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Column: The coming of fare free transit

Using transit can allow people to leave their cars at home, leading to less traffic and less use of fossil fuels. Transit improves mobility and access to jobs, health care, and social activities. Less congestion on the roads can lead to faster trips for everyone.
Srdjan Nedeljkovic, February 5, 2026, The Newton Beacon

Icy bus stops frustrate Metrobus riders as sidewalk clearing gaps persist across DC

At several stops, including along Georgia Avenue near the Petworth Library, commuters are having to step or stretch over frozen mounds between the sidewalk and the street — a situation riders say is especially dangerous for parents with strollers, seniors and people with disabilities.

 
Ben Dennis, February 3, 2026, MSN/DC News Now

Council considers allowing up to 100 e-scooters and e-bikes in Falls Church

Falls Church leaders in 2019 first put out a request for firms interested in positioning the mobility devices around the city, but found no takers — in part because of the restrictive operational rules the officials planned to put in place.
Scott McCaffrey, February 4, 2026, ARLNow

Why are so many cities offering free public transit on Wednesday?

From coast to coast, transportation systems in the U.S. are honoring Feb. 4 with free rides. The Maryland Transit Authority, which operates buses, subways, MARC trains and light rail lines as one of the biggest transit systems in the country, has also announced free rides on Wednesday. 
Chris McCrory, February 3, 2026, 10 News

Metro to honor Rosa Parks on her birthday with reserved seats across bus and rail system

To commemorate the day, Metro is placing signs on trains and buses, reserving a single seat in recognition of Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus and subsequent arrest in 1955. Her act of courage helped advance the civil rights movement. 
February 3, 2026, WMATA

Shirlington Transit Center cuts hours, earning backlash during winter storm

The transit center at 2975 S. Quincy Street cut its hours to 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and eliminated Saturday hours entirely on Nov. 14. It was a significant reduction from the center’s previous hours of 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
Emily Leayman, February 3, 2026, ARLNow

County Board to decide whether to make increased parking prices permanent

Currently, rates for meters in the pilot program — which mostly focuses on Rosslyn-Ballston and Route 1 corridors — range from 75 cents to $4.75 per hour. If the program ends, costs will return to what they are in other areas of the county: $1.50 to $1.75 per hour.
Scott McCaffrey, February 3, 2026, ARLNow

Why Complete Streets design benefits everyone

Complete Streets, on the other hand, acknowledges that people switch modes and accommodates the full range of road users with infrastructure like bike lanes, accessible curb cuts, and transit lanes. But while some U.S. communities have adopted a Complete Streets approach, progress remains “frustratingly slow.” 
Diana Ionescu, February 2, 2026, Planetizen

Metro warns of weekend delays on Red, Yellow, Green lines for repairs

Passengers can also expect the Yellow Line to run every eight minutes between Huntington and Greenbelt. The Green Line will single-track between Anacostia and Navy Yard and run every 18 minutes between Branch Avenue and Mt. Vernon Square.
Odyssey Fields, February 2, 2026, DC News Now

What's in the tangled FY26 transportation spending bill?

The bill provides $16.7 billion for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). As expected, $14.6 billion would go to the Mass Transit Account for transit formula grants. On top of the formula grants, there is $211 million for Transit Infrastructure Grants. $147 million is for “Community Projects” earmarks proposed by members of Congress. 
Corrigan Salerno, January 30, 2026, Transportation for America

AI improving transportation, traffic, and daily commuting

Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), transportation is becoming safer, smoother, and more efficient, helping drivers and commuters spend less time stuck in traffic and more time enjoying life.
Angela Naff, February 2, 2026, The Suncoast Post

Extreme cold in DC causes loose floor tiles at Dupont Circle metro station

Metro officials said repairs are underway at the station's south entrance, where five of the ten faregates are temporarily inaccessible while crews secure the tiles.
DeAnthony Taylor, February 1, 2026, ABC7 News

People 'choosing rideshare or transit' due to city parking frustrations

More than half of drivers surveyed (54%) say they have used rideshare or public transportation "to avoid hassles". 
Adam Hill, January 27, 2026, ITS International

Crystal City construction update: Shuttles replace trains to airport and nearby stations for 10 weekends

On three of those 10 weekends,?the construction zone will be extended to Braddock Rd to support additional track maintenance, requiring closures of Crystal City, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Potomac Yard stations; rail service will be suspended in both directions from those stations. Free shuttles will also be available on these three weekends to support customers who need to reach these locations.
January 30, 2026, WMATA

Falls Church Council to consider $460M plan to increase Metro funding region-wide

