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.

Predatory towing targeted under new bill inspired by Advanced Towing case

A proposed bill, inspired by the former Virginia Attorney General’s lawsuit and case against Advanced Towing, would allow residents and localities better ability to protect themselves against bad acting towing companies. Read more...
Matt Blitz, January 24, 2022, ARLnow

Ferry to D.C.? New analysis underway

The plans for a commuter ferry taking riders from Woodbridge to Washington are moving forward again after being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new study on the way that should detail a full understanding of how the proposed system would operate. Read more...
Jared Foretek, January 24, 2022, Inside NoVa

Bird unveils state-of-the-art battery management system

Bird Global, Inc. (Bird) has released new details about its battery management system (BMS) which helps power millions of micro-EV trips globally. Read more...
January 24, 2022, Mass Transit

D.C. Metro says woman assaulted with a knife on train

Metro police say a knife assault on Sunday injured a woman in D.C. Read more...
Ivy Lyons, January 23, 2022, WTOP

Transportation Dept. blocks 44 flights to China in response to country's restrictions on US carriers

The Transportation Department issued an order on Friday blocking 44 flights from China to the U.S. after China blocked tens of U.S. to China flights due to passengers later testing positive for COVID-19 in the country. Read more...
Caroline Vakil, January 22, 2022, The Hill

Route 7 Corridor project remains on track for 2024 completion

Although the pandemic wreaked havoc on supply chains and labor demands, the state’s massive improvement project along the Route 7 Corridor remains on track. Read more...
Fatimah Waseem, January 21, 2022, Reston Now

New pier at Reagan National is nearly all complete

It’s a milestone that will pass largely unnoticed by the traveling public, but another step toward final completion of the massive “Project Journey” expansion program at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Read more...
January 22, 2022, Inside NoVa

Measure would allow ads on Va. school buses to support driver recruitment

A measure being patroned by a freshman legislator would allow local school districts to advertise the hiring of bus drivers on the buses themselves. Read more...
January 22, 2022, Inside NoVa

Metro's next leader will face ridership challenges and a looming 'financial cliff'

Officials say federal workers are not returning in numbers needed to cover the agency’s annual operating costs. Read more...
Justin George, January 22, 2022, Washington Post

MDOT awards more than $1 million in highway safety grants

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration said Friday that it’s handing out more than $1 million in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grants. Read more...
Will Vitka, January 21, 2022, WTOP

Crumbling Va., D.C. bridges finally getting repaired

With 577 bridges in poor condition, Virginia will get millions of dollars over five years for repairs and upgrades. DC will also get money. Read more...
Deb Belt, January 21, 2022, Vienna Patch

I-66 ramp to Vienna Metro closed for three weeks

Drivers traveling westbound on I-66 outside the Capital Beltway over the next three weeks will have to find an alternate route to get to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail Station. Read more...
Michael O'Connell, January 21, 2022, Vienna Patch

Report says Montgomery County has good bus service, but region needs more investment

A report released Thursday by a regional coalition of business and smart growth organizations commends Montgomery County for its Flash bus service and free fares for Ride On service, while urging improvements for bus service across the region. Read more...
Steve Bohnel, January 20, 2022, Bethesda Magazine

When in-person school resumed in North Chevy Chase, MCPS forgot to tell bus drivers

Parents were notified minutes before start of classes; many couldn’t get their kids to school. Read more...
Caitlynn Peetz, January 20, 2022, Bethesda Magazine

Help Wanted: What Metro needs from its next General Manager

With Paul Wiedefeld stepping down in six months, Metro’s board will be looking for a new leader to steer WMATA through some of its most trying times. Read more...
Jordan Pascale, January 21, 2022, dcist

Bike crashes and the justice system

FABB hosted Pia Miller, Fairfax County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Community Justice, at our January meeting for a discussion of how the criminal justice system handles court cases arising out of car-bike crashes. Read more...
January 21, 2022, FABB

Taking the pedal off the metal: When should older adults stop driving?

