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.

Biden-Harris administration announces $1.4 billion in infrastructure funding for 70 projects that will improve rail safety, strengthen supply chains, and add passenger rail service

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, federal investments are tackling long-standing rail needs by supporting communities nationwide to help get people and goods where they need to be safely, quickly, and conveniently. Read more...
September 25, 2023, U.S Dept. of Transportation

Weekend freight train derailment to impact commute in Hyattsville

Two days after a freight train derailed in Hyattsville, Maryland, several roads remained closed for cleanup and traffic delays were expected during the Monday morning commute. Read more...
Juliana Valencia, September 25, 2023, NBC4 Washington

Columbia Pike road repair project a disruptive but necessary nuisance in Arlington Co.

According to the project’s website, residents should expect to “see and hear dust, mud, noise, debris, and temporary traffic and parking restrictions.” The work hours will be Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more...
Sandy Kozel, September 25, 2023, WTOP

All is not lost: Metro revises lost-and-found policy

Because of budget constraints related to COVID-19, the previous policy was limited to wallets, cameras, laptops, phones and tablets. Read more...
Tadiwos Abedje, September 21, 2023, WTOP

Battery-electric buses could be best option in Virginia, report finds

The organization is pushing for the council to adopt readily available zero-emission buses to reduce air pollution, protect health, save on long-term costs, and enhance the overall experience for riders and drivers. Read more...
September 22, 2023, Metro Magazine

Shared mobility as essential transit

Research reveals that shared bikes and scooters are often a crucial lifeline for low-income workers, signaling a need to include micromobility in the larger public transit conversation. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, September 21, 2023, Planetizen

Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approves new funding policies for VRE and WMATA

“VRE and WMATA provide essential services to the people who live and work in the region,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Read more...
September 21, 2023, Mass Transit Magazine

Warner, Kaine secure $100 million in funding for rail bridge in Franconia-Springfield

Once completed, the project will allow Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains to cross over two freight rail tracks, preventing delays and expanding capacity for additional service. Read more...
September 21, 2023, Inside NOVA

New habits are making more commutes miserable

Traffic and travel data shows how contradictory forces — and the disproportionate return of cars at the expense of transit — have shaken a balance between the region’s road and rail networks, often resulting in miserable results. Read more...
Ian Duncan/Luz Lazo/Justin George/Michael Laris, September 22, 2023, The Washington Post

7 ways the pandemic changed the Washington commute

Drivers and transit riders are facing the pain and befuddlement of Washington’s evolving commute. It’s a world shaped by 3½ years of human, corporate and federal decisions that have transformed traditional patterns. Read more...
Michael Laris, September 22, 2023, The Washington Post

Transit in the Washington region has a future, if we plan for it

Because Metro and other transit systems in high-ridership metro areas have historically depended on commuters for the majority of their ridership, they are particularly vulnerable to any decrease in commuting.  Read more...
DW Rowlands, September 21, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

Overwhelming majority supports extending Metrorail to National Harbor, survey finds

The survey by Fort Washington Forward found 87% of people support the idea.Metro’s studies show a new Blue Line loop would add 180,000 new weekday rail trips to the system. The line would also generate 154 million dollars in new revenue per year. Read more...
Adam Tuss, September 21, 2023, NBC4 Washington

Metro changing 8 bus routes in DC, Maryland, and Virginia

Effective on Sunday, Sept. 24, service adjustments will be made to improve safety, reliability, and customer experience. Read more...
Amber Anderson, September 21, 2023, WUSA9

When it comes to transportation, it's all about options

Equitable, accessible transportation isn’t about taking cars away from those who have them. It’s about providing more choices, and safer transportation networks, for everyone.  Read more...
Diana Ionescu, September 21, 2023, Planetizen

Alexandria likely to throw its weight behind Arlington transit project

While the project is outside of Alexandria, Castaneda said Alexandria would benefit from the project as some of those added bus bays would serve the West End Transitway, which will stop at the Shirlington Bus Station. Read more...
Vernon Miles, September 20, 2023, ALXNow

Sit less, do more: Time savings made possible by the 66 Express

The tolling system is configured to keep traffic flowing on the 66 Express at all times, regardless of conditions on the I-66 general-purpose lanes, at a minimum average of 55 miles per hour.  Read more...
I-66 Express Mobility Partners, September 20, 2023, Washington Business Journal

