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.
Tell the US DOT to keep bike lane funding moving
If this freeze holds, many projects aimed at making our streets safer and more accessible may never break ground. Some projects already in progress will stop immediately, leaving dangerous streets unchanged and communities without the infrastructure they need.
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March 17, 2025, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling
What the proposed federal budget means for transit, rail
The House Appropriations Committee’s proposed budget for FY 2025 increases public transit investment by under 1 percent from last year, while passenger rail funding is decreased by 1 percent.
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Diana Ionescu, March 16, 2025, Planetizen
Cherry blossoms, federal workforce and more: How Metro will handle more riders
Metro has seen an increase of riders since the pandemic and will now see even more as federal workers return to the office and people visit the cherry blossoms.
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Adam Tuss, March 16, 2025, NBC4 Washington
They met on Metro, got engaged on Amtrak and will ride forward together
The transit enthusiasts went on to roll through Reykjavik, Iceland, blaze through Britain and cruise around California — navigating every kink in the track, enduring each interminable delay and rerouting around changes in service side by side (including, to them, the heartbreaking closure of D.C.’s Circulator bus in December).
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Dana Munro, March 15, 2025, The Washington Post
Transit agencies continue to add zero-emission buses to their fleets
More than 7,000 full-size battery and fuel-cell electric buses are in use or on the way, according to Calstart’s latest report, but shifting federal policies could affect future growth.
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Dan Zukowski, March 14, 2025, Smart Cities Dive
Transitway expansion means yearlong road closure in Pentagon City
The work, which will take place between S. Eads Street and S. Fern Street, is not expected to impact pedestrian access. Parking garages for buildings fronting 12th Street will be accessible via side streets.
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Scott McCaffrey, March 14, 2025, ARLNow
Metro facing $200M loss, layoffs if Congress forces DC budget cut
As the Friday deadline for a federal spending deal approaches, Metro is watching closely because the transit agency could be directly affected.
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Adam Tuss, March 13, 2025, NBC4 Washington
Study: Drops in transit ridership linked to extreme weather
As extreme weather events become more common, this could hinder efforts to encourage transit use and reduce transportation emissions. Weather also impacts transit infrastructure.
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Diana Ionescu, March 13, 2025, Planetizen
New approaches to procurement can drive innovation in public transit
The most common theme at the event was the transition from traditional commuter schedules — shuttling 9-to-5 workers into central business districts in the morning and out to the suburbs after work — to a regional rail model including more midday, evening and weekend service, accommodating both the modern workday rider and the leisure rider.
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Gabriel J. Lopez-Bernal, March 13, 2025, Smart Cities Dive
More clarity on funding options for Metro and other transit expected this month
“We do expect information to be shared” at the next meeting of the DMV Moves task force, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Executive Director Kate Mattice told the commission’s board at a meeting last Thursday (March 6).
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Scott McCaffrey, March 13, 2025, FFXNow
Virginia commissions approve $155 million Manassas rail line agreement
The ownership rights will also give VRE the Broad Run Corridor from Alexandria to Broad Run, the permanent easement to five station platforms and the permanent commuter rail operating easement along the Manassas Line.
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Nathaniel Cline, March 8, 2025, Inside NoVa
All aboard the blossom express! Limited-edition cherry blossom Metro cards available Saturday
This is the third year Metro has wrapped a train and three buses in a special cherry blossom theme. The 2025 design features a bright blue background, pink blooms and a Japanese rising sun. The vehicles are expected to make their debut on March 21.
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Samantha Gilstrap, March 12, 2025, WUSA9
Amtrak, Rexmark reach settlement agreement on Washington Union Station
Amtrak notes Washington Union Station is one of the nation’s most historic and busiest multimodal hubs and serves the many travelers and visitors that use the station.
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March 12, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
U.S. DOT orders review of all grants related to green infrastructure, bikes
Those efforts were a centerpiece of previous DOT secretary Buttigieg's strategy to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, from which he allocated billions of dollars in discretionary grants to sustainable and equitable modes.
