News

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.

D.C.'s Streetcar is making its final stop, leaving a mixed legacy

The bright red trolley that runs a 2.2-mile track along H Street from Union Station to the edge of the RFK Stadium site never amounted to its promised sprawling 40-mile footprint. But the streetcar quickly became the unofficial mascot of the corridor for some. Read more...
Kendall Staton, March 31, 2026, The Washington Post

VRE on-time performance rebounds to 87–88% but March delays highlight challenges for riders

Virginia Railway Express trains have returned to 87-88 percent on-time performance over the past eight of the last 10 months, coming close to the agency’s 90 percent goal, but two difficult weeks in March exposed persistent reliability issues that continue to test commuter patience along the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines. Read more...
Uriah Kiser, March 31, 2026, Potomac Local News

USDOT to award $999.5M in Safe Streets for All grants

The program awards two types of grants. Implementation grants?fund projects or strategies aligned with an existing safety action plan that address roadway safety challenges. Planning and demonstration grants?support the development, completion or enhancement of an action plan. Read more...
Melina Druga, March 31, 2026, Transportation Today

It's the end of the road for the DC Streetcar

After more than a decade, the experiment that was DC Streetcar is over. The District Department of Transportation says the 2.2-mile electric trolley line that served Northeast D.C. on H Street and Benning Road was too expensive to maintain. Read more...
Jimmy Alexander, March 31, 2026, WTOP

Data helps Washington, D.C., transit fine-tune its service

In the last five years, WMATA, like numerous other transit operators across the country, has been working to recapture ridership, and dig out of the COVID-19 pandemic slump that reshuffled commute and travel patterns built on the concept of shuttling workers from suburban housing locations to job centers.  Read more...
Skip Descant, March 30, 2026, Government Technology

DC Streetcar hits the brakes for good after decade of service

Over a million passengers rode the D.C. Streetcar in 2019, but since then, ridership numbers have not returned to that marker, according to ridership data on the DC Streetcar website. Roughly 853,000 rides occurred during Fiscal Year 2025. Read more...
Winston Rogers/Lianna Golden, March 30, 2026, ABC7 News

Spring has arrived — time to ride!

As traffic picks up, gas prices rise, and parking remains a challenge across the region, biking offers a reliable, stress-free alternative for getting to work or transit. Read more...
March 29, 2026, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

Transit wafety for the people, by the people

Last month, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) co-introduced the RIDER Safety Act to help transit agencies secure federal funding to hire “transit ambassadors” to work with the traveling public. Read more...
Jack Guan, March 30, 2026, Streetsblog USA

'Kids Ride Free' program in DC surpasses major milestone

Since its inception in 2013, Kids Ride Free has provided more than 650,000 students free transportation to help them get to school, afterschool programs and other productive activities in all eight wards of the nation’s capital. Read more...
Alan Etter, March 30, 2026, WTOP

VRE commits $66,405 over 3 years to FredNats sponsorship: what taxpayers get in return

Virginia Railway Express has entered a three-year marketing and sponsorship agreement with the Fredericksburg Nationals minor league baseball team, committing public funds totaling approximately $66,405 through the 2028 season to gain visibility among potential riders in the Fredericksburg area. Read more...
Uriah Kiser, March 27, 2026, Potomac Local News

Tuesday is your last chance to take a ride on the DC Streetcar

Service officially ends March 31, which is the last day it will operate on its route along H Street and Benning Road in Northeast. Read more...
Will Vitka, March 29, 2026, WTOP

WMATA FY2027 budget focuses on costs and service

Under the revised plan, jurisdictional subsidy growth would remain at 1.8%. Also, that level would stay below both inflation and the region’s 3% target. The proposal also maintains its focus on cost control and operational efficiency. Read more...
March 29, 2026, Railway Supply

Active transportation project calls for feedback

This funding project falls under the umbrella of “active transportation,” which is defined as any non-motorized travel used recreationally to get from one point to another.  Read more...
Samir Ali Nomani, March 26, 2026, The Fairfax Times

