Regional Transit News Service Alerts | ART News | Subscribe Latest News 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 Metro set to resume weekday bus and rail service as storm recovery continues After several days of systemwide snow and ice response, Metro plans to return to weekday service on bus and rail starting Thursday, January 29. January 28, 2026, WMATA 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 Metro provides service update; announces service plan for Wednesday, January 28 Metro continues to add service, with 61 bus routes operating and rail frequencies increasing. Rail service will end at midnight, as scheduled. Metro Bus service will continue to operate and provide overnight service on routes where applicable. January 27, 2026, WMATA Airports, Metro prepare for potential travel troubles during weekend storm When it comes to Metro Bus service, WMATA says it may be modified depending on the conditions, and it could impact route detours, reduced frequency, or temporary route suspensions. Jillian Smith, January 27, 2026, Fox 5 News 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 Five ways D.C.-area commutes have changed since the pandemic Commuting patterns have changed, however. More people are teleworking at least two days a week and taking transit; on the other hand, the region has grown, and a larger proportion of suburbanites in Maryland and Virginia are driving to work alone. Rachel Weiner, January 22, 2026, The Washington Post MDOT announces student rider discount program According to MDOT, students enrolled in a high school, vocational/trade school, formal technical training program, college or university, including undergraduate and graduate programs, can save 50% on a one-way or monthly MARC Train ticket. Kaitlyn Dillon, January 21, 2026, DC News Now DASH partners with ABM for in-route pantograph charger ABM has provided an in-route pantograph charger, accompanying power cabinets, electrical infrastructure and civil foundation work for the agency. The station enables DASH buses to charge while in service, providing more route flexibility and supporting uninterrupted operations for the growing electric fleet. January 21, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine Metro closures will affect weekend rail service in Alexandria this spring Trains on the Blue and Yellow lines will be suspended between those stations during ten weekends this spring, and Metro will offer free connecting shuttle bus services. The closures are planned to accommodate the construction of a second entrance at Arlington’s Crystal City station. Katie Taranto, January 21, 2026, ALXNow $11.3M plans for VRE's Manassas Line Virginia Railway Express officials moved closer to seeking millions in state transportation funding for a rail expansion project near Broad Run Station aimed at supporting future growth on the Manassas Line. Uriah Kiser, January 20, 2026, Potomac Local News Survey: Most Americans are quite open to ditching their cars A stunning 18 percent of car-owning U.S. residents indicated that they were "strongly interested" in living car-free, and another 40 percent said that they were "open" to it, according to a survey conducted by Arizona State University. Kea Wilson, January 21, 2026, Streetsblog USA Metro seeks community feedback on proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and service plan The service plans are designed to maximize service within available funding, while meeting growing demand. Metro is advancing service efficiencies through bus schedule optimization, train automation, and the refinement of 6-car and 8-car trains to improve reliability and travel times. January 20, 2026, WMATA Report: USA must triple its transit vehicles to offer 'world-class' transit The report defines “world-class” as “Transit that operates with extensive coverage and predictable, frequent service that grants people a high level of mobility, where they can reach nearly everything they need.” Diana Ionescu, January 20, 2026, Planetizen Alexandria, Virginia, expands transit bus electrification The announcement follows the Oct. 30, 2025, groundbreaking for a new facility that will include the necessary infrastructure for up to 24 overhead electric bus chargers, solar panel arrays and battery energy storage systems. Dan Zukowski, January 16, 2025, Smart Cities Dive The best thing about giving up your car? According to commuters, it's almost everything Across North America and beyond, more people are experimenting with going car-light (owning a car but using it sparingly) or car-free (ditching it altogether). Karen James, January 6, 2026, Momentum Mag Metro says crime on buses, trains has dropped significantly Metro says it’s the safest it’s been in a quarter-century — not including during the pandemic. WMATA leaders are crediting the transit agency's stepped-up enforcement for the big drop. January 15, 2026, Fox 5 News Virginia-to-Florida train lets you bring your car As Zach Wichter explains in USA Today, “The Auto Train runs every day between Lorton and Sanford with no intermediate stops. It departs at 4 p.m. in each direction and arrives at 9 a.m. the next day ? a 17-hour trip altogether.” The ride allows passengers to skip the 800-mile drive and arrive with their vehicle in tow. Diana Ionescu, January 15, 2026, Planetizen Your input fuels better biking and walking Fairfax County has committed to investing $100 million in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements by 2027. Thanks to the work of advocates, residents, and county leaders, $56.7 million has already been approved — with $44.4 million funding 77 new capital projects so far. January 15, 2026, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling Passenger rail Is headed for a reckoning — and the first 90 days of 2026 will decide it And it’s not just today’s trains that hang in the balance. Of the 69 corridors selected by the Federal Railroad Administration for development, 33 would operate partly or entirely on UP or NS tracks. That’s nearly half of the future passenger rail network in this country potentially controlled by a single company. Jim Mathews, January 15, 2026, Streetsblog USA Metro receives TSA's Gold Standard Award for transit security for a record fifth time “Protecting our customers and employees is at the core of everything we do,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “We continue to take a proactive and vigilant approach to addressing current and emerging security challenges while working in close coordination with our regional and federal partners.” January 15, 2026, WMATA