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.

County to remove barriers on S. Carlin Springs Rd. this weekend

Since March, these barriers -- closing off the northbound right travel lane from 8th Place S. to 5th Road S. -- have been up to give more room to kids walking to their neighborhood schools. Read more...
Dana Munro, July 23, 2021, ARLnow

Traffic-calming changes coming to McLean roads

Traffic-calming measures soon will be coming, and one will be removed, on a pair of McLean streets. Read more...
July 23, 2921, Inside NoVa

Study: Bike Share saves the U.S. $36M public health dollars every year

The long-term health benefits of using bike share vastly outweigh the short-term risks, even in the most polluted and car-dominated U.S. cities, a new study finds -- and cities who invest in reducing those risks by loosening car dominance can save even more lives and millions in precious public health dollars. Read more...
Kea Wilson, July 23, 2021, Streetsblog USA

MCDOT will offer free bus rides for seniors, persons with disabilities

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will enact a long-term ‘Ride Free Program’ for seniors and persons with disabilities. Read more...
Sarah Dilworth, July 21, 2021, mymcm

As infrastructure debate lingers, $34 million and a new sidewalk are bringing life to a small Virginia town

In the heart of Virginia’s wine country, Hillsboro was transformed into a walkable town during the pandemic. Read more...
Luz Lazo, July 23, 2021, Washington Post

Cross-state passenger rail survey closing Sunday

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation invites you to participate in a survey to share your comments on the Commonwealth Corridor. Read more...
July 23, 2021, DRPT

Alexandria to offer free bus rides as post-pandemic commuting approaches [video]

Should trains and buses be free as a way to get riders back post-pandemic? One local agency is taking the step to do just that. Read more...
July 22, 2021, NBC Washington

Prince George's Co. faces bus driver shortage, encourages drivers to apply

Like many local school systems, Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools is facing a bus driver shortage -- and just weeks before the school year starts. Read more...
Kyle Cooper, July 22, 2021, WTOP

Weekend Road and Rail: Metro work on all lines, improvements around the Mall, I-66 and Beltway

As it stands, here’s what is planned for the District, Maryland and I-66 in Virginia. Read more...
Mary DePompa, July 22, 2021, WTOP

Two years after massive flooding, city moves forward with Holmes Run trail restoration

Two years after historic floods wiped out swaths of the Holmes Run Trail, Alexandria is hosting a community meeting next week to provide an update on long-term repair efforts. Read more...
Vernon Miles, July 22, 2021, ALXnow

Uber acquiring transportation logistics company for $2.25B

Uber’s trucking division has reached an agreement to acquire transportation logistics firm Transplace for roughly $2.25 billion, the ride-sharing company announced Thursday. Read more...
Celine Castronuovo, July 22, 2021, The Hill

Board's reversal revives Maryland plan for toll lanes on part of Beltway, I-270

The approval came after Gov. Larry Hogan agreed to direct state money to bus lanes in Montgomery County. Read more...
Katherine Shaver, July 21, 2021, Washington Post

Modern Mobility: Balancing fire safety, street safety

The 20′ Clear Width rule is codified in section 503.2.1 of the VA Statewide Fire Prevention Code: “Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet.” Read more...
Chris Slatt, July 21, 2021, ARLnow

Weekend Ballston festival will close part of Wilson Blvd.

The Ballston Business Improvement District’s BallstonGives charity is hosting its inaugural Bands & Brews on the Boulevard on Saturday, July 24, with live music and what it calls a 200-foot street pub. Read more...
Jeff Clabaugh, July 21. 2021, WTOP

Tolls for I-270, parts of Capital Beltway back on list of DC-area long-term plans

Proposed toll lanes for Interstate 270 and parts of the Capital Beltway are back on a list of long-term transportation plans for the D.C. area. Read more...
Kate Ryan, July 21, 2021, WTOP

Regional board reverses vote, approves controversial toll lanes for Beltway, I-270

Faced with both a carrot and stick from Gov. Larry Hogan, a regional transportation board on Wednesday reversed course and approved a controversial toll lane project on the American Legion Bridge, Beltway, and I-270. Read more...
Jordan Pascale, July 21, 2021, dcist

