutions to shift from a jurisdiction-first posture to true partnership with the private sector, and to remove barriers that prevent companies from scaling locally—especially regulatory, licensing, and permitting friction that acts like a hidden tax when businesses expand across borders.
Finally, it identifies talent mobility, transportation, and energy as the region’s key productivity pillars. The author urges reciprocity for professional credentials, deeper alignment between higher education and industry, and a unified mobility strategy that treats roads, transit, WMATA funding, and land use as one system. On energy, it warns that AI, data centers, and advanced research require reliable power at scale—and that fragmented planning and slow interconnection threaten both investment and household affordability. The Viewpoint concludes by calling for sustained joint action and cross-sector collaboration, with the Greater Washington Board of Trade positioning itself as a ready partner to help drive regional alignment.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.
READ MORE POLICY ISSUES AND TOPICS THE BOARD OF TRADE IS FOLLOWING
Update: This proposed comprehensive framework bill for commercial autonomous vehicles in the state has been postponed for a second year. The Board of Trade will continue to support legislation that brings safe and logical next-generation mobility solutions to Greater Washington.
About this Letter of Support:
In its letter of support for SB670, the Greater Washington Board of Trade urges Virginia lawmakers to advance a clear regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. The Board argues that the bill will help position Virginia as a leader in next-generation mobility by supporting innovation, economic growth, public safety, and long-term regional competitiveness.
I write to express our support for SB 670 as it comes before the House Transportation Subcommittee on Innovation.
Autonomous vehicle technology is no longer experimental. It is already operating in major U.S. markets, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Austin, and Las Vegas, under structured regulatory frameworks. States that provide clear, predictable rules are attracting investment, research partnerships, and high-skilled jobs in advanced mobility. Those that hesitate are watching that innovation and capital flow elsewhere.
Virginia is well positioned to lead. The Commonwealth’s strengths in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, logistics, and advanced research make it a natural hub for
next-generation transportation systems. What is needed is regulatory clarity. SB 670 provides that framework while maintaining appropriate oversight and public safety.
Concerns about safety and workforce impacts deserve serious consideration, but they are best addressed through thoughtful policy, not delay. Properly regulated autonomous systems have the potential to improve safety, enhance traffic flow, and increase efficiency. AV deployment will also create new opportunities in fleet operations, software engineering, systems maintenance, and infrastructure modernization. The question isnot whether this technology will advance, but where the economic benefits will accrue.
As our region works to diversify beyond federal reliance and build a stronger digital-era economy, transportation innovation is directly tied to competitiveness. SB 670 signals that Virginia intends to shape the future of mobility rather than react to it.
We appreciate your leadership and thoughtful consideration of this measure and stand ready to serve as a resource as it moves forward.
