Legal Definitions - National Capital Region

The National Capital Region (NCR) refers to the metropolitan area surrounding Washington, D.C., which includes the District of Columbia itself, along with several key counties in neighboring Maryland and Virginia. Specifically, it comprises:

• The District of Columbia
• In Maryland: Montgomery County and Prince George's County
• In Virginia: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County

This designation is often used for purposes of regional planning, federal operations, and economic analysis due to the interconnectedness of these areas with the nation's capital.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of the National Capital Region:

• Example 1: Regional Transportation Planning

  The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) might propose a new express bus service designed to alleviate traffic congestion for commuters traveling into Washington, D.C. This service would pick up passengers from various points in Loudoun County, Virginia, and Prince George's County, Maryland, and transport them directly to federal offices within the District. This initiative is planned and implemented with the entire National Capital Region in mind, recognizing the integrated commuting patterns across these jurisdictions.

• Example 2: Coordinated Emergency Response

  Following a severe cybersecurity incident affecting federal agencies, a joint task force involving federal law enforcement and local police departments from Montgomery County, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia, is activated. This coordinated effort ensures that investigations, digital forensics, and public safety measures are harmonized across the affected areas, treating the National Capital Region as a unified zone for critical incident management.

• Example 3: Economic Impact Studies

  A university research center publishes a study analyzing the economic impact of a major federal agency's relocation from a downtown D.C. building to a new campus in Prince William County, Virginia. The study would assess job creation, housing market shifts, and local business growth not just in Prince William County, but also in surrounding areas like Arlington County, Virginia, and even parts of the District of Columbia, as the economic ripple effects are felt throughout the broader National Capital Region.