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Gersh Kuntzman, March 12, 2025, Streetsblog USA
Transit services adjust for federal employees returning to work
Ride On bus fares are set at $1 per ride, with free transfers available for federal workers commuting via Metro. Additionally, the MCDOT has been working with federal agencies to expand parking availability near select federal installations.
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Tariq Jernigan, March 11, 2025, Montgomery Community Media
USDOT, MTA, GCRTA take steps to improve safety on public transit
USDOT aims to improve the perception of public transit in Washington, D.C., as federal employees return to the office while the MTA has seen a decrease in crime on its subway system and GCRTA has brought in 14 new transit police officers.
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Brandon Lewis, March 11, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Cherry blossoms may boost Metro to a post-pandemic ridership high
“If all goes to plan, we’re hoping for our first combined one-million-trip day since the onset of the pandemic,” Paul Smedberg, first vice president of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), said on Thursday (March 6).
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Scott McCaffrey, March 11, 2025, FFXNow
Climate change Is making waiting for transit worse — and it's hurting ridership
A recent study of 43 major U.S. transit networks revealed that ridership dropped during long stretches of rain, heat, or other prolonged extreme weather events that scientists link to climate change, at least in the 17 years between when the National Transit Database began collecting stats and 2019, the last year before the pandemic decimated ridership.
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Kea Wilson, March 12, 2025, Streetsblog USA
No signal? No problem. Meet the new app for navigating D.C. transit
Last month, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rolled out a partnership with Waymap, a wayfinding app that provides step-by-step audio directions for transit riders. Initially created for people with vision loss, the app aims to help anyone navigate indoor and outdoor locations without access to mobile data or WiFi.
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Maylin Tu, March 11, 2025, Next City
With artificial intelligence, transit fare gates get smarter
Cubic has introduced gates for transit systems that are equipped with technology including artificial intelligence, to differentiate between a rider slipping through a gate without paying and a mother struggling with a stroller.
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March 10, 2025, Government Technology
The tariff saga: How the North American bus market is navigating through the chaos
U.S. bus manufacturing and the larger North American transit bus supply chain has already been experiencing significant challenges, with several original equipment manufacturers planning or already closing operations.
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Megan Perrero, March 10, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine
Fairfax Budget Season: Speak up for trails, parks, and multimodal transportation!
Now’s the time to speak up and let county leaders know that investing in multimodal transportation, trails, and bike infrastructure must remain a priority.
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March 10, 2025, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling
FareShare Program offers money to cover employees' public transit costs in Montgomery County
The FareShare program covers expenses incurred by passengers when using the Ride On Bus, Metrobus, Metrorail, MTA Commuter Bus or Marc Train. It also covers expenses on vanpools, as long as the employee is traveling to and from work within Montgomery County.
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Odyssey Fields, March 9, 2025, DC News Now
Ride On Bus stop in Bethesda to close temporarily for watermain installation
Officials said the Ride On Bus stop #25642 at Southbound Rockville Pike (MD 355) between Locust Hill Road and West Cedar Lane in Bethesda will not be available beginning Sunday night.
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Odyssey Fields, March 9, 2025, DC News Now
Virginia commissions approve $155 million Manassas rail line agreement
Owners of the commuter rail system Virginia Railway Express on Thursday signed off on a five-year, $155 million agreement to purchase the Manassas Line, allowing the system to enhance service reliability and provide control over stations and schedules between Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.
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Nathaniel Cline, March 8, 2025, ALXNow
Trump administration looks to address safety for travelers in DC
“DDOT will closely coordinate with local stakeholders to ensure a smooth process, and we appreciate the public’s patience as we work to enhance this important corridor,” the agency said.
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Jacob Kerr, March 8, 2025, WTOP
Electric vehicles for all? Study finds disparities in access and incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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Clement Lau, March 9, 2025, Planetizen
Are mobility hubs child-friendly?