MPD creates new unit of officers on bikes, scooters to address violent crime

The Metropolitan Police Department is establishing a new patrol unit focused on combating the recent spike in violent crime through what they describe as “intelligence driven” policing. Read more...
Catherine Whelan, July 21, 2021, dcist

VDOT looking for public feedback on improving Little River Turnpike/Duke Street

Part of the project could involve pedestrian and cyclist improvements to the street and improve overall safety. Read more...
Vernon Miles, July 21, 2021, ALXnow

County Board approves bus-only lane on Langston Blvd. through Rosslyn

The Arlington County Board took a step toward converting one lane of the newly renamed Langston Blvd into a bus- and HOV-only lane. Read more...
Jo DeVoe, July 21, 2021, ARLnow

This unique form of casual carpooling is making a comeback

Slugging helps drivers meet HOV lane requirements, while passengers get a free ride to their destination. Read more...
Michelle Logan, July 21, 2021, WUSA9

Goal behind Virginia highway digital message boards

“All the messages are aimed at safe driving habits and reducing crashes and fatalities on Virginia’s roads,” VDOT Chief Deputy Commissioner Rob Cary told the Commonwealth Transportation Board, while making a presentation Tuesday. Read more...
Neal Augenstein, July 21, 2021, WTOP

AAA Report: Traffic volume plunged in spring 2020

According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey, U.S. road travel dropped dramatically in spring 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...
Melina Druga, July 21, 2021, Transportation Today

FAA reports nearly 100 cases of unruly airline passengers in past week

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recorded nearly 100 cases of unruly airline passengers in the past week amid a surge in aggressive and violent behavior at airports and on flights as more people return to the skies following loosened pandemic restrictions. Read more...
Celine Castronuovo, July 21, 2021, The Hill

Arlington County Board adopts Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year 2022-24

As part of this CIP, the Board directed the Manager to implement both an electric bus pilot program and a procurement process to begin replacing 15 buses with electric buses starting in 2024, a critical change in the sustainability of our transportation system. Read more...
July 20, 2021, Arlington County

Police looking for drivers doing loud, dangerous stunts in Navy Yard

Video shows drivers doing loud and possibly dangerous stunts on 4th and Tingey streets in Southeast D.C. on Saturday night. Read more...
Pat Collins, July 20, 2021, NBC Washington

I-270 toll project could include money for dedicated bus lanes in Montgomery Co.

The day before a regional panel gets set to take a second look at Maryland’s $3 billion plan to deal with traffic from the American Legion Bridge up to Gaithersburg, the state’s transportation secretary offered support for dedicated bus lanes in Montgomery County. Read more...
Kate Ryan, July 20, 2021, WTOP

Virginia studied the effectiveness of those clever interstate message signs

Now, a Virginia Department of Transportation study is touting scientific evidence that the messages are memorable and effective. Read more...
Jordan Pascale, July 20, 2021, dcist

Why U.S. car crash reporting is broken

Almost a third of car crashes involving a vulnerable road user go unreported in the nation’s capital, skewing District crash totals -- but national under-reporting is worse, advocates say. Read more...
Kea Wilson, July 20, 2021, Streetsblog USA

Hogan commits money to dedicated bus lanes as part of Maryland toll lanes plan

Busway projects that could receive design money are planned for the I-270 corridor or along Rockville Pike. Read more...
Katherine Shaver, July 20, 2021, Washington Post

DC area drops to 12th most gridlocked during COVID-19 pandemic

Lower traffic counts resulted in the D.C. area dropping from the fifth most congested metro region in the U.S. to the 12th most gridlocked. Read more...
Mark Hand, July 20, 2021, Arlington Patch

Md. traffic reaches pre-pandemic levels: How travel habits changed

Travel numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels, the Maryland Department of Transportation said. Use of taxis and rideshares remains down. Read more...
Deb Belt, July 20, 2021, Takoma Park Patch

Virginia hits gas pedal on plans to fund infrastructure with mileage-based fees

Virginia is reconsidering the future of funding for transportation infrastructure, as the rise of electric and more fuel-efficient vehicles has cut into the gas tax revenue that helps pay for those projects. Read more...
David Taube, July 20, 2021, Reston Now

DC DMV resumes walk-in services

For the first time since the pandemic led D.C. to close offices, in-person services will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Read more...
July 20, 2021, NBC Washington

