Regional Transit News Service Alerts | ART News | Subscribe Latest News Why bike lanes are good: An explainer for the US Transportation Secretary Data also shows that a sufficiently robust and safe bike lane network does encourage more people to ditch cars and use bikes instead. According to the article, “study after study shows that bike lanes do not make car congestion worse— and in some cases, especially in urban areas that place them strategically, they can actually make it better.” Diana Ionescu, April 27, 2025, Planetizen New parking garage at New Carrollton opens Sunday, bus loop and Kiss & Ride to relocate to garages During the transition, customers may experience delays, congestion, and changes to travel patterns upon exiting. For your safety, please review and follow all posted signage and construction notices. April 25, 2025, WMATA Metro considers adding platform doors to stations to separate riders from tracks Watch for the double (?) doors! Metro is considering adding platform doors to stations so riders can be separated from the Metrorail tracks. Joseph Olmo, April 24, 2025, NBC4 Washington Metro says adding more bus lanes will improve safety and congestion on roads Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO Randy Clarke said adding more dedicated bus lanes would improve bus speeds, increase ridership and make the roads safer for everyone. Leslie Moreno, April 24, 2025, WUSA9 Smarter transit, better service: How data is shaping daily operations When transit agencies develop data-informed cultures of innovation using new technology, they can uncover patterns in ridership, economic activity and land use/development, helping to anticipate demand and optimize service delivery. Joanna M. Pinkerton, April 25, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine Water taxi service from Alexandria to Nationals Park resumes this week The timing of this relaunch aligns with City Cruises’ new partnership with the Washington Nationals for the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The Navy Yard Loop adds to City Cruises’ daily routes between The Wharf, Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and National Harbor. April 25, 2025, ALXNow Maryland commuter bus workers strike against contractor, suspending operations About 120 transit workers went on strike against contractor Martz Gold Line Thursday morning, demanding higher wages after contract negotiations fell apart. Darcy Spencer, April 24, 2025, NBC4 Washington Metro's future: No rail expansion, more bus lanes At a board meeting, Metro officials laid out the overall direction the transit agency should take in the coming years in a presentation titled, “World Class Transit.” They said rail construction has become too expensive in the U.S., and the transit system should use its capital funds on more cost-effective ways to improve service. Jacob Kerr, April 24, 2025, WTOP Agency envisions bus rapid transit along Columbia Pike and across the Potomac A proposed map of possible BRT lines envisions two routes connecting Columbia Pike to Crystal City and D.C., and another route running east from Falls Church into Rosslyn, across the Potomac River and into Georgetown. Dan Egitto/Scott McCaffrey, April 24, 2025, ARLNow VRE ridership surges as Alexandria station upgrades planned Virginia Railway Express (VRE) saw a jump of nearly 100,000 passengers in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley reported at Alexandria City Council’s recent legislative meeting. Ryan Belmore, April 23, 2025, ALXNow Northern Virginia Transportation Authority unveils draft plan for Bus Rapid Transit system; it includes several Alexandria routes The draft plan builds on existing BRT investments to create a comprehensive regional system providing fast, frequent, and reliable transit service. The goal is to improve all-day transit service, reduce congestion, and better connect key destinations throughout Northern Virginia and into Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Ryan Belmore, April 23, 2025, ALXNow This weekend: Buses replace trains between Medical Center and Grosvenor on Red Line; Silver Line runs to New Carrollton On Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, free shuttle buses will replace trains between Medical Center and Grosvenor on the Red Line due to track work. April 23, 2025, WMATA Metro's $5.65B automation plan targets efficiency, safety amid fiscal challenges Getting to that point on the entire Metrorail system would cost billions of dollars, but Metro says it would also make the system cheaper to run in the long run because increased efficiency would save money. Miles Wilson, April 23, 2025, Greater Greater Washington I adopted a Metro station. You can too Tidying up the area around Metro stations is a way to not only keep litter out of the local environment and watershed, but also to improve the actual quality of daily commute for Metro riders. Andrew Hare, April 23, 2025, Greater Greater Washington Even more automation could be coming to Metro, but with a hefty price tag In a presentation to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board titled “World Class Transit,” Metro suggests increasing the automation of trains to the point where operators would be taken out of the control cabin and instead turned into train attendants. Luke Lukert, April 23, 2025, WTOP OmniRide service change takes effect April 21 New trips will be added to the Lake Ridge – Washington (981) and Front Royal/Gainesville – Washington (611) Express routes, resulting in revised timetables. Additionally, there will be minor changes to the map for the Prince William Metro Express (95) route. April 21, 2025, Prince William Living Peak bloom broke CaBi records in March Annual members accounted for the majority of CaBi trips in March (69.9%), a slight decrease from the 