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.

Study: Self-driving cars could raise VMT by 6%, increasing congestion

An analysis from the University of Texas-Arlington found that if U.S. cities made a “major shift” toward autonomous cars, vehicle miles driven would rise by roughly 6 percent. “Worse, they’d still increase more than 5% if people shifted away from personally owned cars towards shared autonomous taxis instead.” Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 13, 2026, Planetizen

Are we there yet? The promise and pitfalls of transit in Maryland

Whether you are a daily bus rider or a commuter waiting for the next rail extension, this conversation offers the context needed to understand why Maryland’s transit system remains a work in progress. Read more...
David Nitkin, March 12, 2026, Baltimore Fishbowl

Yes, even the suburbs want more transit

Access to public transportation remains one of the top considerations for potential homebuyers and renters, because transit offers both cheaper transportation costs and reduces environmental impacts. When suburban areas invest in transit, those communities benefit from stronger connections to jobs, services, and important destinations.  Read more...
Elisa Ramirez, March 12, 2026, Transportation for America

APTA: Every $1B for public transportation generates $5B in economic value

The study, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Surface Transportation Authorization Recommendations, provided evidence that sustained federal investment into public transit and passenger rail delivers returns for workers, communities, taxpayers and the U.S. economy, officials said. Read more...
Liz Carey, March 10, 2026, Transportation Today

US transit fleets have bought over 8,000 zero-emission buses

While battery-powered buses remain dominant in the field, more transit authorities are also buying fuel cell electric buses, which surged 49 percent nationwide during the reporting period.  Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 12, 2026, Planetizen

FCDOT seeks feedback on proposed pedestrian, bicyclist improvement projects

An estimated $100 million has been earmarked — or, at least, is expected to be spent — for the proposed improvements, which range from installing crosswalks to building roadway medians and adding bicycle paths. Read more...
Jared Serre, March 11, 2026, FFXNow

Feds, local jurisdictions kick tires on $1.8B American Legion Bridge rebuild

Nearly a dozen national companies responded this winter to a request for information from the U.S. Department of Transportation on how to rebuild the bridge, with many highlighting plans to limit — or in some instances, avoid entirely — the use of public dollars. Read more...
Nate Doughty, March 11, 2026, Washington Business Journal

VRE plans more weekday trains, new weekend service by 2030

CEO Katie Choe, who started work in January, is making her goals clear. “My main priority as I’m walking in, is to successfully transition VRE from the commuter service that it is today to a full regional rail system,” she told the VRE Operations Board in February. Read more...
Michelle Basch, March 11, 2026, WTOP

Falls Church approves e-scooter pilot program, looks for companies to sign on

City Council members voted 7-0 on Monday night for a one-year pilot program, hoping to entice companies to deploy up to 100 e-scooters and e-bicycles within the community’s 2.2 square miles. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, March 11, 2026, ARLNow

50 years of DC's iconic Metro

Today, it’s hard to believe Metro’s success: The system, which saw passengers take nearly 147 million trips in 2025, is the second-busiest in America. Read more...
March 11, 2026, Washingtonian

Drivers react to potential $10 fee to enter DC after Mayor Bowser releases congestion pricing study

The idea, known as congestion pricing, could have charged drivers between $5 and $10 depending on location and time of day. Bowser, however, says she does not support implementing the policy right now. Read more...
Ben Dennis, March 10, 2026, DC News Now

New bus funding likely for Fairfax, but proposed Tysons route doesn't make cut

The county’s request for just under $4.4 million in funding to support a new limited-stop Fairfax Connector service between the Tysons and Franconia-Springfield Metro stations has been removed from the list of projects being considered for the fiscal years 2027-2028 I-66 Commuter Choice funding cycle. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, March 10, 2026, FFXNow

New pilot program reminds Metro customers to offer priority seating to those in need

Priority seating is intended for people with disabilities, people who use mobility devices, older adults, pregnant people, and others with not-always-visible disabilities. Priority seats are next to the center doors of each railcar.  Read more...
March 10, 2026, WMATA