County poised to require drivers to come to a full stop for pedestrians in crosswalks

Currently, county code only requires drivers to yield to those crossing the street on foot, according to a county report. This conflicts with state code, which was amended this March to require drivers to “stop for” pedestrians. Read more...
Jo DeVoe, September 20, 2023, ARLNow

Study: How low-income people really use micromobility

Low-income people are using shared micromobility a lot like they use public transit, a new study finds — and researchers think cities should thoroughly embrace (and subsidize) the mode as part of the larger ecosystem of buses and trains. Read more...
Kea Wilson, September 20, 2023, Streetsblog USA

Why sustainable transportation advocates need to talk about long COVID

Covid-19 transformed many U.S. cities' approach to sustainable transportation forever. But how did it transform the lives of sustainable transportation advocates who developed lasting symptoms from the disease? Read more...
Thomas De Luze, September 19, 2023, Streetsblog USA

Metro changes lost and found policy, says more items will be held for riders

The new policy updates changes that were made due to pandemic-related budget cuts in 2021. Metro previously restricted lost and found storage to wallets and electronic items like phones, tablets, laptops and cameras.  Read more...
September 19, 2023, Fox 5 News

DC delays implementing fines for using bus lanes, extends warning period indefinitely

Vehicles that are allowed to use the lanes include public transit buses, tour buses, school buses, maintenance vehicles, emergency vehicles, bikes and scooters. Read more...
Nick Iannelli, September 19, 2023, WTOP

DC Council makes e-bike subsidies available for residents

The bill creates a system where subsidies will be offered to residents based on income. The two-tiered system will provide subsidies at different levels, with greater dollar amounts available to residents who qualify for SNAP and TANF programs. Read more...
Kate Ryan, September 20, 2023, WTOP

WMATA to revamp bus system and simplify routes with Better Bus, Better Names campaign

WMATA has opened a survey to ask the public how WMATA can name bus routes to make it easier for customers to understand and use the Metrobus system. The survey will be open until Sept. 28. Read more...
September 18, 2023, Mass Transit Magazine

How to decide between light rail and bus rapid transit

Additionally, it is important to take a look at how transit usage and working from home has changed mass transit usage over the past few years. The demand to work remotely at least one or two days a week immediately cuts ridership. Read more...
Wes Guckert, September 19, 2023, Streetsblog USA

A brand new neighborhood is coming to Richmond's Pulse bus rapid transit corridor

Located along Broad Street’s Pulse bus rapid transit corridor, the newly released Sauer Center master plan envisions over two million square feet of new construction in the middle of some of Richmond’s most in-demand neighborhoods. Read more...
Wyatt Gordon, September 18, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

Viewpoint: Want workers back in the office? Stop Connecticut Avenue bike lanes.

Downtown landlords and businesses are not the only ones being threatened by this project. Over 120 Connecticut Avenue businesses have signed a Save Connecticut Avenue petition opposing the bike lane project.  Read more...
Paul C. Dougherty, September 18, 2023, Washington Business Journal

Maryland awards more than $11.5M in highway safety grants

The funds, distributed by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, are part of Moore’s efforts to increase safety on the state’s roadways through traffic safety initiatives. Read more...
Liz Carey, September 18, 2023, Transportation Today

Tired of those confusing Metrobus route names? They could change soon — with your input

Metro is encouraging its customers to take a survey gauging how the transit agency can rename bus routes to make it easier for customers to understand. The online survey will be open for responses until Sept. 28. Read more...
Luke Lukert/Kate Corliss, September 16, 2023, WTOP

Capital Bikeshare hits record high use in Alexandria this year

After a dip in 2020, Capital Bikeshare use in Alexandria has been on a rapid rebound and this year surpassed pre-Covid ridership. Read more...
Vernon Miles, September 15, 2023, ALXNow

WMATA responds after social media videos appear to show drug use on Metro bus, train

WMATA responded to the video, which was posted on X, saying they've made Metro Transit Police aware and are continuing to add members to their crisis intervention team.  Read more...
Fox 5 DC Digital Team, September 14, 2023, Fox 5 News

