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.

Why climate change is about to make your bad commute worse

Something remarkable happened on American roadways during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic: In even the most congested cities, traffic started moving again. Read more...
Matt Alderton, August 8, 2020, Washington Post

Opinion: This is wrong time to push I-495/I-270 highway expansion project

This is not the time to forge ahead with Gov. Larry Hogan’s highway expansion project. Read more...
August 8, 2020, Bethesda Magazine

Weekend Metro schedule: stations closed, shuttle service offered

Here's what to expect if you're taking the Metro this weekend. Read more...
Alessia Grunberger, August 7, 2020, Takoma Park Patch

Tropical Storm Isaias leaves some Md. roads in tatters

Tropical Storm Isaias has come and gone from the D.C. region, but it left plenty to remember it by, and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, or MDOT SHA, is working to assess the damage. Read more...
Zeke Hartner, August 7, 2020, WTOP

Amtrak preparing for new locomotives

Amtrak announced this week that it is preparing for the first of its new diesel-electric locomotives as part of long-term planned improvements for fleet, infrastructure, and stations. Read more...
Douglas Clark, August 7, 2020, Transportation Today

Weekend road and rail

An improvement project begins on Maryland’s River Road. Virginia Route 28 has new bridge beams being installed. Reconstruction of the New York and New Jersey Avenues intersection in D.C. continues, and there will be closures on Metro’s Red Line. Read more...
Mary DePompa, August 7, 2020, WTOP

D.C. will add 17 more miles of 'slow streets' by September

The District is limiting automobile activity on more streets to make them more accommodating to recreation and pedestrians. Read more...
Jordan pascale, August 6, 2020, dcist

Va. parks and preserves see big crowds -- and damage -- as people cooped up by pandemic head outdoors

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Virginia state parks and natural area preserves have become popular destinations for visitors, particularly early on when so many other recreational sites were closed. Read more...
Bill Lohmann, August 6, 2020, fredericksburg.com

Va. expands intra-city bus service from downstate to D.C.

Virginia Breeze bus service (dubbed the “Valley Flyer”) between Christiansburg and Union Station in the District of Columbia resumed on July 24 after a COVID-related stoppage, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is unveiling two new bus lines. Read more...
August 6, 2020, Inside NoVa

Woman using wheelchair rescued from Metro tracks after fall

A woman who apparently was using a motorized wheelchair fell onto the train tracks at the Suitland Metro station Thursday and was rescued, Metro says. Read more...
Adam Tuss, Sophia Barnes, August 6, 2020, NBC Washington

Cashless tolling now permanent throughout Md.

Maryland has made cashless tolling permanent throughout the state, Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday. Read more...
Will Vitka, August 6, 2020, WTOP

Uber, Lyft sued in California over alleged wage theft

A California agency is suing Uber and Lyft over alleged wage theft, saying the ride-hailing companies have misclassified drivers as independent contractors. Read more...
Kaelan Deese, August 6, 2020, The Hill

Metro moves up schedule for Huntington Station escalator replacement to impact fewer riders

Metro will take advantage of the current period of extremely low ridership to replace three escalators at the Huntington Station south entrance, moving up the project’s start date by one year to reduce customer impact. Read more...
WMATA Press Release, August 6, 2020

Maryland will manage Purple Line construction if partnership falls through, state officials say

Maryland transit officials are preparing to manage Purple Line construction if a public-private partnership on the $2 billion project dissolves amid feuds over hundreds of millions in cost overruns, according to a letter sent Wednesday to the project's subcontractors. Read more...
Katherine Shaver, August 5, 2020, Washington Post

Arlington's emergency sidewalk ordinance is a mess

Targeted quite plainly at young, mask-less patrons waiting in tightly-packed lines for long periods of time outside of Clarendon bars whose capacity has been limited by social-distancing requirements, the ordinance seems well-intentioned but flawed in concept. Read more...
Chris Slatt, August 5, 2020, ARLnow

Prince William County prepares to widen key stretch of US Route 1

The project includes converting U.S. 1 from a four-lane undivided highway to a six-lane divided highway and also involves building a 10-foot wide trail and a 5-foot wide sidewalk, according to the county. Read more...
Emily Sides, August 5, 2020, WTOP

