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.
Maryland transit budget would cut millions from Baltimore, leave D.C. Metro whole
State officials visit with leaders and the public in Baltimore City and Maryland’s 23 counties to field questions and solicit feedback on the roughly $19 billion Consolidated Transportation Program, a road map for capital spending through fiscal year 2030.
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Daniel Zawodny, September 12, 2024, The Baltimore Banner
More intercity passenger rail coming to Virginia
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority signed an agreement with Norfolk Southern that will expand commuter service in Northern Virginia and extend Amtrak service south of Roanoke, Virginia.
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Dan Zukowski, September 11, 2024, Smart Cities Dive
Montgomery County launches 'Pink' and 'Lime' bus routes to expand transit options
The new bus routes offered through the Great Seneca Transit Network service allows commuters and residents access to faster, more frequent transit through two new Ride On extRa bus lines.
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September 11, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine
EV charging stations coming to disadvantaged communities in Maryland and Virginia
The initiative is being funded using nearly $4 million in grant funding that the COG received from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
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Scott Gelman, September 11, 2024, WTOP
Weekend trackwork: Red Line operating in two segments with bus bridge
This weekend, the Red Line will operate in two segments as crews work on tracks between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center. Free shuttle buses will replace train service between Medical Center and Grosvenor on Saturday and Sunday.
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September 11, 2024, WMATA
Metro wants to fill gap from impacted DC Circulator routes, extend overnight service
Metro already has plans to increase bus service next fiscal year, but the temporary changes implemented in October will be in response to eliminated or modified DC Circulator routes beginning Oct. 1.
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Winston Rogers, September 10, 2024, ABC7 News
Opinion: Federal plan to make cars safer for pedestrians is a great start
The new rules are also gratifying because they come shortly after NHTSA announced it will require Automatic Pedestrian Detection — sensor technology which prevents cars from hitting pedestrians in the first place — in upcoming model years.
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Angie Schmitt, September 11, 2024, Streetsblog USA
USDOT announces more than $1B in local road grants
The announcement was made in conjunction with a report from the National highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Roadway Safety Strategy report that estimates traffic fatalities have declined in the United States for the ninth straight quarter.
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Liz Carey, September 9, 2024, Transportation Today
Virginia railroad purchases Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern
The purchase of the Manassas Line will help VPRA expand its Virginia Railway Express service into evenings and weekends. The move will also support VRE’s expansion from commuter rail service with limited morning and evening trains during the weekdays to a regional rail service.
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Liz Carey, September 10, 2024, Transportation Today
Say 'goodbye' to DC Circulator: How the city plans to make up for lost bus routes
Metro’s board of directors is expected to vote on the proposed plan Thursday. After the vote, the tentative dates for Circulator routes to be reduced will be finalized.
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Jessica Kronzer, September 10, 2024, WTOP
DRPT launches public transit positive impact campaign
The campaign will include a mix of digital, radio, print and social media outreach, along with video content. A dedicated page on the ConnectingVA website will offer in-depth information on local transit options, the benefits of using transit and various resources.
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September 9, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine
Mapping transit equity as the region's ridership rebounds
Although Metrorail ridership still lags behind its pre-pandemic performance, the Washington region’s steadily increasing access to jobs and opportunities via transit over the last two years has largely gone undocumented.
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Wyatt Gordon, September 9, 2024, Greater Greater Washington
'Connects Communities' campaign to promote public transit across Virginia
The statewide initiative is designed to educate Virginians on the essential role public transit plays in creating connected, thriving communities, and improving the quality of life for all residents.
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September 6, 2024, Metro Magazine
How can it be safer to walk, bike, ride and drive in DC? Vision Zero wants to know
"We work for the public, so we want to hear from the public," said Vision Zero Office Director Charlie Willson who led Saturday's meeting.
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Lianna Golden, September 7, 2024, ABC7 News
DC Bike Ride brings ten thousand cyclists to nation's capital
Ten thousand people cycled about 20 miles on bicycles for the 2024 DC Bike Ride around the nation’s capital Saturday morning.
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Jimmy Alexander, September 7, 2024, WTOP
Traffic In DC area worse than most U.S. cities: analysis
Washington, D.C. came in at No. 2 on the list, earning a traffic score of 84.6 out of 100. The average commute time is nearly 33 minutes, longer than anywhere else in the country.
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Megan VerHelst, September 6, 2024, Patch
Metro adjusting six D.C., Maryland bus routes starting Sunday
These changes will improve on-time performance, make departure times more convenient for students, and reflect a long-term detour in Langley Park associated with Purple Line construction.
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September 4, 2024, WMATA
The Circulator's death doesn't have to leave riders, workers stranded. Transfer services to WMATA
Last year, the Council funded an additional year of Circulator service to give the Mayor time to coordinate with WMATA to come up with an adequate transition plan.
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Raymond Jackson, September 6, 2024, Greater Greater Washington
Pedestrians First: Tools for a walkable city
A comprehensive new website provides information on why and how to improve community walkability and offers practical tools for evaluating walking conditions.