You may have gotten your driver’s license the day you turned 16. By the time you retire, you could have driven daily for more than half a century. But for some people, there comes a time in the aging process when driving becomes dangerous. Read more...
January 20, 2022, Alexandria Times

Town of Herndon continues discussion to double down on parking

While neighboring jurisdictions have more restrictions on parking, Herndon’s lax rules have meant vehicles block areas, are abandoned on streets and interfere with drivers’ visibility, according to town officials. Read more...
David Taube, January 20, 2022, Reston Now

Traffic safety groups implore officials to make upgrades for pedestrians, cyclists after recent deaths

Traffic safety advocates from across the D.C. area have banded together to urge local officials to make improvements that they believe could help prevent the next death of a pedestrian or cyclist. Read more...
David Taube, January 20, 2022, FFXnow

Developer to take on transportation projects near construction site in Courthouse

As a 20-story apartment building by Greystar takes shape in Courthouse, the developer is poised to agree to take on some county-identified transportation projects around the site. Read more...
Jo DeVoe, January 20, 2022, ARLnow

Shady Grove, Rockville Metro stations reopened January 16

Metro is excited to welcome you back to Shady Grove and Rockville stations. Here is everything you need to know about service at the reopened stations and fun facts about the project. Read more...
January 20, 2022, WMATA

Airlines cancel, change flights despite 5G rollout delays

Multiple airlines canceled or delayed flights to the United States ahead of an anticipated 5G rollout scheduled for Wednesday even though wireless carriers agreed on Tuesday to pause the deployment around some airports, Reuters reported. Read more...
Cameron Jenkins, January 19, 2022, The Hill

Majority of US fleets cleared for 'low-visibility landings' at airports with 5G: FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday said that close to two-thirds of U.S. commercial fleets have been cleared "to perform low-visibility landings at airports" with the newly deployed 5G wireless service. Read more...
Caroline Vakil,January 19, 2022, The Hill

Virginia could nix court ceremony for new drivers

Virginia state lawmakers are looking to give local judges the power to ditch the requirement that first-time commonwealth drivers go to a court ceremony to get their driver’s licenses. Read more...
Will Vitka, January 19, 2022, WTOP

Development near West Falls Church Metro sparks possibilities, neighbor concerns

Visions of a vibrant, walkable community near the West Falls Church Metro station have the support of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, but some who live nearby are concerned new development will jeopardize their safety. Read more...
Neal Augenstein, January 19, 2022, WTOP

NTSB chief to fed agency: Stop using misleading statistics

With traffic fatalities spiking higher, the nation’s top safety investigator says a widely cited government statistic that 94 percent of serious crashes are solely due to driver error is misleading and that the Transportation Department should stop using it. Read more...
Hope Yen, Tom Krisher, January 18, 2022, Frederick News-Post

Arlington government seeking $4.5 million to help fund second entrance to Metro station

Every little bit helps, and as the Arlington government attempts to cobble together the $140 million needed to support a construction of a second entrance to the Ballston-MU Metro station, it is again asking the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for financial backing. Read more...
January 19, 2022, Inside NoVa

Pipe on Purple Line land in Silver Spring, sends water shooting into the air for hours

A pipe on Purple Line land began shooting water into the air for hours Sunday night, fascinating and scaring residents in the immediate area. Read more...
Kevin Lewis, January 17, 2022, ABC7

Snow to hit D.C. area, expect a slushy Thursday morning commute

Overnight rain, then snow, could create slow and slushy road conditions just as the morning rush hour heats up. Here’s the timing and how much snowfall is expected. Read more...
January 19, 2022, NBC Washington

Spokes bicycle shops in Northern Va. sold to Trek

Trek Bicycle has bought all six of Northern Virginia’s Spokes Etc. bicycle shops, including its popular Quaker Lane location in Alexandria, the company said Monday. Read more...
Will Vitka, January 18, 2022, WTOP

Report: Virginia lagging behind on road safety; DC has one of best state highway safety laws

A safety report card that grades states on the number of deadly crashes and their traffic laws shows that Virginia is lagging behind other states. Read more...
Gigi Barnett, January 18, 2022, WTOP

Omicron forces Amtrak service cuts

Amtrak has been impacted by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which has sickened, albeit not killed, millions of people, even the fully vaccinated, creating staff shortages. Read more...
David Peter Alan, January 18, 2022, Railway Age

Airlines suspend US flights in response to 5G deployment

Numerous international airlines based outside of the U.S. have announced they will be suspending flights to certain U.S. locations due to the upcoming 5G deployment near airports. Read more...
Joseph Choi, January 18, 2022, The Hill

