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.

Upcoming holiday service: Downtown construction work may affect travel; extended hours, free fares on NYE

Last train times vary by station -- check the stations page and add two hours to the Sunday last train time). Customers can also take advantage of Metro’s 24-hour bus service in D.C. Read more...
December 20, 2024, WMATA

MetroAccess sees decline in customer satisfaction

Metro recently switched from using five contractors for MetroAccess service to one contractor as a cost-saving strategy. The transit agency said now it’s assigning dispatchers to monitor specific MetroAccess drivers and new performance reports also will be issued. Read more...
Adam Tuss, December 19, 2024, NBC4 Washington

USDOT publishes final rule establishing accessible standards of transit stops in public right-of-way

USDOT notes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) directs the department to adopt standards for accessible public transportation facilities that are consistent with final minimum accessibility guidelines issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Read more...
December 19, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine

Metro station closures begin for track work over holidays

Several downtown D.C. Metro stations are closed during the final weeks of 2024 for track work and other improvements.The closures are in effect Dec. 20-30. Service should be back to normal Dec. 31, Metro officials said. Read more...
Joseph Olmo, December 12, 2024, NBC4 Washington

Record holiday travel expected to end a busy year

This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we're anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday. Read more...
Sareen Habeshian, December 17, 2024, Axios

Metro Blue, Orange, Silver Line holiday construction closures could delay travel into DC

Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level of Metro Center will be closed from Dec. 20-30. Free shuttle buses will move riders between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle. Read more...
John Gonzalez, December 19, 2024, ABC7 News

DC Circulator bus to officially end operations on Dec. 31

DDOT says the agency has been working with other transit partners to make sure there are options for the impacted riders who depend on the DC Circulator. Guides outlining these alternatives can be found on the DDOT website. Read more...
Alanea Cremen, December 17, 2024, WUSA9

Biden-Harris Administration announces $130 million in funding to scale technology solutions that address pressing transportation challenges in 23 States

The competitive grant program, established by President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $500 million over five years for State, local, and Tribal governments to leverage technology to create safer, more efficient, and more innovative transportation systems. Read more...
December 16, 2024, Transportation.gov

Public Transit: An economic powerhouse on wheels

In cities across the U.S., when people see a bus go by, they can sometimes just blend into everyday life. What they miss seeing is that public transit is an incredibly powerful driver of economic prosperity and community transformation. Read more...
Frank White III, December 17, 2024, Metro Magazine

Schools are cutting bus service for children. Parents are turning to ride-hailing apps

As responsibility for transportation shifts to families, the question of how to replace the traditional yellow bus has become an urgent problem for some, and a spark for innovation. Read more...
Jeff McMurray, December 16, 2024, The Associated Press

Metro to accept new payment methods in 2025

The change will first come to Metrorail stations in May 2025. It will then be implemented by summer 2025 in Metrobus and in late fall 2025 in parking facilities.   Read more...
Maggie Roth, December 16, 2024, Northern Virginia Magazine

Transportation equity data available in newly updated US DOT online tool

The Transportation Community Explorer shows transportation insecurity scores across four measures at the national, state and county level, along with various measures showing place-based burden and population-based vulnerability. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, December 16, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

November CaBi ridership surge continues, annual rides up 36% in 2024

Members carried CaBi in November, accounting for 70.7% of all trips. E-bikes remain the dominant preference for members and non-members alike as 64.5% of rides were taken on the electric option. Read more...
Samuel Littauer, December 16, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

What do riders think of the newly automated trains on Metro's Red Line?

As riders boarded, no new announcements were made. Just the same “doors closing” that most riders have heard thousands of times rang out to commuters. Read more...
Luke Lukert, December 16, 2024, WTOP

VDOT lifts lane closures to make for merrier end-of-year holiday travel

VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting temporary lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, until noon on Thursday, Dec. 26, as well as from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 31, until noon on Thursday, Jan. 2. Read more...
VDOT, December 16, 2024, ARLNow

Metro seeks public feedback on proposed vent shaft modifications at Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail Station?

The proposed project is located within the construction perimeter of the Capital One Arena Modernization project that includes the Gallery Place Expansion. Metro’s Gallery Place – Chinatown Metrorail Station is within the vicinity of this project. Read more...
December 13, 2024, WMATA

Metro overruns stations on 1st day of automatic operations on Red Line

The Metro spokesperson said there are no impacts to Red Line service and that the ATO system was "performing well with only minor, first-day adjustments.” Read more...
Adam Tuss, December 15, 2024, NBC4 Washington

Metro holiday closures could cause delays on Blue, Orange and Silver lines

On Dec. 27, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and the lower level of L’Enfant Plaza will close for the construction until Dec. 30. Shuttles will run between Foggy Bottom and Federal Center SW. Metro plans to have all stations back open on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Read more...
Valerie Bonk, December 15, 2024, WTOP

Metro is getting its budget process underway for the next fiscal year

A year ago, the transit agency was facing a $750 million deficit and was looking at having to make drastic cuts. D.C., Maryland and Virginia all pitched in additional funding to avoid that scenario, but Metro’s long term financial outlook still isn’t in the clear. Read more...
Jacob Kerr, December 14, 2024, WTOP

Metro to begin automatic train operations on Red Line for first time in 15 years

“Automatic train operations represent significant advancements in safety and efficiency for Metro customers and employees,” said Principal Director and Chair of the Board’s Safety and Operations Committee Don Drummer. Read more...
Paola Belloso/Randi Bass, December 12, 2024, DC News Now

