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.

Union for Fairfax Connector workers blasts pay proposal as contract nears expiration

Representing 546 employees of Fairfax Connector, which serves about 26,000 daily passengers across 93 different routes, the union confirmed that it got Transdev’s latest contract offer a day earlier. Read more...
Angela Woolsey, November 28, 2023, FFXNow

Some Arlington Transit routes seeing extreme subsidies

ART service is provided by a contractor but is funded by the county government. Data provided at the Nov. 14 meeting broke down copious information by route, including daily passenger totals and cost per mile for operation. Read more...
November 28, 2023, Gazette Leader

Federal court to weigh Amtrak bid to take DC's Union Station in eminent domain case

The largest railroad service in the United States is seeking to seize full control of the property interest owned by Union Station Investco, bluntly arguing in court filings that Amtrak is better suited to manage and operate the station because of its decades of experience.  Read more...
Kaelan Deese, November 28, 2023, Washington Examiner

Sweet ride: Metro train, buses to transform into 'gingerbread wonderland' for holidays

A Metro train and four buses will be wrapped to look like they're made of gingerbread — complete with icing trim. Metro says it's also transforming the inside of the vehicles with candy canes, lollipops, gumdrops, red bows and gingerbread men. Read more...
Gina Cook, November 27, 2023, NBC4 Washington

Downtown D.C. BID urges Metro to delay Red Line shutdown, citing 'negative and permanent damage'

During the closures, “critical safety repairs” and upgrades are planned to the tunnel and track infrastructure, per the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the agency that runs Metro. Read more...
Michael Neibauer, November 27, 2023, Washington Business Journal

Last access points for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension to open next month

Drivers will be able to get to the 95 Express Lanes using a reversible ramp that can be accessed from Courthouse Road in Stafford County. They’ll also be accessible using a northbound exit from and southbound entrance to the I-95 general purpose lanes near Marine Corps Base Quantico. Read more...
Scott Gelman, November 28, 2023, WTOP

VRE Santa Train tickets on sale tomorrow morning, Monday, Nov. 27

Each year, the tickets sell out in minutes. Santa trains will run on Saturday, December 9, 2023, on both the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. Read more...
Amelia Breeden, November 26, 2023, Potomac Local News

One year in, Silver Line Phase 2 ridership modest for Fairfax County stations

Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) planners had hoped for 20,000 riders a day when the rail line was being planned in the early 2000s. Read more...
Fatimah Waseem, November 26, 2023, Inside NOVA

Old train routes are getting recycled into new trail networks

The president of the D.C.-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy said the 2021 infrastructure law is speeding up efforts to create protected pathways, lifting lives and communities in the process, and building what he sees as the nation’s new town squares. Read more...
Michael Laris, November 27, 2023, The Washington Post

Red Line riders, Metro will end the year with shuttle bus service between some stops. Here's what to know

Starting Monday Dec. 18, Metro will shut down Red Line tunnels between those two stops to repair and improve tracks and tunnels, replacing train service in that portion of the line with free shuttle buses. Read more...
Maggie More, November 23, 2023, NBC4 Washington

D.C. weighs banning cars in three corridors to create pedestrian zones

The District is considering banning cars in some corridors as New York and some other cities around the world have done to encourage more walking, biking and transit usage. Read more...
Luz Lazo, November 24, 2023, The Washington Post

One year in, Silver Line Phase 2 ridership modest for Fairfax County stations

More than 3.5 million trips later, daily average ridership on the rail extension hovers at 3,600 trips. Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) planners had hoped for 20,000 riders a day when the rail line was being planned in the early 2000s. Read more...
Fatimah Waseem, November 22, 2023, FFXNow

Metro to offer shuttle service during Red Line closures in December

There will be no service between Dupont Circle and Union Station from Dec. 22 to Dec. 24. Crews will be working to repair the ceiling above the tracks and install fiber-optic cables. Read more...
Makea Luzader, November 21, 2023, DC News Now

Why local transit systems need to prepare for global challenges ahead

In the face of impending global challenges, it's essential for local transit agencies to recognize thinking globally is not only advisable but necessary for the resilience of the communities they serve. Read more...
Gamaliel Anguiano, November 21, 2023, Metro Magazine

U.S. DOT awards $3.4M to underserved communities with rural, tribal grants

Part of the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (RTA) and administered by the Build America Bureau, the grants will be used to fund early-stage development for transportation solutions, specifically for technical, legal, and financial assistance. Read more...
Liz Carey, November 22, 2023, Transportation Today

