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.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The Maryland Transit Administration will begin construction on its $50 million East-West Transit Priority Project on Oct. 6. The project will bring faster bus trips, accessible sidewalk ramps and better bike connections to a 20-mile stretch along Baltimore’s CityLink Blue and CityLink Orange corridors. Read more...
Zachary Whalen, September 16, 2026, Planetizen

I commute from NYC to Washington, DC, every week.

I'm five months into this supercommute, and I can practically traverse the Northeast Corridor in my sleep. More importantly, I've learned how to turn eight hours on Amtrak trains into one of the most productive parts of my workweek. Read more...
Sienna Sullivan, September 16, 2026, Business Insider

FCDOT seeks input on bus route changes in Springfield area, including new Tysons service

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is considering a number of service changes for its Fairfax Connector bus system next spring, including cutting four routes due to low ridership and adding new limited-stop service between the Tysons and Franconia-Springfield Metro stations. Read more...
Mary Stachyra Lopez, September 16, 2026, FFXNow

Suffolk Transit offering free rides for 'Try Transit Week

Try Transit Week is a statewide initiative that encourages Virginians to explore public transportation and consider transit as an affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly option for getting around. During the fare-free period, riders can use Suffolk Transit services at no cost, whether traveling to work, appointments, shopping, school, and other destinations. Read more...
Ashley Knight, September 15, 2026, Wavy

E-Bikes, e-scooters reshape major cities' mobility landscape

The increased micromobility ridership across cities is likely the confluence of a number of factors, transportation officials said. Part of the growth reflects the maturity of the market, but also the growth and expansion of e-bikes, which can better serve the needs of commuters. Read more...
Skip Descant, September 15, 2026, Government Technology

MDOT MTA to start RAISE East-West Transit Priority Project construction Oct. 6

The $50 million investment, which includes a $22 million federal RAISE grant supported by members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, is designed to transform a 20-mile stretch along Baltimore’s CityLink Blue and CityLink Orange corridors—in an effort to make daily travel to jobs, health care, school and life’s opportunities faster, safer and easier for everyone. Read more...
Noah Kolenda, September 15, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Fairfax City moves forward with University Drive bicycle lane project

The project will resurface and restripe the existing pavement on University Drive “to add on-road bike lanes between Layton Hall Drive and North Street and shared-lanes arrows between North Street and South Street,” a city document reads. Read more...
Acacia James, September 15, 2026, FFXNow

Car ownership costs an average of $5,851 a year on top of auto loan payments, analysis finds

Gasoline accounts for another $2,126, and maintenance or repairs account for the remaining $1,488. The analysis is based on Insurify’s insurance-quote data, along with AAA estimates for gas and maintenance costs. Read more...
Sarah Agostino, September 14, 2026, CNBC

Transit CEOs convene in Washington for national Safety and Security Summit, Capitol Hill advocacy

Public transportation remains one of the safest ways to travel in the United States. According to Federal Transit Administration data, major passenger security events occur at a rate of just 0.15 incidents per one million bus passenger trips and 0.29 incidents per one million rail passenger trips. Read more...
September 15, 2026, WMATA

Due to maintenance, the Mobile Commuter Store will not be at the Walter Reed location today, 9/16.

Due to maintenance, the Mobile Commuter Store will not be at the Walter Reed location today, 9/16. Read more...

A new name for VRE? Board hears marketing plan, 71% on-time rate and a $13 million budget gap

Virginia Railway Express Operations Board members will spend Friday morning on the message as much as the trains. Read more...
September 15, 2026, Potomac Local News

OmniRide seeks public hearing on ending Route 51 Dumfries local for microtransit

OmniRide won Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission authorization Thursday to start a public hearing and input process on eliminating Route 51 in Dumfries and redesigning Route 94 in Lake Ridge — not a final vote to cut or change service. Read more...
September 15, 2026, Potomac Local News

Trade traffic for time: Try Transit Week is Sept. 14-18

With buses, trains, carpools, vanpools, slugging, biking, free Park and Ride options and more available throughout Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is encouraging commuters to try something different for a day — or the entire week. Read more...
September 8, Fairfax County

USDOT awards $233M in transit modernization grants

“Modernizing our transit infrastructure is part of our work to usher in the Golden Age of Rail,” FTA Acting Deputy Administrator Matthew Cahill said.?”USDOT is ensuring infrastructure projects prioritize safety, efficiency, and the well-being of American families.” Read more...
Liz Carey, September 14, 2026, Transportation Today

Amtrak's $6 billion tunnel project moves closer to a faster Northeast Corridor

The project is Amtrak's largest-ever single infrastructure investment, and will pave the way for more reliable passenger rail service between Baltimore, Washington and Virginia. Read more...
Zachary Whalen, September 13, 2026, Planetizen

As Amtrak seeks to expand, restructure rail service, congressional support remains a question

“Expanding passenger rail service is essential to meeting growing demand, strengthening mobility, and connecting more communities to economic opportunity,” Robert Gleason, Amtrak board member and chair of the system expansion committee, said in a statement.  Read more...
Dan Zukowski, September 11, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

