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.
Weekend trackwork disrupts Blue, Orange, Silver lines; Presidents' Day service change
On Presidents’ Day, Feb. 17, Metrorail will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight with a reduced schedule. Red Line trains will run every 6 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes after 10 p.m., with single tracking at Silver Spring. Green and Yellow line trains will run every 8 minutes all day.
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February 15, 2025, ABC7 News
Metro considers banning violent offenders
Courts are able to ban riders, but court orders often only last a few weeks and only prohibit access to the specific bus line or train station where the crime is committed, according to WMATA.
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Joseph Olmo, February 13, 2025, NBC4 Washington
Proposed May 2025 Fairfax Connector service adjustments
If approved, the changes will be included in the May 2025 route changes that were presented to the public in November 2024. Those routes include: 352, 353, 598, 599, 642, 652.
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February 12, 2025, Fairfax County
President of ongoing D.C. to Bmore Maglev train project shares promising new update
The project, which has been a decade in the making, is currently still in the same ‘regulatory review and permitting process’ that it has been for around seven years, however, the president’s update suggested that this “nightmare” stage might be coming to an end soon.
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Alex Striano, February 13, 2025, Secret DC
Intercity bus service on the upswing
Long distance and regional bus lines are buying more motor coaches as they see growing ridership.
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Dan Zukowski, February 13, 2025, Smart Cities Dive
Flash buses, stations in Montgomery County decorated with hearts to celebrate love
With neon lights and heart decals, passengers can ride five buses servicing Colesville Road and Columbia Pike/US 29 in style. The department also decorated the Four Corners, Burnt Mills, White Oak, and Briggs-Chaney Flash bus stations with hearts that read “Let love take flight.”
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Odyssey Fields, February 14, 2025, DC News Now
Chesapeake backs effort to expand HRT's on-demand rideshare program
Chesapeake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to support Hampton Roads Transit’s application for a state grant that would help establish what’s been dubbed a “microtransit” zone in Chesapeake in an effort to expand access to fixed bus routes for longer distance trips across the region.
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Natalie Anderson, February 14, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Weekend trackwork: Buses replace trains on portions of Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines; Presidents' Day service announced
On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the Blue Line will operate Franconia-Springfield to Greenbelt. There will be no Blue Line service from Pentagon to Downtown Largo.
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February 11, 2025, WMATA
WMATA launches free Waymap navigation app to improve transit access for riders with vision impairments
Waymap’s SmartStep™ technology gives step-by-step audio instructions with up to three feet of accuracy throughout a user’s journey. Waymap notes that with over 32 million square feet of real estate mapped globally, its services do not rely on mobile phone signal, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth beacons, GPS or other physical infrastructure.
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February 12, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Metrobus to resume normal service Thursday after winter storm disruptions
Metrobus will resume normal service on Thursday starting at 4 a.m., after operating under a severe snow plan following a winter storm that left dozens of buses immobilized.
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February 12, 2025, Fox 5 News
FTA's proposal to end taxicab exception for paratransit contractors could slow down rides
There are fears in the industry that services such as paratransit, which private companies have increasingly provided for public transit agencies, would be hindered as a result.
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Aden Yacobi, February 12, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
This app makes D.C. one of the most accessible transit networks in the world
A groundbreaking new app will make it possible for people with visual impairments to navigate every transit stop in the nation's capital — and its founders hope it will spark a deeper conversation about how technology can help everyone choose shared modes with confidence and ease.
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Kea Wilson, February 12, 2025, Streetsblog USA
The missing ingredients in America's minimobility revolution
Cargo trikes, GEMs, bike rickshaws, and other light electric vehicles could help wean America off cars — but a new grant that could help cities encourage their adoption is being paused by the Trump administration.
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February 11, 2025, Streetsblog USA
Train usage spikes in Virginia
State-supported Amtrak trains set a ridership record in 2024 with 1,389,840 rider trips, the highest figure since Virginia started its state-supported service in 2009, the authority said in a news release.
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Scott Shenk, February 11, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
A step backward for paratransit? What riders stand to lose
For many paratransit riders, transportation dictates what is possible in a day. A rigid system requires advance planning and limited options, while a flexible one adapts to real needs as they arise. It’s about having the freedom to participate fully in daily life.
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Kristoffer Vik Hansen, February 10, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Metro starting new elevator modernization project updating 27 elevators
Each project should take about two and a half to three and a half months to complete, and the elevators will be out of service during that time. Customers with accessibility needs who use elevators can still get to these stations via a shuttle at nearby stations.
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February 10, 2025, WMATA
Metro presents proposed budget; achieved $500 million in savings the last two years
Metro’s ridership, revenue, and customer satisfaction numbers have continued to grow over the last 45 months. Last quarter, revenue was 16% above budgeted projections with increased paid rail ridership.
