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.

This 62+ community boasts unparalleled transit and walkability

The Leggett at Elizabeth Square is a brand-new 62+ community located in the heart of downtown Silver Spring, and there are so many phenomenal reasons to live there. Read more...
The Leggett, Maier & Warner PR, May 7, 2024, Patch

Suburban backlash threatens country's biggest transit systems

After several years of incomplete recovery from a massive ridership drop, federal relief money is running out for systems in New York, Washington, Philadelphia and other major cities.  Read more...
Ry Rivard, May 8, 2024, Politico

Officials give updates on Purple Line project during first community meeting

Officials said they expect delivery of the light rail vehicles to the operation and maintenance facility later this spring. They also said test track centered around the operation and maintenance facility is expected to be complete this summer, and that will kick off a period of intensive local testing. Read more...
Tosin Fakile, May 7, 2024, DC News Now

Metro releases proposal for major changes to its bus system

The “Better Bus Network” proposal involves many things riders are likely to embrace – more service during off-peak hours and weekends, more service to places like hospitals, schools, and grocery stores, plus more service to fast-growing areas like National Harbor. Read more...
Tom Roussey, May 7, 2024, ABC7 News

'Build Green' bill seeks a clean shift in transportation spending

The transportation sector now makes up 28 percent of U.S. carbon emissions, and there has been little progress in reducing that burden. Read more...
Marianne Lavelle, May 6, 2024, Inside Climate News

Metrorail weekend construction on four of six lines with station closures on Blue, Silver lines

Free shuttle buses will replace trains to/from the closed stations connecting to the Metrorail system at Addison Road. Additional maintenance is also scheduled on the Red and Green lines with trains single tracking through the work zones.  Read more...
May 7, 2024, WMATA

A look at the path forward to a revamped Union Station

Amtrak, which wants to take control of the station's commercial space as soon as June 1, has said it wants to put more focus on the station’s role as a transit hub, and less as an indoor shopping mall.  Read more...
Daniel J. Sernovitz, May 8, 2024, Washington Business Journal

Metro's proposed future strategy includes increased service but also suggests turnbacks for Silver and Red lines

The presentation also outlined how many of each series of trains are currently in service. WMATA outlined plans to phase out the remaining 74 2000-series trains that are still in service for its “near-term fleet.” These trains entered service between 1983 and 1984. Read more...
Makea Luzader, May 6, 2024, DC News Now

How will AI impact transportation? US DOT wants public input.

The government wants to avoid potential dangers that could disrupt labor, privacy and national security. Concurrently, the Biden administration seeks to promote opportunities, innovation and trustworthiness with the new technology. Read more...
David Taube, May 6, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

Maryland Transit Authority to host purple line community meeting

The 16-mile light train rail will bridge the transportation gap from Bethesda in Montgomery county to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. Read more...
Ya-Marie Sesay, May 7, 2024, DC News Now

Could the Yellow Line be separated? Unearthing an underwater idea

For a certain kind of transit nerd, the DC Metro is most famous not for its trains, architecture, or history but for its unique network topology, a consequence of the Yellow Line reverse-branching through the core of the network.  Read more...
J.M. Christoph, May 6, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

11 Must-know Apple maps features for daily commuters

These types of apps have revolutionized the way we get around and made things like TomToms and paper maps obsolete due to their sheer convenience and effectiveness. You simply have to type in your location, and your iPhone will instantly find the quickest route. Read more...
Nathan P. Gibson, May 5, 2024, Slash Gear

E-Bikes contributing to bike share growth

Shared mobility users are gravitating toward e-bikes, which make cycling easier and more accessible for a larger segment of the population. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, May 5, 2024, Planetizen

Bike to Work Day returns to D.C. area this month, promising a workout and swag

Participants are encouraged to register and visit a pit stop by bike to receive a complimentary T-shirt in this year’s color (orange), along with snacks and door prizes. A total of 110 pit stops will be available throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Read more...
James Jarvis, May 3, 2024, FFXNow

DMVMoves to create unified vision for public transit

DMVMoves will be guided by a 20-person task force, including a federal government representative and leaders appointed by COG and WMATA. Read more...
May 2, 2024, Metro Magazine

Maryland Transit Administration opens public comments period for proposed changes to bus lines

The comment period runs through July 8, and MTA will hold virtual public hearings on June 5 and June 6 to get feedback. Read more...
Tony Roberts, May 1, 2024, The Baltimore Sun

'See a station manager' no more — Metro updating fare gate display screen

New technology will tell passengers whether their card is deactivated, expired or invalid, Metro said in a news release. Customers won’t need to talk to Metro staff to figure out what is wrong with their cards. Read more...
Ana Golden, May 1st, 2024, WTOP

'It is a very aggressive time frame': Md. transportation secretary elaborates on plan to rebuild Key Bridge

More than a month since Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after container ship Dali struck it in the early morning hours of March 26, Maryland transportation officials on Thursday offered an initial timeline and cost of resurrecting the bridge. Read more...
WTOP Staff, May 2, 2024, WTOP

Which DC speed cameras are giving out the most tickets? Here's what the data shows

D.C.’s busiest speed camera in the last three months of 2023 was also one of its newest, according to Department of Transportation data shared with the D.C. Council. Read more...
Scott Gelman, May 1st, 2024, WTOP

E-bikes are a 'game changer' for bike shares

Ridership on the systems in cities big and small after the pandemic is stronger than ever, and bike-share operators say the electric devices are a big reason why. Read more...
Daniel C. Vock, May 1st, 2024, Route Fifty

Metro board, local leaders explore funding options to solve ongoing budget issues

On Wednesday afternoon, representatives of local governments throughout the D.C. area met up with Metro’s board of directors to launch a process in an effort to finally solve Metro’s frequent money problems. Read more...
Tom Roussey, May 1st, 2024, ABC7 News

New regional task force to answer the call for better funding plan for Metro

According to COG, in addition to solutions for funding Metro, a new group will look at how all regional transportation agencies work together and are governed. DMV Moves is a 20-member task force that will be made up of local and state leaders from D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Read more...
Mike Murillo, May 1st, 2024, WTOP

5 cleanest train stations in the U.S.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) prioritizes keeping its stations clean. While individual experiences may vary, WMATA has implemented several initiatives to ensure a fresh environment for riders.  Read more...
Lakeisha Ethans, April 30, 2024, The Travel

Want to improve your transit system's sustainability? A relaunched FTA program can help.