A brief history of the DC Streetcar

In that first-ever plan, one of the most obvious and immediate recommendations was to supplement the “radial commuter-oriented” Metro system with a surface transit system that could serve crosstown and neighborhood-oriented trips, and would be better than buses. Thus the idea of a modern tram system in DC was born. Read more...
Dan Malouff, March 10, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

Lime updates subscription service for frequent riders in DC

Every ride will be subject to a flat rate, instead of a per-minute cost. Subscribed members also get unlimited free unlocking and discounted flat-rate pricing for trips under five minutes. Read more...
Ciara Wells, March 10, 2026, WTOP

Metro preparing for busy Cherry Blossom season with special trains, buses, and SmarTrip cards

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that cherry blossom–themed vehicles and commemorative SmarTrip cards will debut March 20 as the festival kicks off. The annual celebration runs from March 20 through April 12 and marks the start of the spring tourism season across the Washington, D.C. region. Read more...
March 9, 2026, The MoCo Show

FIFA World Cup US host cities to get $100M for public transportation

The funding, available through the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, may cover planning and capital expenses incurred from July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, and public transportation operating expenses incurred from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 9, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

Transit advocates push for use of W&OD right-of-way as new rail line

Most of the requests urged NVTC to ask the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to consider the feasibility of a rail line along the W&OD Trail’s right-of-way from Purcellville to the East Falls Church Metro station. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, March 9, 2026, FFXNow

From commuter service to full regional rail system: New Virginia Railway Express CEO lays ambitious expansion plans

The service, which connects Northern and central Virginia with Washington, D.C., with lines extending to Manassas and Fredericksburg, recently laid out ambitious plans in its System Plan 2050. The 2050 plan outlines the system’s goals for adapting to changing travel patterns, maximizing ridership and adding off-peak and weekend service. Read more...
Nolan Stout, March 9, 2026, Inside NoVa

Crystal City Metro Station closures: What to know

The new stations will also feature elevator upgrades to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and improved passenger distribution at entrances on platforms during peak travel times. Read more...
Odyssey Fields, March 9, 2026, DC News Now

A new Metro safety measure at Dulles Airport seems invisible to most

The transit system said in a post on social media that it’s testing the removable bollard to encourage riders with large suitcases to use the elevator instead. Metro said it’s an initiative to reduce trips and falls and improve safety for everyone. Read more...
Kyle Cooper, March 6, 2026, WTOP

MDOT MTA aims to improve on-time performance by empowering bus operators with real-time information

MDOT MTA Chief Customer Experience Officer Mike Helta says OTP is important to the overall success of the agency because not only does it focus on the rider experience, but it creates a voice for the customer.  Read more...
Brandon Lewis, March 6, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Metro warning riders about weekend closures at Crystal City, DCA, Potomac Yard stations

This project calls for 10 weekend closures of the Crystal City station, which started in February. On three of those weekends, including this one, DCA and Potomac Yard will also be closed. All three stations will also be closed on May 9, 10, 16 and 17. Read more...
Thomas Mates, March 6, 2026, ABC7 News

Metro expands contactless payments to parking systems

As installations progress across the service area, Metro launched an online tracker at wmata.com showing which parking facilities accept Tap. Ride. Go. payments. The tracker will be updated regularly as additional parking facilities come online. Read more...
Alexa Henry, March 6, 2026, WUSA9

Metro tests new bollard at Dulles escalator

Metro riders weigh in on a new pole that’s been placed right in front of a busy escalator at the Dulles International Airport Metro station. Read more...
Adam Tuss, March 5, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Amtrak launching express bus service between Metro Richmond and D.C.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and Amtrak announced that the new Amtrak Connection service will offer round-trip, nonstop bus service between Richmond’s Staples Mill Road and Main Street stations and Washington’s Union Station. Read more...
March 5, 2026, Henrico Citizen

