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D.C. bus system faces overhaul, with Monday deadline for public comment

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

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

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

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

WMATA's plans bring hope for easier commutes

hose tired of the wait times and crowds on the Blue Line between the Pentagon and Rosslyn stations in particular will be especially victorious, with WMATA proposing two solutions to improve commuter flow.
July 12, 2024, Virginia Living

Construction of second entrance to Crystal City Metro station gets underway

Included in the 2o1o Crystal City Sector Plan, the new entrance was one of several infrastructure projects that the county and state agreed to deliver in 2018 in order to secure Amazon’s HQ2.
Daniel Egitto, July 12, 2024, ARLNow

Heat waves cause Amtrak travel delays, slow Metro

Prolonged high temperatures can cause outdoor rail tracks to expand and deform. As a result, Amtrak and Metro trains operate at slower speeds when heat spikes and railways are closely monitored for kinks.
Anna Spiegel, July 12, 2024, Axios

What US transit agencies worry most about right now

Ridership, traffic congestion, finances, safety and transitioning bus fleets to cleaner fuels were top of mind for transit agency leaders in a Keolis survey released today.
Dan Zukowski, July 11, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

Cautious excitement from Bethesda residents as Purple Line trains were unveiled

The project, which initially was projected to be completed in 2022, is not expected to be done until the winter of 2027.
Max Marcilla, July 11, 2024, DC News Now

Fairfax County secures funding to buy new hybrid Connector buses

The new hybrid buses will replace about 20% of the county’s 300 Connector buses, which carry roughly 26,000 riders daily on 93 different routes. Some new routes recently took effect, while others are under consideration.
James Jarvis, July 11, 2024, FFXNow

Metro looks into concerns after implementing auto doors on all lines

On Thursday morning, a rider informed 7News of a troubling incident on the Orange Line in which, upon arriving at a station, the doors quickly opened and closed so no one could get on or off, missing their destination.
Tom Roussey, July 10, 2024, ABC7 News

Study: Transportation upgrades that would provide the best congestion relief in Northern Va.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority will present its ranked recommendations Thursday, for funding nearly $700 million in projects to advance the region’s multimodal transportation network.
Neal Augenstein, July 10, 2024, WTOP

Biden awards $1.7 billion to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly in eight states

The Energy Department will issue grants totaling $1.7 billion to create or retain thousands of union jobs and support auto-based communities that have long driven the U.S. economy, the White House said Thursday.
Matthew Daly, July 11, 2024, DC News Now

WMATA operating auto doors on all Metrorail lines

Auto door mode will allow for faster entries and exits, with doors opening within three to five seconds after the train stops on the station platform. The time saved per stop is up to 10 seconds.
July 9, 2024, Mass Transit Magazine

2024 bike network ratings for Fairfax County

The City Ratings score bike networks on a scale of 0 – 100. A low score (0-20) indicates a weak bike network, meaning the city lacks safe bikeways or there are gaps in the network. 
July 10, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

FTA awards $1.5b in grants to modernize bus fleets

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FTA has awarded nearly $5 billion in the past three years to replace and modernize transit buses on America’s roadways, building new technology with American workers. U.S. factories will produce more than 4,600 of these new buses.
July 9, 2024, Metro Magazine

OmniRide ridership update: Express buses see slight increase, local routes decline in May 2024

Factors contributing to this decline included the impact of a holiday and the completion of the college spring semester. Despite the decrease in weekday ridership, weekend ridership significantly increased, exceeding expectations for both Saturdays and Sundays.
Uriah Kiser, July 9, 2024, Potomac Local News

2024 NATO Summit: Security closures, protests impacting DC area traffic

For Metrorail customers, Federal Triangle station will be closed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 9 and Mt. Vernon Square will be closed between 11 a.m. July 9 to 5 a.m. July 12. Trains will pass through the stations without stopping during these times.
July 10, 2024, ABC7 News

Metro to upgrade bicycle parking, including at some Fairfax County stations

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will install hundreds of new bicycle lockers and racks at 74 different stations, replacing amenities that, in some cases, date back to when the stations were first constructed 30 to 40 years ago.
Angela Woolsey, July 9, 2024, FFXNow

Save the date! Tour de Mount Vernon 2024

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to explore a beautiful Fairfax County community on two wheels. Mark your calendars, rally your friends and family, and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
July 8, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

Amid extreme heat, US infrastructure and transportation systems buckle under pressure

Higher temperatures also put a strain on aging signal infrastructure and electric grids, which are needed to cool trains and stations, according to Radley Horton, a professor at Columbia University's Climate School and a member of the New York City Panel on Climate Change.
Nicole Tan, July 8, 2024, NBC Connecticut

