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.
VDOT advances Interstate 95 and Route 123 interchange improvements in hops of clearing infamous bottleneck
The transit agency on Wednesday held a public hearing at Occoquan Elementary School to solicit input from residents on the $7.2 million proposal, which is slated to begin construction in 2023 with a planned 2027 completion.
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Ben Peters, May 10, 2024, Inside NoVa
Projects aim to reduce I-66 traffic, increase commuter options
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is reviewing more than $30 million in proposed projects to ease traffic congestion along the I-66 corridor. Roughly $6 million from these proposed projects would directly assist Fairfax County in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion on I-66.
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Jared Wenzelburger, May 9, 2024, Fairfax Times
Alexandria using smart tech to improve traffic flow
Traffic engineers used to have to retime traffic signals after months or even years. With the smart traffic technology, they could be retimed every three-to-five minutes.
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Adam Tuss, May 9, 2024, NBC4 Washington
Pit stops and free giveaways planned for Bike to Work Day next week in Alexandria
Bike to Work Day is an annual tradition encouraging locals to ride a bike to their offices. This year, Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 17.
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Vernon Miles, May 9, 2024, ALXNow
To expand transit on the cheap, cities explore infill stations
In Atlanta, DC, and the Bay Area, transit agencies are building new stops on existing lines to reach neighborhoods that 1960s planners intentionally skipped.
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Benjamin Schneider, May 8, 2024, Bloomberg
Be a Better Bus Hero, engage with Metro on proposed Better Bus Network
Metro today announced the launch of our next phase of the Better Bus Network Redesign project to create a bus network to meet the transit needs of our rapidly changing region. Starting May 13 through July 15, we invite you to be a Better Bus Hero by sharing your opinions on the proposed new bus routes.
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May 9, 2024, WMATA
Goodbye, carpet on Metro. Oldest trains in system to be removed
The trains were built to last approximately 40 years, according to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority news release. While these trains have undergone updates and improvements, they've had four times the number of issues compared with the newer, 7000-series trains, the statement said.
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Lilly Roser, May 9, 2024, NBC4 Washington
Metro's future of bus service could bring new routes and end some familiar stops
“The proposed 2025 network is constrained and focused on optimizing service to grow ridership, because we are anticipating limited resources at Metro and from the region for the next budget year,” said Tom Webster, Metro’s chief planning and performance officer.
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Mike Murillo, May 9, 2024, WTOP
Public hearings will gather input on Fairfax Connector changes
These modifications, including the addition of two new routes, are part of Phase II of the Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna, and Tysons (CCVT), and Franconia-Springfield service adjustments.
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Fairfax County Department of Transportation, May 8, 2024, Gazette Leader
How to navigate every step of the energy transition: think collaboration
Governments around the world are catalyzing decarbonization efforts, pursuing these mission-driven goals with increasing intensity at every level. This includes public transit, which has been undergoing significant strategic shifts.
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Houari Cheikhi, May 8, 2024, Metro Magazine
Help improve e-bike safety rules
This is a golden opportunity for all e-bike users to share their experiences and ensure the safety guidelines truly benefit all riders and other road, trail, and path users.
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May 8, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling
E-bikes and creating financially sustainable bike share programs
E-bikes have been steadily gaining market share on city streets and suburban roads. In 2016, classic bikes outsold e-bikes in the U.S. by a 50 to 1 ratio. Today, the ratio is about 4 to 1 and the gap is shrinking.
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Phillip Mark Plotch, May 8, 2024, Streetsblog USA
Walk more in your city. It could open up new horizons.
As downtown DC and commercial centers in other cities seek a new, post-pandemic identity, we needn’t wait for them to magically evolve. The future identity of the District begins with us — the people who spend time here.
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Maria de los Angeles, May 8, 2024, Greater Greater Washington
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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April 28, 2024, Fairfax Alliance of Better Bicycling