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Regional transportation news stories compiled by CommuterPage.com. Subscribe to a daily email with the most recent news, recent ACCS blog posts, and upcoming events. Every CommuterPage.com News email includes an "unsubscribe" link.

Video: Making transit better

A video from CNBC Marathon highlights the major problems facing U.S. public transit and outlines potential solutions. The video notes that many transit agencies face significant budget shortfalls that threaten to reinforce low ridership and even lower revenue. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 28, 2024, Planetizen

Want to lower your city's transportation emissions? Drive less

It is this kind of public policy, to address carbon emissions on a variety of fronts, that helps contribute to a region’s improved ranking.  Read more...
Skip Descant, March 27, 2024, Government Technology

Virginia plans for signs to alert Maryland drivers to new I-495 toll lanes

Six sign structures and accompanying power and communications utilities need to be built in Maryland so the upcoming I-495 Express Lanes can operate correctly, VDOT officials told the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) at its March 19 meeting. Read more...
Angela Woolsey, March 27, 2024, FFXNow

Survey says: American walking data is getting worse

A recent shift in how the federal government measures Americans' travel behavior may have undercounted walking trips by more than half — and as transportation leaders look to that flawed data to make infrastructure decisions, it could have dire implications for the pedestrian of tomorrow. Read more...
Kea Wilson, March 27, 2024, Streetsblog USA

Farragut North K Street entrance reopens with new escalators

The K Street entrance of the Farragut North station is back open two weeks ahead of schedule. The entrance now has three brand-new, more reliable escalators and a repaired support beam. Read more...
March 27, 2024, WMATA

ATU Local 689 answers your questions

Fare collection is currently an important piece in how WMATA is funded, and many different people from across different socioeconomic backgrounds rely on public transit.  Read more...
Matthew Girardi/Ben Lynn, March 27, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

Biden says feds will help rebuild Baltimore's collapsed bridge

The bridge, on Interstate 695, carries tens of thousands of vehicles each day. Francis Scott Key Bridge, named for the writer of the national anthem, was opened in 1977. Read more...
March 26, 2024, TheHill.com

People on bikes can come together as advocates — no matter why they ride

Can sports cyclists and utility riders become a powerful coalition to make our streets better? This author argues they must. Read more...
March 26, 2024, Streetsblog USA

Wireless charging for electric transit buses: Here's how it works

Often, transit agencies charge their buses nightly with wired chargers when the vehicles return for cleaning and maintenance. But charging all those buses at the same time overnight puts a high demand on the local power grid.  Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 25, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

Alexandria streamlining and improving King Street pedestrian zone planning

A report prepared for a Traffic and Parking Board meeting later today (Monday) said the city is looking at long-term plans for the pedestrian zones as well as incorporating the project into the broader waterfront flood mitigation plans. Read more...
Vernon Miles, March 25, 2024, ALXNow

After the eclipse, exodus of drivers could create a path of gridlock

On the roads, federal authorities are asking for the public’s help to avoid gridlock across several states. Read more...
Hannah Sampson, March 22, 2024, The Washington Post

WMATA's funding crisis will disproportionately hurt essential workers with disabilities

It’s a little-known fact that the federal government is supported by an essential workforce of nearly 37,000 people who are blind or have severe disabilities, including tens of thousands here in the DMV. Read more...
Karl Groninger, March 25, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

MTA bus riders may have to alter route plans due to $3.3 billion state transportation deficit

Several of the routes potentially impacted are in our area because commuter buses take riders to job centers in the Metro Baltimore and Washington, DC region. Read more...
Jessica Albert, March 24, 2024, CBS News

'There's so much room': Visitors react to Metro's newest 8000 Series rail cars

Metro is offering the public a sneak peek into its new 8000 Series rail car and zero-emission buses through the Fleet of the Future Expo, held on the National Mall from now through April 3. Read more...
Grace Newton, March 24, 2024, WTOP

Peek inside Metro's fancy new railcars

The biggest upgrade is an "open gangway" design that allows free movement between cars and mitigates overcrowding, plus more space to sit and stand. Read more...
Anna Spiegel, March 21, 2024, Axios

