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- Red-light cameras are expanding across Arlington; more to come
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Throughout August, violators will receive warning notices; beginning Sept. 1, the owners of vehicles caught on camera running red lights will receive $50 civil citations in the mail.
July 26, 2024, Gazette Leader - Fairfax man with visual disability says eliminated bus stops pose a safety concern
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However, the bus stops were eliminated as part of a comprehensive service change to the Fairfax Connector in late June. The changes happened following significant analysis and public input, according to the county.
Matthew Torres, July 25, 2024, WUSA9 - Bigger, stronger, safer: DC's new Douglas Street pedestrian bridge reopens
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The bridge’s construction took three years and $17 million to rebuild after it collapsed in June of 2021 after being struck by the load of a large truck.
Jimmy Alexander, July 26, 2024, WTOP - Northern Virginia OmniRide users to face new schedule, higher fares
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The OmniRide Express base fare will also increase from $9 each way to $11 each way; the reduced fare will be $5.50. The monthly unlimited pass will increase from $265 to $285.
Emily Seymour, July 25, 2024, Inside NoVa - Get ready for fun: Metro Fest Celebration at Branch Avenue Station this Saturday
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Metro Fest is a community event open to the public at no cost. The event includes arts and crafts, games, entertainment, snacks, water, and Metro-branded giveaways.
July 25, 2024, WMATA - Carly Rae Jepsen responsible for highest ridership at Navy Yard Metro since 2019
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The 45,000 trips is the highest number of trips since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro says overall ridership is up since last year, but still has not reached pre-pandemic levels.
Matt Pusatory, July 24, 2024, WUSA9 - Bike share, scooters break ridership record
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Shared micromobility users in the United States and Canada took a record 157 million trips in 2023, according to a report from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).
Diana Ionescu, July 24, 2024, Planetizen - Micromobility ridership up 16% in US cities in 2023
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Even as shared bike and scooter rides continue to grow, affordability and limited city resources threaten future success, according to a National Association of City Transportation Officials report.
Dan Zukowski, July 24, 2024, Smart Cities Dive - EPA awards more than $272 million to four mobility projects
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The competitive program supports projects that will implement community-driven solutions to the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice and accelerate the clean energy transition in the U.S.
Mischa Wanek-Libman, July 24, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine - America is setting micromobility records — but that boom could go bust without public funding
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According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, which compiled the numbers, that increase happened in spite of a fragile micromobility ecosystem in which even popular programs have suddenly shut down.
Kea Wilson, July 24, 2024, Streetsblog USA - MD: Transit Services sees 22% increase in ridership in fiscal 2024
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According to Mary Dennis, Transit Services’ communications manager, the increase in riders can be attributed to the department’s Travel Training program, as well as outreach initiatives from the department and service updates.
Apurva Mahajan, July 24, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine - OmniRide changes: fares increasing, routes discontinued
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Notable changes include the combination and elimination of some routes, the introduction of new timetables, and updated routing for various Express, Metro Express, and Local routes. The OmniRide Express base fare also increased from $9 to $11 each way.
Uriah Kiser, July 23, 2024, Potomac Local News - Alexandria launching pilot program to make buses more wheelchair and scooter accessible
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A small number of DASH buses will have the Q’Straint’s Quantum system installed. The system is designed to help those who use mobility assistance devices easily and quickly secure themselves on the bus.
Vernon Miles, July 23, 2024, ALXNow - State DOTs could fuel a resurgence in intercity bus travel
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While the number of carriers, jobs, and passenger miles traveled in the industry were still only about half of their pre-pandemic levels in 2022, ridership has continued to trend upward in recent years.
Eric Murphy, July 23, 2024, Streetsblog USA - Weekend Track Work: Metro to fix track issue with impacts to Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines on Sunday
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Crews will be repairing a restraining rail on a curved track section with bad fasteners and broken studs that hold the rail down. Trains have been running through the area at reduced speeds. The repair will allow trains to run at usual speeds again.
July 23, 2024, WMATA - Amtrak begins Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project in northeast Maryland
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The first pre-construction work includes removal of remnant bridge piers from the Susquehanna River and utility upgrades in the town of Perryville, Md. In the Susquehanna River, an Amtrak contractor is safely demolishing and removing 10 remnant piers.
July 22, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine - Metro seeks public's input to 'help shape transit' in the DMV
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A post on the X platform from Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation said the 10-minute survey, “DMVMoves,” will gather information from the public’s experiences using transportation to “help shape transit in the D.C. region.”
Jenny Gable, July 22, 2024, DC News Now - States force green transition in public transportation despite taxpayer burden
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In order to make that transition, cities will have to invest heavily in green infrastructure, like charging stations and batteries, or staffing electrical engineers.
Nolan Mckendry, July 21, 2024, Washington Examiner - Manassas awarded $3.8M in Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funds for new roundabout
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The roundabout has been approved for funding from the authority after funding for the project was snubbed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant program for the third time in 2022.
Cameron Delean, July 20, 2024, WTOP - Metro breaks ground on new Crystal City station entrance in Arlington
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WMATA said the estimated $146 million entrance will sit at 18th Street and Crystal Drive. It will feature an above-ground entrance with fare gates, fare vending machines, two elevators, and a set of stairs that will take riders from a new mezzanine to the train platforms.
Odyssey Fields, July 20, 2024, DC News Now - Amtrak releases updated renderings of West Baltimore MARC Station
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The new fully accessible station is a major part of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program, which will work to modernize and transform a 10-mile section of the Northeast Corridor through several infrastructure upgrades.
July 19, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine - ART bus storage at Virginia Square parking lot could continue one more year
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The Arlington County Board, which is scheduled to vote on this item at a Monday meeting, approved plans to begin storing buses at the Quincy Street site, near Washington-Liberty High School, back in May 2022.