Arlington's metro stop personalities (and who chooses to live there)

Arlington’s Rosslyn–Ballston (RB) Corridor is defined by its Metro stations. While the Orange and Silver Lines move thousands of people every day, they’ve also shaped something much bigger: a collection of distinct urban villages, each with its own personality. Read more...
Kamarin Kraft, September 10, 2026, ARLNow

VDOT and Transurban 495 NEXT Project receives top transportation award for benefitting local communities

The express lanes extension features new connections at the Dulles Corridor interchange and the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange before the American Legion Bridge into Maryland, and connects seamlessly with the existing 14-mile 495 Express Lanes and larger 97-mile express lanes network in Northern Virginia. Read more...
September 10, 2026, VDOT

FTA awards $233 million in new ASAP funding for station upgrades across five states

The FTA notes that there are hundreds of American transit stations built before 1990 that are known as legacy stations because they’re not wheelchair or stroller friendly.

  Read more...
Noah Kolenda, September 11, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Metro announces service updates to select Metro Bus routes beginning September 13

Highlights include direct service to the new South Lake Marketplace and Giant shopping center in southern Bowie on Route P73 and the resumption of regular routing on the D10 and D1X following a summer detour near the National Mall to accommodate Freedom 250 events. Read more...
September 11, 2026, WMATA

Metrobus drivers agree to quote fare only if they're protected by glass shield

Drivers voiced concerns about their safety after Metro brought back the "quote the fare" policy in May in an effort to crack down on fare evasion. The transit agency said it was losing millions of dollars each year because of riders who weren't paying. Read more...
Gina Cook, September 10, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Remembering Metro's vital role on 9/11

Metro kept trains and buses running to help people leave the city after the plane hit the Pentagon.  Read more...
Adam Tuss, September 10, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Why not everyone is happy with DC Metro's new signs in stations

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority says its redesigned signs are intended to make navigating the Metro “clearer and more consistent,” with less visual clutter and information presented at the point where riders need it.  Read more...
Mike Stunson, September 10, 2026, USA Today

Learn about e-bike safety on W&OD Trail

Participants will receive information on the safe and legal operation of e-bikes, electric scooters, electric dirt bikes, mopeds and other electric personal mobility devices. Organizers will also discuss responsible riding practices and trail etiquette to help improve safety for all trail users. Read more...
September 11, 2026, Fairfax County Times

What actually gets more people cycling? A new study has some surprising answers

If a city wants more people to cycle, the conventional answer is usually some combination of bike lanes, cycling education, public-awareness campaigns and incentives. All have their place. A protected bike lane can make a frightening street feel comfortable, a cycling course can build confidence and a rebate can make an e-bike affordable. Read more...
Ron Johnson, September 9, 2026, Momentum Mag

Metro and union reach agreement on 'quote the fare' bus policy

Charts provided at a Metro Board of Directors meeting Thursday showed that modernized fare gates have led to a significant reduction in fare evasion on Metro Rail, but while Metro Bus fare evasion is down from its peak of 75%, it’s still well above the agency’s goal of 50%. Read more...
Josh Rosenthal, September 10, 2026, Fox 5 News

Alexandria's DASH ridership climbs as state evaluates Northern Virginia bus merger

Alexandria’s DASH Bus system had a 10% ridership increase in the last fiscal year ending June 30, according to data from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. More than 6.9 million riders were reported in the 2026 fiscal year. Read more...
Emily Leayman, September 10, 2026, ALXNow

Metro rolls out new signage at L'Enfant Plaza

Metro has rolled out some new signage at the L’Enfant Plaza station intended to make commutes less confusing. For some, it’s working, while others say they still need some GPS guidance.  Read more...
Adam Tuss, September 9, 2026, NBC4 Washington

WMATA wraps up Red Line project

The majority of work here requiring extended access to the track area has now been completed, according to WMATA. Construction on the mezzanine, including the bridge to the elevator banks, will continue behind protective barriers over the next 18 months without requiring additional station closures. Read more...
Marybeth Luczak, September 9, 2026, RT&S

Fairfax Connector, CUE see drops in ridership despite broader N. Va. transit growth

While Fairfax Connector and CUE saw ridership decline in FY 2026, which spanned July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, the region’s other local bus networks — Arlington Transit, Alexandria’s DASH and Loudoun County Transit — posted increases. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, September 9, 2026, FFXNow

Mount Pleasant wants to bike safely. For that, we need better community connections.