Metro shutting down part of Red Line this summer for construction

Metro said riders will be able to take an express shuttle directly between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights. A local shuttle will also be available to take passengers to North Bethesda, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, Bethesda and Friendship Heights. Read more...
Gina Cook, March 26, 2026, NBC4 Washington

D.C. Metro turns 50 with birthday party, limited-edition merch, coffee table book

Metro may not feel a day over 25 with its cool merch and spiffy new trains and buses, but it took half a century to go from a modest subway to a six-line, 130-mile system that's the backbone of D.C.'s commute. Read more...
Anna Spiegel, March 27, 2026, Axios

Metro celebrates 50 years of service to the region

The Metro Rail system quickly transformed how the region moved. In the decades since, Metro has become the backbone of the region’s transportation network, with generations of customers relying on the system.  Read more...
March 26, 2026, WMATA

The very first ride. A surprise encounter. Memories of Metro's 50 years.

On March 27, 1976, the Metro rail system made its first trip, a 4.6-mile Red Line journey between Rhode Island Avenue and Farragut North in D.C. Over the next 50 years, it clocked more than 7 billion additional trips, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Read more...
Jasmine Golden, March 27, 2026, The Washington Post

Virginia seeks public input on future of train travel

It comes as Amtrak Virginia consistently reports record-high passenger ridership in the state, with just under 1.5 million riders in the last fiscal year. Read more...
Karri Peifer, March 25, 2026, Axios

Norfolk offers free transit rides on Earth Day

“Earth Day is a great way for Hampton Roads residents to try transit at no cost,” said William E. Harrell, President and CEO. “Free travel on Earth Day is a way to thank our customers while encouraging new riders to leave their vehicles behind and try transit, especially with rising gas prices.” Read more...
March 24, 2026, The Hampton Roads Messenger

Bikeshare Beat: CaBi ridership froze over in February, but showed signs of thaw

CaBi has broken its annual ridership record for four consecutive years, but 2026’s annual ridership is off to a slow start. Through February, 496,926 trips have been taken on Capital Bikeshare, a 24.1% decrease in ridership from the same timeframe in 2025. Read more...
Samuel Littauer, March 25, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

How smart transit bus doors could improve passenger safety

The AI-powered door also helps keep buses on schedule by understanding when the boarding area is clear, said Jim Stewart, central regional sales manager for Wabtec Bus Solutions. Sometimes a driver will leave the door open longer than necessary Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 24, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

New signage approved for Tysons water tower and Metro stations

“These two initiatives improve the Tysons placemaking efforts, bettering the skyline and making it easier to navigate public transportation,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said prior to the unanimous vote. Read more...
Angela Woolsey, March 24, 2026, FFXNow

Federal removal of popular bike lanes delayed as cyclists sue, officials say

The agency said in a statement to The Washington Post on Friday that it was seeking to return “common sense into city planning” and that it was “essential to improve traffic flow for the hundreds of thousands of tourists” expected to flock to D.C. for major events such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Freedom250 celebrations. Read more...
Meagan Flynn, March 24, 2026, The Washington Post

D.C.'s streetcars are headed for auction block

What was pitched as the start of a citywide streetcar revival ends in a fire sale — and a case study in how big transit bets can go sideways. Read more...
Anna Spiegel, March 24, 2026, Axios

Loudoun commuter bus service adjustments begin April 1, 2026

The relocation of commuter bus service to Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station provides commuters with additional transit options including the Silver Line and local bus service. Read more...
March 23, 2026, Loudoun County

VRE brings back 4th of July fireworks trains after 10-year hiatus

Virginia Railway Express is reviving its Fourth of July fireworks trains after approximately 10 years to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Read more...
Uriah Kiser, March 23, 2026, Potomac Local News

GW Parkway resurfacing to begin between Arlington and Alexandria

Sections of the GW Parkway are being resurfaced between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 395 in Arlington and between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and First Street in Alexandria. Lane closures will occur when crews are doing milling and paving work during the day, overnight and on weekends. Read more...
Emily Leayman, March 23, 2026, ALXNow