Daniel Egitto, July 19, 2024, ARLNow - Stand on the right, walk on the left… or don't: UMD professor says unwritten Metro escalator rule is inefficient
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It might be the biggest unwritten rule of Metro – when you're on the escalators, you stand to the right, and walk to the left. It's a message we holler at tourists and make memes about.
Adam Tuss, July 18, 2024, NBC4 Washington - 'Data bikes' help governments understand bike path conditions
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Local governments can use this data to build more resilient trails and understand problem areas. Planners can use the information to prioritize areas for improvement when applying for grants and developing maintenance plans.
Diana Ionescu, July 18, 2024, Planetizen - First light rail vehicle delivered to Maryland's Purple Line
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It has 80 seats and a total capacity of 430 passengers, with space for up to eight wheelchair users and eight bike racks. Features include air-conditioning, a passenger counting system and audio-visual passenger information.
July 18, 2024, Railway Gazette - Supervisors sign off on Fairfax Connector fare increases
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The new Fairfax Connector fees, set to take effect July 29, will see the base fare for local-bus service rise from $2 to $2.25 and from $4.25 to $4.80 for express-bus service.
Brian Trompeter, July 17, 2024, Gazette Leader - Fairfax supervisors OK new wish list for transportation funding
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The Smart Scale Program, which was authorized by the General Assembly in 2014, prioritizes transportation projects using a weighted system that factors in congestion mitigation, accessibility, safety, environmental quality, economic development and land use.
Brian Trompeter, July 17, 2024, Gazette Leader - $607M in US DOT grants available for reconnecting communities
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The funding available in this round includes allocations from fiscal years 2024 through 2026, the final year of the infrastructure law. According to the DOT, last year’s program was “oversubscribed and highly competitive.”
Dan Zukowski, July 17, 2024, Smart Cities Dive - Metrorail lowers train speeds as rail temps top 135°
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Metro limited above-ground train speeds to 35 mph across the system as rail temperatures topped 135°, the agency said. The extreme heat can make the rails expand.
Adam Tuss, July 16, 2024, NBC4 Washington - Va. transportation board approves railway sale to support Southwest Va. passenger rail expansion
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According to VPRA, the capital funds will help cover the purchase of the Manassas Line and infrastructure improvements in Roanoke to accommodate more trains and rights to run passenger service on Norfolk Southern’s Main Line, or N-Line, to Christiansburg.
Nathaniel Cline, July 17, 2024, Virginia Mercury - Intense DC heat wave affecting Metro; riders searching for other transit options
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On the street level, some Circulator buses were removed from service because of air conditioning problems, transit officials said. One bus on its dashboard showed that it was at one point 108 degrees outside.
Leonard N. Fleming, July 16, 2024, DC News Now - Fairfax Connector fares to increase for first time in seven years
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The change was proposed by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to bring its rates in line with Metrobus, which raised its base rate from $2 to $2.25 as of July 1.
Angela Woolsey, July 17, 2024, Inside NoVa - FRA announces $153M funding for intercity passenger rail services available
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The funding, part of the Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant program will help with operating costs for projects that establish new service routes, or restore service on existing routes for intercity passenger operations.
Liz Carey, July 16, 2024, Transportation Today - 'This is a really good day for commuters': $40M in funding approved for Route 28 project in Va.
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No houses will be removed, but some buildings, housing and businesses will be taken by eminent domain for the road improvement project, according to Roem, who said she is pleased that the project is based on ideas from area residents, commuters and workers.
Dick Uliano, July 16, 2024, WTOP - Metro wraps up feedback on major bus system overhaul, final vote due this fall
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Now that the public comment period is over, Metro says they are reviewing the comments they received and will work over the summer to make some changes to the Better Bus Network proposal.
Tom Roussey, July 15, 2024, ABC7 News - Metro puts above-ground speed restriction in place due to heat; Blue, Yellow lines single-tracking due to track 'kink'
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In a series of posts, WMATA said the single tracking was in effect between Pentagon City and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Commuters should expect an extra 20 minutes in their travel time.
Gabby Allen/Brian Farrell, July 15, 2024, DC News Now - Fairfax County gets $50.5 million for new buses
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Additionally, it will enable the Fairfax transit agency to make facility and station upgrades and buy support equipment for low- and no-emission buses.
Heather Zwicker, July 12, 2024, Fairfax County Times - Micromobility ridership surges in DC with 3.4 million trips through June
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Through June, an estimated 3,379,600 trips have been recorded in 2024 by the four active micromobility operators in the District: Lime, Spin, Lyft, and Veo.
Samuel Littauer, July 15, 2024, Greater Greater Washington - D.C. bus system faces overhaul, with Monday deadline for public comment
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As envisioned under the plan, lines would be renamed, buses would connect more Metro lines and travel more efficient routes, and new routes would be created.
Rachel Weiner, July 12, 2024, The Washington Post - US transit leaders outline current challenges
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In a survey of leaders at public transit agencies, close to half of respondents said their agencies are working to expand service, despite the drops in ridership experienced during the pandemic.
Diana Ionescu, July 14, 2024, Planetizen - $21.1M from NVTA to fund Crystal City-National Airport connection
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NVTA also transferred $21.1 million previously dedicated to another NVTA-funded project in Arlington County to help pay for the Crystal City to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Multimodal Connection project, bringing the total number of funded projects in FY 2024-2029 to 24.
Michael O' Connell, July 12, 2024, Patch - Construction of new Crystal City Metro station entrance begins
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The new entrance is expected to be completed in late 2027, as constructions is expected to take at least three years. It will be located at 18th Street South and Crystal Drive.
Christopher Thomas, July 13, 2024, WTOP