Report: US Transit returns $5 for every $1 invested

The analysis finds that every $1 billion invested in public transit yields 41,400 jobs, $251 million in tax revenue, and “$3.6 billion of value is realized in improved access to jobs and healthcare, reduced congestion and lower household transportation costs.” Read more...
Diana Ionescu, March 5, 2026, Planetizen

Metro ready to move big crowds during the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Bright blue, pink, fuchsia, and white cherry blossom-themed Metro vehicles will hit the tracks and streets on March 20. One train, three buses, and one Metro Access vehicle will be wrapped for cherry blossom season through the end of April. Read more...
March 5, 2026, WMATA

Hampton Roads Transit receives federal funds to replace 15 buses

The funding was included in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 2025 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. Read more...
March 3, 2026, Hampton Roads Transit

APTA calls for $268B investment in public transit and passenger rail over 5 years

The funding would come from the upcoming surface transportation legislation, with $138 billion for public transit and $130 billion for passenger rail, building on funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, March 4, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

Metro begins Tap. Ride. Go. parking upgrades across system, expanding contactless payments

As installations progress across the service area, Metro will update an online tracker showing which parking facilities accept Tap. Ride. Go. payments. The tracker will be updated regularly as additional parking facilities come online. Read more...
March 4, 2026, WMATA

Bikes make life freer. These laws could change that.

A bicycle doesn’t require a license, registration, insurance or fuel. You don’t need an app or a subscription. You just get on and go. In an era when your car can track where you drive and report it to your insurance company, the freedom a bicycle offers is appealing. Read more...
Kevin R. Parker, March 4, 2026, The Washington Post

Bethesda Metro Station sees 15k+ trips, breaks 2020 ridership record

The Bethesda Metro Station is home to the Red Line and is just outside the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Nearby is also the Bethesda Row shopping mall, the Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema, a variety of businesses and dozens of restaurants, including Benihana. Read more...
Odyssey Fields, March 3, 2026, DC News Now

Completed path gives residents direct route to Innovation Center Metro station

“This project is a game-changer for this community,” Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) Project Manager Sonia Shahnaj said in a video recapping the ceremony. “It is seamless, safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle access from the multiple residential neighborhoods to the kiss-and-ride at the Metro station.” Read more...
Angela Woolsey, March 3, 2026, FFXNow

Federal Transit Administration announces funding opportunity for public transit

Part of the All Stations Accessibility Program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the funding is designed to modernize some of the nation’s oldest and busiest rail transit systems to be more accessible for people with disabilities and mobility needs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it would ensure the rail stations meet the needs of American families. Read more...
Liz Carey, March 4, 2026, Transportation Today

Transit funding increases, but transit's market share declines

Fox News reports that bus and rail commuting in the United States remains below pre-pandemic levels, despite increased spending by the federal government. While federal support has grown steadily, the share of transit commuters has declined, dropping from 12.1% in 1960 to 3.7% in 2024, according to a report by Unleash Prosperity.  Read more...
March 2, 2026, Institute for Energy Research

Central Virginia to receive $148 million for infrastructure improvements

On Friday, Feb. 27, the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) approved $147,964,457 over the next six years to improve local bicycle and pedestrian, transit, bridge, multimodal and highway infrastructure. Read more...
Clare Gehlich, February 27, 2026, WRIC

FTA announces availability of $686 million in grants for improvements of rail transit stations

 That bill set aside $350 million each fiscal year between 2022 and 2026 under the All Stations Accessibility Program, intended to improve rail transportation facilities for those with disabilities. Read more...
March 2, 2026, Trains.com

Amtrak introduces revised long-distance fleet replacement strategy

Amtrak notes the strategy incorporates industry feedback received during the previous request for proposals on new bi-level trains, along with findings from a joint Amtrak-Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) review that identified the most effective path forward.  Read more...
February 27, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

A school district went big on electric buses. Now it's ordering more diesels.

Some buses are experiencing extended periods of service interruptions due to “charging challenges” and parts issues, said district spokesperson Liliana López. The maintenance problems are exacerbated by cold weather, she said.  Read more...
Kendall Staton, March 2, 2026, The Washington Post