Metro delays full switch to automated trains until next year

Transit leaders plan to start the conversion to automatic train operations (ATO) this fall by reinstalling an automatic rail car door system, which would be activated when trains stop at stations.  Read more...
Justin George, September 14, 2023, The Washington Post

The path to one million Metro rides a day starts with service enhancements

To achieve one million rides per day on Metrorail, regional leaders will first need to provide a dedicated funding source that invests in WMATA’s systems—Metrorail and Metrobus—for the long-term.  Read more...
Nick Sementelli, September 14, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

OmniRide continues push into Stafford; Proposes 3 commuter routes

With three new proposed bus routes, OmniRide aims to continue its push into Stafford County and the Fredericksburg region. Read more...
Sarah Romero, September 13, 2023, Potomac Local News

Maryland transportation money projected to start to run short in 2 years

Maryland’s pending list of ambitious transportation projects — the Red Line in Baltimore, a Southern Maryland transit way and a new American Legion Bridge over the Potomac River — faced a brutal financial reality. Read more...
Erin Cox/Ian Duncan, September 13, 2023, The Washington Post

How and why to start a walking school bus

The walking school bus website suggests starting small with a few families, a route, and a schedule. It’s easiest to begin by talking to families who live in a concentrated geographic area who need to get to the same school or co-located schools.  Read more...
Caitlin Rogger, September 13, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

Lee Chapel Road receives funds for improvement project

Fairfax County residents have been sounding the alarm about the dangers on Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax Station for years. Read more...
Juliana Valencia, September 14, 2023, NBC4 Washington

Opinion: Fare evasion is a red herring

The loss of revenue from fare evasion is a drop in the bucket compared to the fiscal cliff facing major U.S. transit agencies. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, September 13, 2023, Planetizen

More sidewalks and bike lanes could be coming to King Street near the Bradlee Shopping Center

The City of Alexandria announced today that it will start a King Street-Bradlee Safety and Mobility Enhancements Project later this month. The project will look at potential improvements to King Street just northwest of Quaker Lane along the Bradlee Shopping Center. Read more...
Vernon Miles, September 12, 2023, ALXNow

Metro to hold public meeting tonight on proposals to improve service and reliability on the Blue, Orange, Silver lines

Metro’s current round of public engagement for the BOS Study, which started in mid-July and included hybrid public meetings in Virginia and Maryland, has resulted in over 3,000 public comments.  Read more...
September 12, 2023, WMATA

Summer heat means longer Amtrak trips, delays

These are just a few of the delays Amtrak passengers on the East Coast have endured this summer. A major culprit? Heat-related speed restrictions. Read more...
David Andrews, September 12, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

Metro shutting down part of Red Line in downtown DC for 2 weeks in December

While Red Line service will be shut down, Blue Orange and Silver Line service will continue to run on the lower level of Metro Center and Green and Yellow Line service will continue to run on the lower level of the Gallery Place station. Read more...
Jack Moore, September 12, 2023, WTOP

Am I on the wrong train? Where am I? Metro to pilot more user-friendly signage

By Thursday, a six-month pilot program will begin at the L’Enfant Plaza station, utilizing new signs that aim to make it easier for customers to pinpoint where they are, even if standing in in a system where all of the underground stations look similar. Read more...
Neal Augenstein, September 12, 2023, WTOP

WMATA speaks out about 'subway surfing' social media trend

 A Maryland congressman sparked a conversation about the dangerous "subway surfing" trend on Friday, requesting Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to speak out on the issue.  Read more...
Brittney Melton, September 11, 2023, WUSA9

Amtrak makes case in court for immediate takeover of Union Station

The station, which opened in 1907 in the heart of the nation’s capital, is owned by the federal government but is leased to and operated by other entities. Read more...
Luz Lazo, September 11, 2023, The Washington Post

Virginia studies adding Beltway express lanes from Springfield to Maryland

The lanes would run from Springfield through Alexandria and across the Potomac River to Maryland. Read more...
Adam Tuss, September 11, 2023, NBC 4 Washington

Due to parking restrictions and construction, the Mobile Commuter Store will not be at the L'Enfant location through October 12, 2023

Due to parking restrictions and construction, the Mobile Commuter Store will not be at the L'Enfant location through October 12, 2023. Read more...