WABA's new crash tracker aims to improve road safety

The tool isn’t merely a database; it’s a call to action. It serves as a potent advocacy instrument that can be used to signal to local governments the urgent need to address the issues that cyclists and other vulnerable road users face daily.  Read more...
March 22, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

How to improve transit accessibility

Transit is a key factor in whether people with disabilities, the elderly, and other groups can access jobs, healthcare, and other amenities.  Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 21, 2024, Planetizen

Metro enhances services and halts construction for cherry blossom travel surge

Additional trains will also be strategically placed throughout the system to assist with crowding, and additional buses will be on hand along key routes.

  Read more...
John Gonzalez, March 22, 2024, ABC7 News

Officials must act on promise to fix the region's Visualize 2050 transportation plan

This plan is important because it shows how the region’s transportation investments collectively succeed or fail in addressing important issues, and, under federal law, major projects must be in the plan to get built.  Read more...
Bill Pugh, March 21, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

Five rail transit projects receive federal grants to demonstrate new technologies

Grants fund demonstration projects for advanced technologies intended to improve transportation efficiency and safety in one of eight areas, as described on the SMART 2023 page on the DOT website. Read more...
March 21, 2024, Trains.com

Restriping of Stafford commuter lot delayed

The work is part of a $900,000 maintenance project at the Stafford lot along with the resurfacing of the Spotsylvania commuter lot on Houser Drive. Read more...
Scott Shenk, March 21, 2024, The Free Lance-Star

Doors opening. Step into Metro's Fleet of the Future now on the National Mall

The Expo is conveniently located near the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and National Museum of Natural History at 12th Street and Madison Drive NW. You'll find the Pop-Up Shop near the Expo on Seventh Street.  Read more...
March 20, 2024, WMATA

Here's how many citations DC transit police issued in first day of new fare evasion crackdown

Following the passage of the Secure DC omnibus bill, riders have to provide their ID, or name and address so the officer can issue a civil citation of up to $50. If they refuse, the fine could double and a person can even be arrested. Read more...
Matt Pusatory, March 20, 2024, WUSA9

Study: Half of global commutes made by car; rates vary widely

The study also highlights which parts of the world are most car-dependent and where public transit is most expansive. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 19, 2024, Planetizen

Moving from traditional to modernized transit

The decades-old public transit performance playbook was designed to celebrate more ridership. However, elected officials invested in public transit at a record level during 2019-2021 when ridership was at its lowest level in 70 years because of the value transit services bring to communities. Read more...
Mark R. Aesch, March 19, 2024, Metro Magazine

Communities build walking, biking trails along old railroad lines with federal grants

Among the projects selected for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program are at least four that will repurpose former railroad lines into trails. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 19, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

Montgomery Co. leaders develop plan to minimize impacts of summer Red Line construction

The planned work includes upgrading the signaling system, installing communication and train control cables, and repairing the interlocking; which allows trains to cross from one track to the other outside the Takoma Station.  Read more...
Matt Pusatory/Rafael Sanchez-Cruz, March 20, 2024, WUSA9

Bikeshare Beat: February CaBi ridership soars

The bikesharing network recorded 318,688 trips in February, an increase of 52.6% from the year before and setting the record for the most rides recorded in February, as celebrated by Capital Bikeshare in a post on X. Read more...
Samuel Littauer, March 19, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

PHOTOS: Take a peek into Metro's 'Fleet of the Future'

Metro is still gradually returning the 7000 Series rail cars back in service after they were pulled over safety concerns following a derailment in 2021. But the transit agency is already gearing up for the next generation of trains and buses. Take a sneak peek. Read more...
Abigail Constantino, March 19, 2024, WTOP

County leaders urge Metro, state to develop transit solutions for Red Line closures

WMATA announced Feb. 9 that in early June it will temporarily close five Metro Red Line stations – Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma – all of which are located in or directly border Montgomery County. Read more...
Ginny Bixby, March 18, 2024, MoCo 360