The Federal Transit Administration’s two-year program includes an environmental review, virtual workshops and audits and requires the participation of transit agency executives. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, April 30, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

Bus Shelter Installation project to begin at Fort Totten, Brookland-CUA, Rhode Island Ave, and Addison Road

These new shelters are part of Metro’s?Better Bus?program to improve the Metrobus experience for all customers. Aging bus shelters throughout the Metro system are beginning to show deteriorating conditions. Read more...
April 30, 2024, WMATA

Low-cost, short-term strategies for boosting Metrorail ridership

Doubling Metrorail’s pre-pandemic ridership to one million daily trips is necessary for the District to achieve its climate and Vision Zero goals.  Read more...
Nick Sementelli, April 30, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

New cameras help catch drivers passing by stopped school buses in DC

The buses will capture a video clip of drivers illegally passing a school bus stopped with its sign down. The reason there’s a stop arm in the first place is to let drivers know students are getting either on or off.  Read more...
Jacqueline Quynh, April 29, 2024, WUSA9

Metro improves faregate display screen messaging to streamline customer experience

Soon, fewer Metro customers will need to "see a station manager" when they get an error message while trying to tap in or out of a Metrorail station. Instead of getting stuck at the faregate, Metro will begin installing upgraded software technology that will lead to more seamless trips for customers.  Read more...
April 29, 2024, WMATA

Amtrak Virginia sets another record with March 2024 ridership

All four Amtrak Virginia corridors saw double-digit increases year-over-year, with Richmond seeing the greatest increase of 32.5%, while the Norfolk corridor carried the most passengers at 45,185, according to the authority. Read more...
WYDaily Staff, April 29, 2024, Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

These are the current 10 best cities for public transportation in the US

The star of the show is the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, better known as Metro. As the tendrils that connect the city and avoid unexpected motorcade shutdowns, this is a popular option for locals and weekend warriors alike. Read more...
April 28, 2024, Good Good Good

Get ready for Bike Month 2024!

National Bike Month is all about celebrating the power of the bicycle and promoting cycling as a mode of transportation that’s not only fun but also beneficial for the environment and your health.  Read more...
April 28, 2024, Fairfax Alliance of Better Bicycling

Commuter train system eyes expansion, part of Virginia's evolving rail trends

The next step is for the board to endorse the agency’s System Plan 2050, designed to help officials address the public’s changing travel patterns, including those of commuting office workers, which have shifted over the past decade.  Read more...
Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury, April 28, 2024, Inside NoVa

Metro board approves new budget, but Virginia funding remains a question mark

The transit authority also hopes to generate some more revenue by introducing a 5-cent hourly rental fee for its bicycle lockers, capped at $1 per day, though vehicle parking rates will be unchanged. Read more...
Angela Woolsey, April 26, 2024, FFXNow

To increase job access, try dedicated bus lanes, this study says

Priority lanes for transit buses, if kept clear, can be key to increasing equitable access to employment opportunities, said researchers behind a March study from the Urban Institute. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, April 25, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

D.C. says axing Circulator won't hurt riders much. Some riders disagree.

The demise of the Circulator stems from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s (D) $21 billion budget proposal for the next fiscal year, which would make cuts to many programs amid a projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit in the coming years. Read more...
Danny Nguyen, April 26, 2024, The Washington Post

Report examines cybersecurity in transit

“Public transportation agencies that are not currently taking cybersecurity risks seriously must invest in understanding their exposure and take action to build more resilient cybersecurity programs,” the report said.  Read more...
Melina Druga, April 26, 2024, Transportation Today

Metro avoids drastic cuts, but fares are going up in new, nearly $5B budget

Metro is also freezing hiring and wages, cutting administrative costs by $50 million and moving $181 million over from its preventive maintenance fund. The rest of the gap is being closed with a combined $463 million in funding promised by D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Read more...
Jacob Kerr, April 25, 2024, WTOP

Ward 8 residents cry foul in Circulator elimination

The Circulator bus system was born out of a desire of city governmental and business leaders in the mid-1990s to have a small transit system that could get residents and tourists around the downtown areas quicker than WMATA buses. Read more...
James Wright Jr., April 24, 2024, The Washington Informer

Metro unveils plans for dedicated bus lanes for commuters to get around Red Line summer shutdown

The Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Takoma stations will all be closed over the summer, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Closures are expected to run from Jun. 1- Aug. 31.  Read more...
Matt Pusatory, April 24, 2024, WUSA9

FTA recognizes transit agencies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Nearly 240 transit agencies participated in the FTA’s Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Climate Challenge, which encouraged actions and investments to help tackle the climate crisis. Read more...
Melina Druga, April 24, 2024, Transportation Today

Google Maps introduces new transit, EV features

For electric car drivers, Google Maps will collect user-generated data to find the nearest EV charging locations, and, in some cases, real-time port availability. Read more...
Diana Ionescu, April 19, 2024, Planetizen