AAA: Partially automated driving systems don't always work

Two tests by AAA during the past two years show that partially automated driving systems don’t always function properly, so the auto club is recommending that car companies limit their use. Read more...
August 6, 2020, WTOP

Amtrak "Phase VI" livery gets a fresh application

Amtrak diesel-electric locomotives have worn many liveries over the years since the company was founded in 1971. Read more...
William C. Vantuono, August 5, 2020, Railway Age

Debate on face masks divides air-travel industry

A debate over whether the federal government should mandate masks at airports and on commercial flights is dividing key industry players and pitting powerful lobbying groups against each other. Read more...
Alex Gangitano, August 6, 2020, The Hill

Key Democrats pledge support for more federal aid for transit

Key congressional Democrats on Wednesday pledged their support for at least $32 billion in federal coronavirus relief for public transit, one week after Republicans included nothing in their stimulus proposals for an industry that agency heads warn is on the brink of layoffs without help. Read more...
Justin George, August 5, 2020, Washington Post

D.C. driving citations spike during the early stages of COVID-19

With less cars on the road, conventional wisdom would say that moving violations would have decreased. But it seems the opposite is true. Read more...
Adrian Nesta, August 5, 2020, GGWash

Protected bike lanes any city can afford

Road users who are tired of contending with car traffic on their ride could soon get some relief -- thanks to an ultra-affordable bike lane made out of recycled car tires. Read more...
Kea Wilson, August 5, 2020, GGWash

Gas price increases stalling

“This summer is no doubt the cheapest at the pump for motorists in more than a decade,” Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson, said. Read more...
Douglas Clark, August 5, 2020, Transportation Today

No answer yet as to what caused July's Metro Red Line derailment

Preliminary evidence has yet to reveal the answer, but it is providing clues as to what caused the July 7 derailment along Colesville Road. Read more...
Michelle Murillo, August 4, 2020, WTOP

There's a significant uptick in stolen cars in D.C. this year

In a joint email blast Tuesday, the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and the police department wrote that there is “an increase in car thefts targeting delivery drivers in DC,” and advised people to take precautions to prevent their vehicles from being stolen. Read more...
Jenny Gathright, August 4, 2020, dcist

Virgin Atlantic files for bankruptcy in U.S.

Virgin Atlantic Airways filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. on Tuesday as it suffers a financial toll during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more...
Tal Axelrod, August 4, 2020, The Hill

Uber to allow employees to work remotely through June 2021

Uber will allow its employees to work from home through the end of June 2021, the company said Tuesday. Read more...
Zack Budryk, August 4, 2020, The Hill

New Virginia plan aims to help deer, bears cross the road more safely

Wildlife sightings are common for anyone who spends time on Virginia’s highways. But many drivers are also all too familiar with the danger that can arise quickly when animals venture into the human-made spaces crisscrossing their habitats. Read more...
Graham Moomaw, August 4, 2020, Inside NoVa

Metro closes Cleveland Park station due to potential flooding

Metro has closed the Cleveland Park station as part of its severe weather plan in response to the impact of Isaias on the D.C. region Tuesday. Read more...
August 4, 2020, WJLA

Senators push for max telework in next coronavirus relief package

All federal employees and contractors who can perform their duties remotely should be doing so,” senators wrote in July 31 letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Read more...
Nicole Ogrysko, August 3, 2020, Federal News Network

Video shows some of the challenges bicyclists face in Prince George's County

Black Women Bike DC, an organization that encourages bicycling for Black women and girls, recently released a video highlighting what riding a bike in Central and Southern Prince George’s County looks like. Read more...
George Kevin Jordan, August 4, 2020, GGWash

Fairfax County seeks more funding for Soapstone Connector

Fairfax County officials are seeking $66.4 million in state funds for the Soapstone Connector. Read more...
Fatimah Waseem, August 3, 2020, Reston Now

Isaias brings heavy rain, triggers tornado warnings

Isaias is bringing strong winds, heavy rains and the threat of tornadoes to the mid-Atlantic region Tuesday as the storm makes its way up the east coast. Read more...
Mike Thomas, August 4, 2020, Fox5