E-Bike lending libraries offer free access to a new mode

Library organizers say borrowing e-bikes can be a gateway to purchasing one of their own for people figuring out if an e-bike works for them and helps educate new riders about safe routes and safe riding. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 18, 2024, Planetizen

Metro cracking down on fare evasion through new DC crime law

But even with the new enforcement, new gates and barriers, DC News Now witnessed numerous riders getting through without paying, including two people piggy backing off an unsuspecting customer. Read more...
Daniel Hamburg, March 18, 2024, DC News Now

DASH service cut could impact Rosemont, Parkfairfax and North Ridge neighborhoods

Service would be reduced on Line 104 from every 30 minutes to once every hour. Barna said the change is likely to significantly decrease ridership. Read more...
Vernon Miles, March 18, 2024, ALXNow

Summer Red Line work could have 'dramatic impact' on commute times, Montgomery Co. leaders say

Among the five Red Line stops that will be closed for the summer are Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring. The Takoma station will be closed for a portion of that time. Read more...
Kate Ryan, March 18, 2024, WTOP

Enhance your cycling skills: MCDOT and WABA to offer adult bike, e-scooter classes this spring

The classes, which are set for April, May, and June, will cover Learn to Ride and Basic Skills, with MCDOT offering four free walk-up electric scooter classes following selected bike classes. Read more...
March 18, 2024, Source of the Spring

Undeterred: the road ahead for bicycle safety in Virginia

If you haven’t heard already, the close of the 2024 legislative session in Virginia doused the hope of final passage for the bicycle safety-focused bills that had seemed destined to become law.  Read more...
March 17, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

Fines, arrests take effect for Metro fare evaders in DC

Metro says that before the new policy, Metro Transit Police officers have only been able to ask fare evaders to leave the station or to pay the fair. Under the new policy, riders will have to provide their ID, or name and address so the officer can issue a civil citation of up to $50. Read more...
Rafael Sanchez-Cruz, March 18, 2024, WUSA9

'We're still hanging on!': Businesses and residents in Silver Spring on the continued Purple Line construction

The 16-mile light rail project meant to tie Bethesda to New Carrollton has been under construction for seven years.  Read more...
Kate Ryan, March 16, 2024, WTOP

'Transit Hardship': Report shows why fair fares must be expanded to more workers

On the positive side, the percentage of low-income residents who struggle with transit costs declined from an historic high of 36 percent in 2022 to 30 percent in 2023.  Read more...
Sophia Isabel Lebowitz, March 15, 2024, Streetsblog USA

Making trip planning easier for vision-impaired transit riders

Like other accessibility features, designing public facilities for people with vision impairments can benefit other groups as well.  Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 15, 2024, Planetizen

Biden-Harris Administration announces investments in innovative transportation technology projects

"The Biden-Harris administration is proud to award $50 million to promising technology projects that have the potential to help Americans travel more safely, affordably, and efficiently," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.  Read more...
March 14, 2024, Transportation.gov

Feds announce $900K in grants to support intercity passenger rail

Funding can also be used to facilitate operations coordination activities to help achieve better passenger rail services on corridors with shared freight rail operations, and to create and disseminate marketing materials that will spread awareness of the availability of new services.  Read more...
March 14, 2024, Metro Magazine

Metro fare evaders in D.C. face fines and arrests starting Monday

Until now, Metro Transit Police officers have only been able to ask fare evaders to pay their fare or leave the station, according to Metro. Read more...
Danny Nguyen, March 15, 2024, The Washington Post

Maryland officials OK more Purple Line money, but not gladly

Gov. Wes Moore and the state’s chief financial officers approved nearly half a billion dollars in extra funds for the Purple Line on Wednesday, even as they condemned the embattled project’s mounting delays and escalating costs. Read more...
Sapna Bansil, March 13, 2024, Maryland Matters

Plans to redevelop DC's Union Station take another step forward

The project could include a reconstructed rail yard, a modernized train hall and concourse, an underground garage and pick-up/drop-off area, integration with bus facilities on the planned H Street deck, and better connectivity with the train hall. Read more...
Adam Tuss, March 14, 2024, NBC4 Washington