Metro seeks public comment on proposed changes at Braddock Rd station

Metro is proposing changes to transit facilities at Braddock Rd station to improve customer experience. The proposed changes include reconfiguration of the bus loop and removal of Kiss & Ride facilities to accommodate future development. Read more...
March 23, 2026, WMATA

Why walk scores don't tell the whole story

To assess what makes people choose to walk or not walk to a destination, researchers studied anonymized travel data, tracking where people start and end their trips. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 22, 2026, Planetizen

Bike lanes on 15th Street in DC to be removed by National Park Service

National Park Service will start removing bike lanes on 15th Street between Constitution Avenue NW and the Tidal Basin on Monday. Read more...
Juliana Valencia, March 23, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Drivers face new lane closures on GW Parkway and Roosevelt Bridge during repairs

The National Park Service begins lane closures to resurface sections of the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 395, and between Ronald Reagan National Airport and First Street, in Alexandria, Virginia. Read more...
Sandy Cozel, March 23, 2026, WTOP

Metro's 2026 cherry blossom wraps hit the tracks

Metro is the official transit partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. A celebration that runs from March 20 to April 12 and kicks off the spring and tourist season in the DMV Read more...
Nicole Akumatey, March 20, 2026, ABC7 News

Bike lanes that greatly reduced crashes on National Mall set for removal

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is expected to begin construction Monday to remove the portion of the 15th Street NW bike lane that goes through the National Mall, which falls under the federal government’s jurisdiction via the Park Service, according to the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Read more...
Liam Scott, March 20, 2026, The Washington Post

WMATA celebrates 50 years of service with exclusive ride, giveaways

To celebrate, WMATA will bring its customers along for an exclusive Metro ride on Friday, Mar. 27. There will also be special giveaways. Read more...
Anna Chen, March 19, 2026, DC News Now

Urban rail transit construction in the US trails population growth

Starting in the 1950s and lasting into the 1970s, urban rail transit systems were proposed, built and put into operation in metro areas including the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., but things changed after that.  Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 19, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

'Metro is always going to be cheaper than driving a car': GM eyes ridership uptick

Rising gas prices – as well as a drop in crime – have Metro preparing for more people to potentially choose to ride Metro or take the bus instead of driving. Read more...
Adam Tuss, March 19, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Virginia Railway Express names Chris Henry as chief operations officer

Henry has more than 40 years of customer support and multisite operations management experience and previously served as VRE director of rail operations, a position he held since 2010. Read more...
Melina Druga, March 18, 2026, Transportation Today

Ways to improve Metrorail wayfinding, starting with U Street

According to WMATA, the new wayfinding program includes new Exit Signs featuring lettered exits and points of interest. The lettered exit system means that the exits from a platform will now have an A-B-C designation to help riders navigate to points of interest, local intersections, and transit connections. Read more...
David Stembel, March 19, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

Zero-emission transit bus fleets continued to grow last year

Transit agencies, municipalities and shuttle bus operators continued to grow their fleets of zero-emission buses during the August 2024 to July 2025 period, outpacing growth in the previous period, according to Calstart, a national clean transportation advocacy group. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 18, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

WMATA launches digital assistant for Metro Access

“We’re implementing this tool in response to feedback from our customers who want faster answers and more flexibility when managing their trips,” said WMATA COO Leroy Jones. “The Metro Access digital assistant eliminates wait times for many common requests and makes it easier for customers to plan their travel.”  Read more...
March 18, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Just 7 ways bike lanes make life better for drivers, too

Research published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management found that the introduction of Washington, DC’s Capital Bikeshare system reduced neighbourhood traffic congestion by as much as 4 percent. Even modest shifts away from car trips can make a noticeable difference in crowded city networks. Read more...
Ron Johnson, March 16, 2026, Momentum Mag

Central Maryland could have world-class transit. We just need better priorities

World-class transit is not a luxury. It is a system that gets people where they need to go — frequently, reliably, and conveniently — without forcing them into a car for every trip. An ambitious, sustained investment in transit by 2050 would improve Maryland’s economy, health, and environment. Read more...
Brian O'Malley, March 18, 2026, Greater Greater Washington