78.3% share sustained through January and February. Casual riders (those without an annual membership) reversed this trend on March 29—to reiterate, the busiest day in system history—by making up 50.6% of all rides. Samuel Littauer, April 21, 2025, Greater Greater Washington Proposed development plan for Deanwood Metro station unveiled “These developments are not only amazing because they create affordable housing and just overall housing and mixed-use development, but this one will have a library, which we are very excited [about],” WMATA CEO Randy Clarke said at the announcement Monday. Dan Ronan, April 22, 2025, WTOP Blue and Green lines impacted by summer construction From July 5-26, track work is scheduled on the southern end of the Blue Line. The following month, from Aug. 2-31, work moves to the southern end of the Green Line. Kenzie Chase, April 20, 2025, DC News Now State releases six-year, $7 billion funding plan for capital improvement projects The City of Alexandria, for example, will get money to help cover the $200,000 operational cost for their GO Alex program, which is the city’s outreach program to get residents to ride transit, carpool and commute by bicycle. Ian Stewart, April 21, 2025, ALXNow DASH unveils new look with updated logos and mascot The redesigned logos aim to make DASH more approachable while showcasing the “DASH Difference” – the company’s ongoing commitment to improvement. April 18, 2025, ALXNow Understanding road diets Better bike and pedestrian infrastructure incentivizes more people to use those modes, and bus lanes make transit a more reliable option. Road diets thus also lead to reduced carbon emissions and cleaner air. Diana Ionescu, April 17, 2025, Planetizen Metro reminds customers of Blue and Green line construction this summer From July 5-26, track work will be done on the southern end of the Blue Line. From Aug. 2-31, work moves to the southern end of the Green Line. April 17, 2025, WMATA Automatic Train Control (ATO) suspended on WMATA Red Line Regarding the current station overruns, the Post reports that the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission is not requesting or requiring that WMATA turn ATO off on the Red Line, but to bring in engineering experts, possibly from the NTSB, to determine what is wrong and correct it. David C. Lester, April 16, 2025, RT&S Baltimore ordered to improve sidewalk accessibility In addition to building thousands of curb cuts and improving sidewalk conditions, the city is ordered to inspect its pedestrian walkways every 10 years, keep walkways clear of vegetation and overgrowth, prune obstructive trees, and other actions. Diana Ionescu, April 15, 2025, Planetizen Virginia DRPT Drafts $7b Six-Year Improvement Program The SYIP details DRPT’s funding priorities for FY 2026, allocating $332 million to local and regional public transportation providers, $442 million to WMATA’s Metrorail and Metrobus services, and $17 million to the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) operating and capital budget. William C. Vantuono, April 16, 2025, Railway Age Tysons Community Alliance turns to tax district for transportation project funding The district’s advisory board voted last Wednesday (April 9) to recommend that $1 million be allocated to the TCA for fiscal year 2026 to support its work to close gaps in the Tysons transportation network, reduce traffic from single-occupant vehicles, and boost public awareness and engagement. Angela Woolsey, April 15, 2025, FFXNow Gasoline prices are likely to dip this summer in the DC area and nationwide Gas prices are expected to be slightly above the national average in D.C., but in line with the national forecast in Maryland and Virginia. Some parts of the country, especially in oil and gas producing regions — including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico — could see prices below $3 a gallon. Dan Ronan, April 15, 2025, WTOP Ten years since 7000 series railcars entered Metro service In a post on X, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) said that the first railcar went into service on the Blue Line. It left from the Franconia-Springfield station. Makea Luzader, April 14, 2025, DC News Now Pedal with Petals returns to Tysons Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just learning to ride, Pedal with Petals has something for everyone—and FABB is proud to be helping again this year by providing ride marshals for both the short and long routes. April 14, 2025, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling How to build a better sustainable transportation pilot Pop-up projects and trial runs can build support for new street safety ideas and new alternatives to driving — or they can turn the public against a project before it even gets off the ground. A new study outlined how to avoid the most common pilot pitfalls. Kea Wilson, April 15, 2025, Streetsblog USA Over 500 bus stops being removed across the DMV Dubbed the “Better Bus Network,” the initiative aims to streamline service, improve travel times and enhance safety for riders—and that means cutting down on the number of stops. Samantha Gilstrap, April 14, 2025, WUSA9 Metro, Casey Trees plant dozens of new trees at West Hyattsville Metro Station For Metro customers, these trees improve aesthetics and create a more comfortable, enjoyable, and healthy transit experience. Last summer, the region saw record-breaking temperatures, making trees increasingly important for shading and air cooling for customers and employees at Metro stations. April 14, 2025, WMATA New Metro policy on banning riders for crimes has Northern Va. leaders' support Under the new policy, adopted March 27, the agency can ban passengers for 45 days for a first offense, 90 days for a second offense and 365 days for a third. Scott McCaffrey, April 14, 2025, ARLNow