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February 10, 2025, The MoCo Show
Traffic congestion in DC expected to rise as federal employees return to offices
Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen cautioned that traffic congestion in the District will significantly worsen as federal employees return to their offices.
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February 10, 2025, ABC7 News
Commuter rail to Loudoun: The next chapter
In the historic, densely populated downtowns of Loudoun and Fairfax, improving access to transit does more than simply help people get to work; it will also protect and revitalize these areas.
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Ryan Jones, February 7, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
With limited parking, thousands of workers to return in-person at Washington Navy Yard
Naval District Washington said its leaders have worked with area government and officials and police departments “to inform efforts for public safety and traffic control, and the base has been working with its tenant commands to ensure a smooth transition back to the office.”
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Matt Small, February 10, 2025, WTOP
3rd grader shares his love for transit with letter to DC Metro
Metro shared the following on social media. “We love our young transit enthusiasts! Noah, a 3rd grader at Forest Knolls Elementary School, wrote about how Metro inspires him, and his teacher shared it with us. How inspiring!”
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February 8, 2025, The MoCo Show
Metro's 7th annual Fill-A-Bus campaign aims to combat hunger in the DMV
Metro’s goal is to raise $18,000 and collect 5,500 pounds of food to fill a bus and provide 41,000 meals.
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Daniel Hamburg, February 7, 2025, DC News Now
WMATA in good financial condition heading into FY 26
The authority has achieved more than $500 million in savings in recent years by identifying inefficiencies, freezing wages, consolidating call centers, reducing the use of consultants optimizing its rail service and more.
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February 6, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Maryland DOT to support community enhancement with TOD Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund
Grant funding will be awarded to eligible projects that have a direct connection or benefit to a site the state has designated for transit-oriented development.
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February 6, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority awards contract to NFI subsidiary New Flyer for up to 500 low- and zero-emission Xcelsior® buses
NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with electric vehicles operating (or on order) in more than 150 cities in six countries. NFI offers the widest range of zero-emission battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches, and its vehicles have completed over 220 million EV service miles.
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February 6, 2025, Globe News Wire
Metro reports increase in federal worker ridership as return to office mandate looms
Metro said it began seeing an increase in December, and that continued in January. At a board meeting last week, Metro’s general manager said on Jan. 14 federal workers made 86,000 trips, which was the highest number since before the pandemic began about five years ago.
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Tom Roussey, February 5, 2025, ABC7 News
Congestion pricing could be the only path to managing gridlock
A new study, published in an upcoming Journal of Transport & Health, outlines three approaches to congestion relief: “adding more road capacity, improving alternative modes, and discouraging driving, either by reducing the need to travel or by modal shift.”
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Chris McCahill, February 3, 2025, SSTI
The importance of rural transit
Rural areas can also be a primary beneficiary of on-demand microtransit, which can more flexibly serve areas with low populations and/or where fixed-route transit is impractical or too costly.
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Diana Ionescu, February 4, 2025, Planetizen
Metro reaches record Monday rush hour ridership after Trump's executive order ends remote work for federal workers
This comes after President Trump signed an executive order in January that forced hundreds and thousands of federal workers in the DMV to return to in-person work, full-time.
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Anna Chen, February 4,2025, DC News Now
WMATA releases mid-year financial update; continues to focus on safety initiatives
Last quarter, revenue was 16% above budgeted projections with increased paid rail ridership. WMATA says it has “aggressively pursued ways to reduce fare evasion in recent years,” including new modernized fare gates at rail stations, increased enforcement, and an enhanced bus fare evasion campaign that continues to underscore that fares pay for service.
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Carolina Worrell, February 4, 2025, Railway Age
On Transit Equity Day 2025, the District's Olmstead Plan provides meaningful guidance
From a rail system with elevators at every station to a bikeshare system that is the envy of the country, there are relatively abundant transportation options available here.
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Kai Hall, February 4, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
Metro honors Rosa Parks on her birthday with a special reserved seat on every bus and train
Metro has previously honored Parks’ legacy by reserving a seat with a special sign on all buses, and for the first time, a reserved seat will be saved on every train as well.
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February 4, 2025, WMATA
Metro leads nation in key safety areas, crime and fare evasion rates down in 2024
Metro continues to place an emphasis on the safety and security of its customers. This focus contributed to a nearly 40% decline in the crime rate across the system in 2024.
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February 3, 2025, WMATA
Research says walkable neighborhoods can help you stay active. Making them work requires delight
The research, which looked at almost 11,000 twins, showed that every 1% increase in walkability was associated with a 0.42% increase in neighborhood walking.
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Rachel Sun, February 2, 2025, OPB
As of January 2025, Student Advantage is no longer selling Discount Memberships. Go to the Student Advantage website for further information and membership status.
As of January 2025, Student Advantage is no longer selling Discount Memberships. Go to the Student Advantage website for further information and membership status. Read more...