AT&T, Verizon to delay 5G rollout near certain airports

AT&T and Verizon on Tuesday each agreed to temporarily delay their 5G rollouts near certain airports amid concerns over possible flight disruptions. Read more...
Caroline Vakil, January 18, 2022, The Hill

Record number of handguns detected at airports in 2021

Throughout 2021, the Transportation Security Administration has shared news of incident after incident of guns being detected at airport security checkpoints. Read more...
Jack Pointer, January 18, 2022, WTOP

Virginia to receive $536.8 million for bridge repair work

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine this week announced the largest-ever federal investment in Virginia’s bridges, made possible by the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law negotiated by Sen. Warner and supported by Sen. Kaine. Read more...
January 16, 2022, Augusta Free Press

A shortage of bus drivers is causing problems for those who use public transportation

Frustration is growing among people who depend on public transportation as employees quit and agencies make major cuts. Read more...
January 17, 2022, NPR

Contemplating MARC expansion, Md. lawmakers look enviously at Virginia

Maryland policymakers and transit advocates are contemplating a bigger and better future for the state’s MARC commuter rail service. Read more...
Josh Kurtz, January 18, 2022, WTOP

Washington, D.C., approves 25-year strategic plan for multimodal transportation system

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) recently approved moveDC 2021, a goal-based strategic plan establishing a 25-year vision for the district’s multimodal transportation system. Read more...
Melina Druga, Janury 18, 2022, Transportation Today

Low overnight temperatures brings refreeze, icy conditions to DC region

As most people head back to work Tuesday after the MLK holiday, low overnight temperatures throughout the D.C. region will refreeze wet spots created from Sunday’s storm, creating icy and slick conditions for the morning commute. Read more...
Jose Umana, January 18, 2022, WTOP

U.S. Department of Transportation announces historic bridge investment program under Infrastructure Law

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was launching a historic Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, Preservation, Protection and Construction Program (Bridge Formula Program) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more...
Liz Carey, January 17, 2022, Transportation Today

Airlines warn of 'catastrophic' crisis when new 5G service is deployed

U.S. airlines and cargo carriers on Monday warned that the new 5G wireless service set to deploy Wednesday could ground flights, potentially stranding thousands of Americans overseas and delaying the delivery of key goods. Read more...
Karl Evers-Hillstrom, January 17, 2022, The Hill

DASHing through winter weather

To help keep you safe and comfortable while making your trips with DASH this winter, we've compiled a few helpful tips. Read more...
January 10, 2022, DASH

WMATA eyes trackside wheel inspection tech

The Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (WMATA) 7000-series rapid transit cars will be out of service for another 90 days, the agency reported on Jan. 13; it said it is acquiring technology to measure the cars’ wheelsets, which have been under inspection since an Oct. 12, 2021 Blue Line train derailment. Read more...
Marybeth Luczak, January 14, 2022, Railway Age

More than 2,000 Sunday flights canceled due to weekend storm

The flight-tracking website FlightAware reported 2,280 canceled flights on Sunday as of Saturday night. Read more...
Brad Dress, January 16, 2022, The Hill

Amtrak conductor dies after falling off train heading from Boston to DC

An Amtrak conductor has died after falling off the train she was working on near the Westerly train station, according to Westerly Police Chief Shawn Lacey. Read more...
January 15, 2022, ABC7

Weekend winter storm set to bring snow, sleet, rain and damaging wind

Snow develops Sunday afternoon. Read more...
January 16, 2022, WUSA9

Prince George's County planners are setting a vision for transportation, looking toward 2035

The public has the opportunity to weigh in on plans last updated more than a decade ago. Read more...
Ian Dumcan, January 14, 2022, Washington Post

Omicron deepens bus driver shortage, frustrating passengers as transit agencies pare back service

The fast-spreading variant has thrown transit agencies into crisis as they try to fill shifts and keep routes operating. Read more...
Justin George, January 15, 2022, Washington Post

MDOT MTA Purple Line won't open until late 2026, project costs have gone up too

The 16-mile light-rail project has experienced a shake-up in its contracting team, as well as supply chain challenges, rising material costs and labor shortages. Read more...
Mischa Wanek-Libman, January 14, 2022, Mass Transit