As transportation panel prepares for revote, critics scoff at MDOT claims

Under intense pressure from the Hogan administration, an influential regional transportation board is poised to revive a plan to widen portions of Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County. Read more...
July 20, 2021, WTOP

Tell Senate to add bicycle safety and infrastructure provisions to infrastructure bill

FABB encourages area riders (and other lovers of active transportation) to participate in the League of American Bicyclists’ campaign to use the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework to incorporate key bike safety and infrastructure provisions from BOTH the House and Senate transportation reauthorization bills. Read more...
July 20, 2021, FABB

Man who jumped onto Metro tracks faces trespassing charge

A Maryland man who disrupted Metro service in Arlington for several hours Sunday is facing multiple charges, including trespassing. Read more...
Michael O'Connell, July 19, 2021, Arlington Patch

DASH takes lessons from D.C., Baltimore and Oregon in eliminating bus fares

Alexandria is getting ready to go fare-free this fall, and at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on July 1 the architects of that plan shared some of the challenges ahead. Read more...
Vernon Miles, July 19, 2021, ALXnow

Start prioritizing traffic safety over speed

The lack of attention to our shameful national record of traffic deaths in the latest infrastructure debate is a political, professional, and moral failing Read more...
July 20, 2021, Streetsblog USA

Get the latest on the 9th Street NW protected bike lane project

The District Department of Transportation will be providing new information on the 9th Street NW protected bike lane project during an upcoming open house. Read more...
George Kevin Jordan, July 19, 2021, GGWash

Md. sees increase in travel as COVID restrictions lift

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) reports that travel decreases caused by the COVID-19 state of emergency are reversing now that restrictions have been lifted and there is widespread access to vaccinations. Read more...
Melina Druga, July 19, 2021, Transportation Today

Commuters want Metro into Prince William County

A Metro extension into Prince William County is preferred over increased VRE service or bus rapid transit by residents who responded to a survey conducted by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Read more...
Jared Foretek, July 19, 2021, Inside NoVa

Concerns grow over increased urbanization along Route 29 corridor in Arlington

Having seen the “it’s just a work in progress” ruse pulled on others in the past, those concerned about the prospect of major zoning increases in the Lee Highway corridor are getting their objections in front of elected leaders sooner rather than later. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, July 19, 2021, Inside NoVa

Will Virginia's new plan to slow down drivers work?

To reduce the danger of driving, Virginia state officials are now planning a new comprehensive road safety campaign to slow down drivers. Read more...
Wyatt Gordon, July 19, 2021, GGWash

Man causes 2 Metro shut downs while fleeing police

A man jumped onto Metro’s tracks while fleeing police in Virginia Sunday, causing the transit system to shut down twice and stranding over 200 passengers during one instance, according to authorities. Read more...
Thomas Robertson, July 18, 2021, WTOP

The most dangerous roads in America for walkers

Three quarters of the most fatal roads in America for pedestrians are located in low-income neighborhoods, a new study finds -- and those roads share dangerous design features that can and should be fixed. Read more...
Kea Wilson, July 19, 2021, Streetsblog USA

Metro restores service on Blue, Yellow lines after person on track at Pentagon City

Metrorail service between the Reagan National Airport and L’Enfant Plaza stations was restored Sunday afternoon after an unauthorized person was on the tracks, officials said. Read more...
Kyle Swenson, July 18, 2021, Washington Post

Arlington County Board approves renaming Lee Highway to Langston Boulevard

The Arlington County board voted unanimously Saturday to rename the portion of Lee Highway running through the county. Read more...
Naomi Starobin, July 17, 2021, dcist

Passport backlog threatens to upend travel plans for millions of Americans

Millions of Americans hoping to renew their passports and travel abroad this summer could see their plans dashed by a massive backlog caused by staffing shortages at the State Department. Read more...
Laura Kelly, Alex Gangitano, July 17, 2021, The Hill

Advancing youth and community well-being through cycling

FABB is encouraging interested Fairfax County citizens to take advantage of a FREE advocacy education event on helping schools and other organizations support youth bicycling. Read more...
July 17, 2021, FABB

DCPS partners with Uber to transport families to summer meal sites

DC Public Schools families traveling to eight designated meal sites will receive a voucher from the District to cover their Uber costs. Read more...
Diego Mendoza, July 16, 2021, WUSA9