Arlington Transit opens its new Arlington Operations and Maintenance Facility

The three-story building, which also includes a separate parking garage for employees, not only strengthens Arlington's transit infrastructure but also ensures ART bus operators are supported and appreciated for the essential work they do.  Read more...
December 12, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine

Tysons-Alexandria bus rapid transit proposal moves forward

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) voted on Thursday to send out requests for proposals to firms interested in studying the easternmost part of the proposed Route 7 BRT from Seven Corners to Alexandria. Read more...
December 12, 2024, ALXNow

No farecard, no problem: Metro may add tap payment options soon

Metrorail is scheduled to come first in May 2025, followed by Metrobus in summer 2025 and Metro parking facilities in late fall 2025. Read more...
Josh Rosenthal, December 12, 2024, Fox 5 News

County seeks $8M in funding for key Crystal City connector trail

The funding, which would not require a local match, would support construction of a trail running from the Long Bridge Park Aquatics Center to the Crystal City Bike Network along Long Bridge Drive.  Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, December 12, 2024, ARLNow

Faster trains, improved bus routes; how Metro is working to make your ride smoother

Metro riders, get ready for some exciting changes! Starting Sunday, Metro will be ramping up service on both the Green and Yellow lines, and making key adjustments to bus routes across the area.  Read more...
Samantha Gilstrap, December 11, 2024, WUSA9

Lowest-income households face highest transportation cost burden: federal report

Although households with incomes of $28,261 or less spent the least on transportation overall, those expenses consumed nearly 32% of their pre-tax income. Households with incomes greater than $148,682 spent more in total, but only 9.6% of their income. Read more...
Dan Zukowski, December 10, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

New changes coming to Metro starting on Sunday

During the weekdays, the Green and Yellow line trains will arrive every six minutes until 9:30 p.m. whereas before, it was every eight minutes. Read more...
Anna Chen, December 11, 2024, DC News Now

Metro boosts service on Green and Yellow lines, increases bus service on certain routes starting Dec.15

In the District of Columbia, new service and changes will prepare for the launch of the Better Bus Network in 2025 and add capacity to accommodate DC Circulator customers. In Maryland and Virginia, routes will change in response to long-term construction projects in Prince George’s and Arlington counties. Read more...
December 11, 2024, WMATA

WMATA's return to automatic trains is a big deal. Here's what it means

Although this won’t connect new destinations to the system, and we are unlikely to see a big ribbon cutting attended by political leaders, this initiative is possibly the most impactful Metrorail development since the opening of phase 2 of the Silver Line in 2022.  Read more...
Adam Bressler, December 11, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

Plans for $177M Ballston Metro entrance greeted with enthusiasm at meeting

Bluemont Civic Association President Henry McFarland argued that the proposed entrance, about a quarter mile west of the existing one, would shorten commutes and ultimately reduce road congestion. Read more...
Dan Egitto, December 11, 2024, ARLNow

Study: Automobile dependency reduces life satisfaction

Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction. Read more...
Todd Litman, December 10, 2024, Planetizen

Metro GM proposes extending weekend hours in new budget

Metro wants to extend its hours so you can get a ride. It’s part of next year’s proposed budget posted online Tuesday. There’s great news for people who work or play late on weekend nights. Read more...
Daniel Hamburg, December 10, 2024, DC News Now

Metro gets green light for automatic trains 15 years after deadly crash

“Going into automatic mode will regulate the speed of the train automatically so the operator can pay attention to conditions ahead of them,” said Tiffani Jenkins, the senior vice president of Communications and Signaling for WMATA. Read more...
Adam Tuss, December 10, 2024, NBC4 Washington

From 9-to-5 to anytime: How telecommuting changes the traffic game

As cities continue to grow and evolve, the future of urban mobility will rely on creative solutions, from smarter infrastructure to updated transit options, to keep America’s cities moving in this new, work-from-anywhere world. Read more...
Andreea Neculae, December 10, 2024, Planetizen

Regional taxes, longer I-66 toll hours on table for dedicated N. Va. transit funding

A full range of funding options for Metro and other public transportation systems was presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on Thursday (Dec. 5), including new taxes and fees. Read more...
Scott McCaffrey, December 9, 2024, FFXNow

Metro area leaders discuss regional funding source for transit system

The Dec. 2 discussion on developing a regional Metro funding source was part of a months-long effort to collaborate through an initiative known as DMVMoves, led by Metro and the Council of Governments. Read more...
Nathaniel Cline, December 9, 2024, Inside NoVa

Major developments in 2024 pave the way for the future of Union Station

"We're going through a space planning exercise to try to figure out. 'OK, we know retail, we need the same amount, but maybe we need it in slightly different places,'" Amtrak President Roger Harris told us in October. "It's really about increasing fluidity of the station for the benefit of the customer." Read more...
Daniel J. Sernovitz, December 9, 2024, Washington Business Journal

Freedom to Move: Investing in transportation choices for a clean, prosperous, and just future

The new Union of Concerned Scientists study, Freedom to Move: Investing in Transportation Choices for a Clean, Prosperous, and Just Future, shows that a transportation system that gives everyone more transportation choices will be more equitable, save trillions of dollars, and fight climate change.  Read more...
Todd Litman, December 9, 2024, Planetizen

Interstate 95 closures in Dale City begin Monday

The closures are part of preparations for the I-95 bridge replacement project, which will begin in 2027, and drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes. Read more...
Aya Karouane, December 7, 2024, Potomac Local News