Our central ask is for protected bike lanes connecting Mount Pleasant and DC’s 15th Street protected bike lanes, which consist of two-way lanes that run between Euclid Street NW, at the northeast corner of Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park, through downtown DC and south of the Jefferson Memorial. Read more...
Rachel Shaffer/Pete Rodrigue/Sarah Loftus/Seth Grimes, September 9, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

ART bus ridership rose slightly despite government shutdown in 2025

Arlington officials have revamped ART routes and times in recent years, seeking to maximize efficiency while increasing ridership. The efforts took a hit when Congress couldn’t agree to fund government operations, leading to a shutdown lasting from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, September 9, 2026, ARLNow

OmniRide celebrates 40 years with new vehicles

The new vehicles include eight MCI commuter buses, seven Gillig buses, and one electric van. The 40-foot Gillig buses will replace vehicles that have reached or exceeded their useful life and will serve OmniRide Local and Metro Express routes, while the electric van will support microtransit and paratransit services. Read more...
September 7, 2026, APTA

Riders take first commutes after Metro's summer shutdown

It’s the first trip into work since Metro closed three stations for nine weeks to complete construction and upgrades. News4’s Juliana Valencia spoke to commuters celebrating the return of the Red Line. Read more...
Juliana Valencia, September 8, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Metro installs new signs at L'Enfant Plaza, kicks off rollout of new wayfinding system

In September 2026, new signs will be installed at L’Enfant Plaza station. By the end of October, Metro riders will see the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station fully restored with updated signs that reflect ways to navigate the system. Read more...
Odyssey Fields, September 9, 2026, DC News Now

Skanska lands $114M contract to rehabilitate congested I-395 bridge

The D.C. Department of Transportation on Tuesday tapped global construction firm Skanska Group to oversee a design-build contract to rehabilitate the span, which connects Arlington and D.C. and transports roughly 90,000 vehicles daily via Interstate 395. Read more...
Nate Doughty, September 8, 2026, Washington Business Journal

Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16–26

Due to the suspension, trains traveling through Virginia will effectively end at Alexandria, with only a limited number continuing north. Most trips to Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Hampton Roads will be served by express buses. Read more...
Nathaniel Cline, September 7, 2026, Virginia Mercury

'Just so happy it's open again': Metro Red Line commuters welcome end of partial shutdown

During the shutdown, Metro said it moved more than 1.2 million riders on free shuttle buses operating along Maryland Route 355, also known as Rockville Pike and Wisconsin Avenue, between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights. Read more...
Neal Augenstein, September 7, 2026, WTOP

OmniRide adds 16 new buses and van to transit fleet

The agency acquired eight new Motor Coach Industries (MCI) commuter buses equipped with restrooms, seven new Gillig buses, and one electric van, further advancing its commitment to modernizing and expanding its fleet.  Read more...
September 3, 2026, Culpeper Star Exponent

Metro's Summer Red Line shutdown to end on Monday, temporary bus lanes will be removed

A major portion of Metro's Red Line shut down on July 6 and has remained closed. Full Red Line service will resume on Monday, restoring rail service to Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, and Bethesda stations. Read more...
Alanea Cremen, September 4, 2026, WUSA9

How track work at DC's Union Station will affect Metro Richmond train commuters in October

From Oct. 16 to 26, planned infrastructure upgrades south of Washington, D.C.’s Union Station will result in schedule adjustments impacting service to and from Virginia. Read more...
Dina Weinstein, September 2, 2026, Henrico Citizen

Rep. Larsen joins APTA, WMATA officials for Red Line construction tour

Rep. Larsen was joined by APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke on a tour of the Red Line’s summer construction. Read more...
September 2, 2026, APTA

Amtrak announces new 'System Expansion Committee'

The committee will also oversee the development of sustainable funding strategies and expansion of state-supported service partnerships. The committee has five initial members, including a designated U.S. Department of Transportation secretary representative. Read more...
Zachary Whalen, September 3, 2026, Planetizen

Virginia DRPT launches safety and design division

The new division “unifies and streamlines” existing agency initiatives under one umbrella, according to Virginia DRPT’s Sept. 2 announcement. Read more...
Marybeth Luczak, September 3, 2026, Railway Age

Maryland lost over $800M by failing to collect tolls, penalties from drivers

The audit found that the Maryland Transportation Authority did not take available actions to collect unpaid tolls and penalties incurred by out-of-state drivers, which totaled $818.1 million as of January. Read more...
Liam Scott, September 2, 2026, The Washington Post

Annual cost to commute by Metro

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team analyzed data from the 100 largest U.S. metro areas to estimate the annual cost of commuting. We combined the estimated value of time spent commuting — based on average round-trip commute times and state-level median hourly wages — with estimated annual fuel costs based on average gas prices, commute distance and fuel economy. Read more...
Christina von Clapar?de-Crola/Jon Bortin, September 2, 2026, Consumer Affairs

Amtrak launches System Expansion Committee to build out network

Approved by the Amtrak Board of Directors on July 30, the System Expansion Committee will serve as the board’s primary forum for advancing passenger rail growth. The new committee comes as Amtrak reports demand continues to grow across the network. Read more...
Noah Kolenda, September 2, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

MARC Train introducing new service between Montgomery County, Baltimore

The Maryland Transit Administration is expanding the MARC Train service and will begin providing a weekday connection between Montgomery County and Baltimore starting Sept. 28. Read more...
Anna Chen, September 2, 2026, WTOP