Bloomingdale residents concerned over WMATA's Better Bus Network Redesign

One of those affected routes runs down First Street NW, leaving people who live in the Bloomingdale neighborhood with concerns over what they say is an already heavy traffic area. 
Melissa Kim, July 8, 2024, WUSA9

New Virginia-North Carolina intercity passenger rail line starts construction

Portions of the route will allow train speeds of up to 110 mph, potentially saving more than an hour of travel time between the two cities, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Dan Zukowski, July 8, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

VRE considers Manassas Airport-Alexandria shuttle service

The new shuttle service between Manassas and Alexandria aims to fill the gap in VRE's current schedule, primarily during morning and evening peak hours.
Uriah Kiser, July 8, 2024, Potomac Local News

Central Virginia bus riders reap benefits of zero fare and new services

According to RVA Rapid Transit’s just-released 2024 State of Transit Report, 45% of riders use the bus to get to work, with the majority of riders – 70% – being Black. And in terms of gender breakdown, 49.4% are female riders.
Ian Stewart, July 9, 2024, Streetsblog USA

Bikeshare Beat: June ridership breaks all-time record, again

With June’s staggering system use, CaBi has now recorded 30 consecutive months of year-over-year monthly ridership increases. Members continue to carry the network as 63% of June trips were taken by riders who hold an annual pass. 
Samuel Littauer, July 8, 2024, Greater Greater Washington

This change — years in the making — could shave seconds off your Metro trip for every stop you make

The move comes five years after Metro previously tried to revive automatic door operations and then abruptly suspended the feature after doors started unexpectedly closing.
Jack Moore, July 8, 2024, WTOP

Amtrak agrees to better bicycle access

In response, Amtrak has committed to increasing bike storage on new Airo cars, which will be on routes like the Northeast Regional, serving the DC Metro area. 
July 6, 2024, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

Auto Doors now operating on all Metrorail lines

Customers will notice faster entries and exits with doors opening within 3-5 seconds after the train stops on the station platform. The time saved per stop is up to 10 seconds. 
July 8, 2024, WMATA

Metro reports highest Fourth of July ridership since 2015

Metro said there were 66,000 trips at the Smithsonian Metro Station and also reported the highest ridership day ever at Herndon and Innovation Center.
Makea Luzader, July 5, 2024, DC News Now

Metro rolls out fare charts in Spanish at all stations

The signs feature the fare rates for all Metro stations, advertise adding SmartTrip cards to riders’ mobile wallets and explain who might be eligible for reduced fare rates.
Gabby Allen, July 4, 2024, DC News Now

FTA offers $1.9M in grants for tech that improves riders' public transportation experience

Transit ridership, hit hard by effects from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased flexible work arrangements, remains at about 80% of 2019 levels. 
Dan Zukowski, July 3, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

'Let Freedom Ride': Metro unveils Fourth of July train design

The design features fireworks, with white, blue, and red highlights. Written on the side of the train is “Let Freedom Ride.”
Odyssey Fields, July 3, 2024, DC News Now

Are U.S. cities demanding the equitable micromobility access their residents need?

Bike and scooter share can be a powerful tool to give underserved communities a better alternative to car — but only if those communities can actually use it.
Kea Wilson, July 3, 2024, Streetsblog USA

DOT awards $1.8B in transportation infrastructure grants

Funding under this program, divided equally between urban and rural areas, this year will go to 148 projects across all 50 states and the District of Columbia along with American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Dan Zukowski, July 2, 2024, Smart Cities Dive

How cities can put equality first through sustainable transportation

"One equality that good cities construct is that rich and poor meet as equals in many places — [especially] in public spaces."
July 2, 2024, Streetsblog USA

Washington, D.C. to get $25M grant for trail project

The New York Avenue Bridge and Lincoln Connector Trail Project will see the construction of nearly two miles of multimodal pathways as well as the rehabilitation of the New York Avenue NE Bridge. 
Liz Carey, July 1, 2024, Transportation Today

That person in the next travel lane may be a 'supercommuter'

Many super-commuters use public transit to get where they are going. Those in the super-commuter ranks tend to be higher-income-earners who work in a central city but live in more bucolic surroundings.
July 2, 2024, Gazette Leader

Metro adjusts shuttle bus travel times for riders affected by shutdown of Red Line stations

The “Limited 2” shuttle, which stops at Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Fort Totten stations, will be replaced by two new, “more-efficient express shuttle loops,” Metro said in a news release.
Tadiwos Abedje, July 1, 2024, WTOP