The 49-page DMV Moves plan calls for an additional $460 million in annual spending, starting before fiscal 2029, to be split among Virginia, Maryland and D.C.
Scott McCaffrey, January 30, 2026, ARLNow

Surface transportation bill will shape the U.S. transportation outlook

Preserving public transit funding, increasing safety and issues of local and state control are among stakeholder priorities. Can lawmakers forge a bipartisan path forward?
Dan Zukowski, January 29, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

Why transit, density, and walkability matter for social connection

Housing, transportation, outdoor spaces, community organizations, local businesses, and public policies all mold and can encourage social connection. Prioritizing infrastructure that is designed almost exclusively for cars (also known as urban sprawl) only exacerbates loneliness. 
Elisa Ramirez, January 26, 2026, Transportation for America

Bikeshare Beat: CaBi broke annual record with nearly 6.7 million rides in 2025

Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) broke its all-time annual ridership record in 2025, as 6,662,647 trips were recorded across the Washington region. Ridership increased 9% from 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year the regional bikesharing network has broken its annual ridership record.
Samuel Littauer, January 29, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

Virginia Railway Express extends partnership with Keolis North America for commuter rail service

The VRE fleet will be operated by over 100 Keolis employees, performing equipment, facilities and lifecycle maintenance. Keolis will provide train operations and maintenance of equipment, select facilities maintenance and lifecycle maintenance services. 
January 28, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Commuting disparities among Fairfax's high, low earners raise equity concerns

Other commuting methods, from Metro to carpooling to biking/walking, showed some disparity among the highest and lowest earners, but the differences were less sizable than in the telework and single-occupant-vehicle categories.
Scott McCaffrey, January 28, 2026, FFXNow

Who is responsible for unburying the bus stops?

The ability to move around the region right now is constrained for many residents, particularly those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices or who are pushing strollers. That’s true not just because of unshoveled sidewalks but due to buried bus infrastructure.
Chelsea Allinger, January 28, 2026, Greater Greater Washington

Metro crews ignite 'fire snake' to repair cracked rail during arctic cold

In a post on social media, Metro noted that extremely cold temperatures cause rails to contract, increasing stress in the steel. This makes the rails more susceptible to cracks and fractures.
Odyssey Fields, January 28, 2026, DC News Now

WMATA asks Alexandria for $35M to complete Potomac Yard Metro station

The proposal will head to City Council for review this evening (Tuesday). If approved, WMATA says the funding increase would be the third and final modification to its funding agreement with the city.
James Cullum, January 27, 2026, ALXNow

US traffic patterns are shifting, but car-centric development persists

Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco ranked among the nation’s most congested cities, while New York reduced traffic and increased transit speed and ridership thanks to its congestion pricing program.
Diana Ionescu, January 26, 2026, Planetizen

How digital signage is reshaping the traveler experience at transportation hubs

From the moment a traveler arrives at a transportation hub, whether an international airport, a downtown train station, or a regional bus terminal, their experience is now shaped not just by architecture or amenities, but by the immediacy and intelligence of digital display technology.
Dan Verbsky, January 26, 2026, Metro Magazine

How to check your Metrorail, bus lines as snow service slowly returns to normal

WMATA's app and website, MetroPulse, offer real-time tracking on bus and train locations, frequency, schedule adherence, and service advisories.
Sophie Rosenthal, January 26, 2026, WUSA9

Nearly half of D.C.-area workers stick with hybrid schedule post-pandemic, report finds

Conducted every three years, the new report represents the first post-Covid look at local commuting patterns. It found that rates of telework are coming down, but likely to remain a fact of life going forward.
Scott McCaffrey, January 23, 2026, FFXNow

How Metro is preparing for this weekend's winter storm

According to Metro’s protocol, if snowfall exceeds 8 inches, some train services may be suspended as a precaution.
Thayma Sanchez, January 23, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Congress advances transportation funding bill

The bill “provides the overwhelming majority of public transit and passenger rail investments” funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Dan Zukowski, January 22, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

MDOT issues $22.1b, six-year capital budget

The six-year Final CTP outlines capital investments in each mode funded by the Transportation Trust Fund: Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, State Highway Administration, and The Secretary’s Office, as well as Maryland’s investment in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Marybeth Luczak, January 22, 2026, Railway Age

City Council is next stop for transit boosters with regional 'DMVMoves' initiative

The proposal also calls for a network of bus-rapid-transit lines across the metro area, as well as new funding for commuter-rail operations and local bus services, including DASH.
Scott McCaffrey, January 22, 2026, ALXNow