More cars on the road plus summer heat means poor air quality

The summer’s scorching temperatures combined with returning traffic on roadways across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, means the chances of poor air quality are on the rise. Read more...
Matt Small, August 3, 2020, WTOP

Air travel picks up alongside strict mask enforcement

Air travel is slowly making a comeback as more passengers appear to be gaining confidence with airlines that are imposing strict rules for wearing masks. Read more...
Alex Gangitano, August 4, 2020, The Hill

Arlington passes emergency ordinance against sidewalk crowding

With coronavirus cases in Arlington continuing to rise, and large crowds still congregating in Clarendon on weekends, the County Board took action late last week to try to cut down on sidewalk crowding. Read more...
August 3, 2020, ARLnow

COMMENTARY: VRE prepares for the safe return of riders

The Virginia Railway Express, the commuter rail system that has served our region for nearly three decades, remains a viable option for those headed north in the morning. Read more...
Gary Skinner, July 31, 2020, fredericksburg.com

Residential tower approved at Scotts Run South, the massive project atop the McLean Metro

Scotts Run South, the massive development planned atop the McLean Metro station in Tysons, is starting to come together. Read more...
Alex Koma, July 31, 2020, WBJ

Montgomery Co. Ride On bus service increases 40% on weekdays

Ride On bus service in Montgomery County, Maryland, has expanded in an effort to support residents and businesses reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more...
Will Vitka, August 3, 2020, WTOP

MDOT releases documents on next steps of Capital Beltway/I-270 plan

It’s no surprise to local drivers that congestion on the Capital Beltway and I-270 in Maryland causes hours of slow travel each weekday. Read more...
Dan Friedell, August 2, 2020, WTOP

Proposed system would gather data about helicopter noise in the D.C. region

D.C.-area lawmakers are pushing a measure that would create a centralized system to track complaints about helicopter noise in the region similar to ones used to collect information about airplane noise. Read more...
Lori Aratani, August 1, 2020, Washington Post

Government officials adopt plan to expand Washington region trail network to 1,400 miles

The region’s top transportation board has endorsed a proposal for a network of trails stretching across the greater Washington region, from Frederick, Md., to Prince William County, Va., that would expand the amount of off-road bicycle and pedestrian pathways to 1,400 miles. Read more...
Luz Lazo, August 1, 2020, Washington Post

The Mount Vernon Bike Trail is a gem for all

The Mount Vernon Bike Trail is a gem to many in the area as a place to get away from the traffic and commotion of every day life in this area. Read more...
Mike Salmon, August 2, 2020, Zebra

Sen. Ernst: Telework 'bolsters' claim federal agencies don't need DC headquarters

Large swaths of the federal workforce are still out on mandatory telework because of the coronavirus, but the government could save billions of dollars each year if agencies continued to embrace work-from-home options even after the pandemic. Read more...
Jory Heckman, July 30, 2020, Federal News Network

A modern canal boat is headed to the C&O in Georgetown

The 80-foot-long boat, which is expected to make its debut next year, is part of an effort to revitalize the historical neighborhood and its one-mile stretch of the waterway. Read more...
Michael E. Ruane, July 31, 2020, Washington Post

Business owners fight to bring back Adams Morgan 'streatery'

There are growing calls to bring back a popular pedestrian zone in D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. Read more...
John Aaron, July 31, 2020, WTOP

Federal funds allocated to VDOT initiatives

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has been awarded a pair of federal grants totaling more than $4.5 million to bolster safety, improve congestion and incident management. Read more...
Douglas Clark, July 31, 2020, Transportation Today

Silver Line work accelerating during pandemic

Significant gains have been made toward completion of phase two of the Silver Line during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more...
Adam Tuss, July 30, 2020, NBC Washington

Montgomery Co. Ride On bus service expanding

Ride On bus service in Montgomery County, Maryland, is expanding starting Sunday in an effort to support residents and businesses reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more...
Will Vitka, July 31, 2020, WTOP

Bowser administration celebrates 15 years of DC Circulator bus service

This month, the Bowser Administration celebrates 15 years of DC Circulator service, the region’s fourth largest bus system that connects residents, visitors, and commuters to the District’s main attractions and liveliest corridors. Read more...
July 27, 2020, DDOT