Bikeshare Beat: October was CaBi's busiest month ever

The previous monthly ridership record was set in August 2023, which touted 470,132 trips during the city’s summer swelter. Read more...
Samuel Littauer, November 20, 2023, Greater Greater Washington

Silver Line to Dulles marks 1-year anniversary: 67,000 workers, 42,000 residents

Metro ridership through the six new Silver Line stations is now an average 6,500 weekday rail entries, up 78.2% since December 2022. The Dulles stop accounts for 2,100 daily rider entries.  Read more...
Jeff Clabaugh, November 20, 2023, WTOP

Biden Administration marks 2nd anniversary of IIJA

Nov. 15 marked the second anniversary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law by President Biden and provided a “once-in-a-generation investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness.” Read more...
Alex Roman, November 18, 2023, Metro Magazine

Micromobility is having a weird year

At the heart of that question lies a deep anxiety about the structural foundations of the micromobility industry, and whether those foundations are beginning to shift. Read more...
Kea Wilson, November 20, 2023, Streetsblog USA

Ridership is up on the Metro system, but revenue is still down

The transit agency is facing a $750 million operating budget shortfall next fiscal year because of depleted federal pandemic aid and a steep drop in commuters, many of whom have traded going to the office for working from home.  Read more...
Justin George, November 19, 2023, The Washington Post

Metro pop-up shop to feature Metro-inspired holiday gifts

WMATA posted that it would be hosting a pop-up shop from Nov. 25 to Dec. 17, offering “unique Metro gifts, limited-edition treasures & more.” Read more...
Brian Farrell, November 17, 2023, DC News Now

Millions of metro bus riders fail to tap SmarTrip cards due to faulty fareboxes, evasion issues

Metro said it has replaced about one-third of its fareboxes with new, more modern machines that will eventually be installed on every single Metrobus.  Read more...
Tom Roussey, November 16, 2023, ABC7 News

Electric buses: Boom times and bumpy roads

In 2022, the number of full-size, zero-emission transit buses on the road, on order or funded grew 66% year over year, according to Calstart, a national clean transportation advocacy nonprofit. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, November 16, 2023, Smart Cities Dive

Ridership is up on the Metro system, but revenue is still down

Revenue from fares, parking, advertising and other sources during the fiscal quarter amounted to $108.4 million, which is $17.7 million less than Metro predicted. Read more...
Justin George, November 16, 2023, The Washington Post

Has the big federal infrastructure bill changed your commute? Q&A with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined WTOP’s John Aaron to outline what he said are some notable improvements in this area. Read more...
WTOP Staff, November 16, 2023, WTOP

Public transit systems try to avoid a crisis as remote work hurts ridership

The rise of remote work since the pandemic is changing the way Americans commute. And that's prompting a crisis for big public transit systems, which were mostly designed to get lots of commuters downtown all at once, and are now scrambling to adjust to this new reality. Read more...
Joel Rose, November 15, 2023, OPB

Report: Transit safety begins with better service

The report identifies safety concerns from riders and advocates and “reveals one surprisingly straightforward solution: improve transit service.” Read more...
Diana Ionescu, November 15, 2023, Planetizen

Opening of I-95 north local lanes over Rappahannock postponed until Friday

Additional time is needed Thursday evening and early Friday morning to finish paving the new connection between the Route 3 on-ramp and the new local lanes of I-95 northbound.  Read more...
Uriah Kiser, November 16, 2023, Potomac Local News

Study: E-Bikes can help seniors and people with disabilities — if they can overcome barriers to riding

While any older adults and people with disabilities are actually able to safely use e-bikes, “a significant knowledge gap exists between awareness and reality,” the researchers wrote.  Read more...
George Kevin Jordan, November 15, Streetsblog USA

Get your wheels spinning, a new Bike & Ride facility opens at Grosvenor-Strathmore Station

The facility will provide a safe, secure location with room for up to 100 bikes and features video monitoring, emergency call boxes, and repair stands equipped with tools and air pumps for an enhanced and safer customer experience. Read more...
November 15, 2023, WMATA

A year after opening, ridership is modest but growing on the Silver Line extension

Ridership at those stations is still fairly limited compared to other parts of the rail system, though some locals say they’re excited about new access to Dulles Airport.  Read more...
Margaret Barthel, November 15, 2023, DCist