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Todd Litman, September 5, 2024, Planetizen
Why Lyft is doubling down on docked bikes, scooters
Lyft will eliminate dockless bikes and scooters, which are considered less efficient to manage, to concentrate on docked bikes and e-bikes, scooters and electric docking stations
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Dan Zukowski, September 5, 2024, Smart Cities Dive
DC cracks down on bus lane traffic enforcement
It has also issued more than 45,000 tickets for unauthorized vehicles parked in a bus lane and more than 3,000 tickets for unauthorized vehicles driving in a bus lane.
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September 5, 2024, DC News Now
Fairfax Connector sets launch date for Tysons-Bethesda express bus
The new Express Route 789 between Tysons and Bethesda will begin operating on Sept. 16, providing weekday, rush-hour service to five stops using the Capital Beltway (I-495) and American Legion Bridge.
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Angela Woolsey, September 5, 2024, FFXNow
Biking outpaces transit use in DC
D.C. residents and visitors take as many as 30 million trips on bikes or shared mobility, yet bike lanes cover just one quarter of one percent of the District’s streets.
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Diana Ionescu, September 4, 2024, Planetizen
Hundreds of cities get federal help to make streets safer
The $1 billion funding announcement is the second round of grants this year. To date, the federal government has provided money for safer streets to nearly three-quarters of the country.
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Daniel C. Vock, September 5, 2024, Route Fifty
MDOT releases Draft Consolidated Transportation Program for FY's 2025-2030
The Draft Consolidated Transportation Program outlines an $18.9 billion balanced plan that makes strategic investments to further the safety of the state's transportation system and maintain operations, as the department continues to face slow economic growth.
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September 4, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine
New Springfield commuter parking garage set to open next week
A ribbon-cutting for the six-level facility at 7039 Old Keene Mill Road is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m., with the garage officially opening to the public on Saturday, Sept. 14, per a Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) release.
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James Jarvis, September 4, 2024, FFXNow
All of the routes Megabus just cut (& alternatives)
As of August 2024, many of Megabus' routes were abruptly changed or ended altogether. Suddenly, a new bus line was taking passengers to their destination, or, customers were left scrambling to find an alternative (often more costly) to Megabus.
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Jessica Tucker, September 4, 2024, The Travel
Md. plans to delay bridge expansion, electric buses in $1.3 billion cuts
The cost of building the Purple Line train project in the D.C. suburbs and maintaining existing infrastructure couldn’t be covered with declining gas, transit and vehicle registration revenue, officials said.
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Rachel Weiner, September 3, 2024, The Washington Post
Transportation should be a bigger issue in the 2024 election
The safety, accessibility, and equity of active transit users has, so far, merely been a footnote in the 2024 election. As November approaches, many voters and transportation experts say that these transportation needs and issues should be prioritized.
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Grace Gurvey, September 4, 2024, The Nation
Fairfax transportation planners seek public input on major trail and bicycle network overhaul
The plan aims to make it safer and easier for people to get around by constructing dedicated bike paths separate from road traffic and improving the connectivity of walking trails that link neighborhoods with schools, parks and commercial areas.
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James Jarvis, September 3, 2024, FFXNow
Fairfax Connector bus route to link Tysons to Bethesda via Beltway
The bus service along the Beltway will be an alternative to a very long train trip on Metro, which requires going into D.C., switching Metro lines, and then heading back out of the District on the other side.
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Adam Tuss, September 3, 2024, NBC4 Washington
DC has fined drivers nearly $15M for blocking bus lanes
The District has 13 miles of priority bus lanes and about 3,000 bus zones. The problem, according to transportation officials, is that vehicles routinely block the lanes, forcing buses to either stop or change lanes to drive around them.
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Mark Segraves, September 3, 2024, NBC4 Washingnton
How to save the D.C. Metro once and for all
With ridership on a new, lower trajectory, the system’s finances are unsustainable. Metro needs to rightsize and restructure accordingly while avoiding a death spiral, in which service cuts deter riders and fewer riders trigger more cuts.
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September 2, 2024, The Washington Post
Road closures slated for 22nd annual 9/11 5K race in Arlington
Motorists are advised to leave extra time and seek alternate routes to reduce road congestion. Race attendees are encouraged to use Metro or other forms of multi modal transportation.
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September 1, 2024, Gazette Leader
Transportation Rx: Treating traffic glut like doctors treat sinus congestion
To cure chronic traffic congestion, U.S. cities should consider a prescribed treatment approach, using technology and road pricing strategies to target the root cause instead of just managing the symptoms.
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Timothy Menard, September 1, 2024, Planetizen
Behind the campaign to make Metro cool again
As part of her role overseeing the agency’s messaging on everything from police interventions to long-term financing, Whitney Nichels has also casually revolutionized its Instagram and TikTok accounts.
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Rachel Weiner, September 1, 2024, The Washington Post