The researchers found that women surveyed would benefit from services at mobility hubs such as playgrounds next to bus stops to occupy children or free WiFi so they can communicate or attend to errands while waiting for a bus or train.
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Diana Ionescu, March 7, 2025, Planetizen
Reimagine the west portico area at Union Station as a bike transit center and cafe
At this time, Amtrak and USRC have the opportunity to be proactive and make use of the Bike Building as low-hanging fruit to kickstart a truly multi-modal use facility and create synergy at the building’s West Portico.
Bill Galagher/Don Paine, March 7, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
Baltimore City Council members press for solutions to student transit nightmare
The average city student’s trip to school on mass transit takes about 40 minutes, which is more than twice as long as the time that neighboring Baltimore County students spend on yellow buses and longer than the average adult’s commute to work, according to the Banner investigation.
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Liz Bowie, March 6, 2025, The Baltimore Banner
Transportation secretary asks Amtrak to consider placing Homeland Security agents inside Union Station
"We are committed to continuous improvements and look forward to working with our federal partners including the DC Attorney General, to enhance America's Metro System," General Manager Clarke said on Thursday.
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Ittai Sopher, March 6, 2025, WUSA9
Transportation secretary pens letters to DC Mayor, WMATA, Amtrak asking for safety improvements
In the letter to Clarke, the transportation secretary said he wants WMATA to reduce fare evasion, lower crime on metro buses and trains, to ensure people using public transit feel safe.
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Shomarie Stone, March 6, 2025, Fox 5 News
Help play a pivotal role advocating for Metro customers by participating in the Riders' Advisory Council
Formed in 2005, the RAC advises the Board on Metro service and policies and includes a mix of customers that use Metrorail, Metrobus or MetroAccess from across the region. Members must live within the Metro service area.
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March 5, 2025, WMATA
Rail sector contributes $233.4B to economy, study finds
The rail transportation industry directly employed 153,000 people and supported 749,000 jobs nationwide in various industries, generating $66.1 billion in household income. Every railroad job supported 3.9 additional jobs in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and technology.
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Melina Druga, March 4, 2025, Transportation Today
In happier transit news, continuing coverage of limited edition SmarTrip® cards
To accommodate the crowds, Metro will have additional trains strategically placed throughout the system to add capacity, and additional buses on key routes to provide additional service if needed.
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March 4, 2025, PoPville
Report: Transportation equity requires more than electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
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Diana Ionescu, March 4, 2025, Planetizen
Metro revises passenger, revenue projections upward for next budget
When it comes to ridership, Metro is now anticipating a total of 257 million trips in the current fiscal year, 270 million in FY 2026 and 275 million in FY 2027, split about evenly between Metrobus and Metrorail.
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Scott McCaffrey, March 4, 2025, FFXNow
Montgomery County promotes transit options for federal employees returning to In-person work
“For those looking for commuting solutions, the good news is that the region is better connected than ever before, and in Montgomery County, public transit is affordable with a fare of $1 for all MCDOT Ride On buses,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.
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Patrick Herron, March 3, 2025, The MoCo Show
DC Metro ridership up 10% as more workers return to offices
For the first time in years, packed Metro trains and bustling platforms are becoming the new normal again as federal workers return to the office, pushing ridership to its highest levels since 2020.
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March 3, 2025, Fox 5 News
Take our Front Royal-Washington express commuter route for just $5.50!
Offering express and local bus services, ridesharing programs, and paratransit options, OmniRide connects communities across Prince William County, Stafford County, and beyond to key destinations, including Washington, D.C., and major regional transit hubs.
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March 3, 2025, Potomac Local News
Maryland offering grants to businesses impacted by Purple Line construction
Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart said on Monday that the Purple Line project is 74% complete with an expected opening not till 2027.
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Shirin Rajaee, March 3, 2025, Fox 5 News