All Commuter News stories gathered from Washington, D.C. area sources over the past two weeks are listed below. Stories can be sorted by topic using the links immediately below. For older stories, see the Commuter News archives.
Changes to SmartBenefits are Coming - Are You Ready?
Metro is making changes to their SmartBenefits program. Actually...the word on the street is that Metro is going to make changes to the already communicated changes regarding their SmartBenefits program. Confused? I don't blame you.
By Wendy Duren, November 5, 2009, CommuterPageBlog
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Metro pledges to fix meltdown of 37-year-old equipment
Metro plans to spend $14 million to replace 37-year-old equipment and install backup systems after a failure on Wednesday knocked out the transit system's communications for much of the day, including its Web site, public address system and customer service complaint line.
by Kytja Weir, November 6, 2009, Examiner
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Catoe comments on SmartBenefit changes
Catoe says he's heard plenty of rider questions about the changes, and "we need to rethink the changes that we are making."
By Robert Thomson, November 7, 2009, Washington Post
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Walk Score adds transit
Walk Score, which has become the most widely-used measure of pedestrian friendly neighborhoods in North America, has added a new trick: they're now incorporating transit data into their walkability ratings.
By Clark Williams-Derry, November 5, 2009, Sightline Daily
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The weekend and beyond
Find the causes and cures for your weekend travel delays, then look ahead to what you could face on your weekday commutes.
By Robert Thomson, November 6, 2009, Washington Post
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SmarTrip® now at more Giant Food stores
Customers shopping at select Giant Food stores also can now purchase and add value to their SmarTrip® cards.
November 6, 2009, WMATA
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VDOT hopes buses will keep drivers out of Tysons
With construction clogging roads in Tysons Corner, transportation officials are bringing in buses to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.
November 6, 2009, WTOP
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Metro to appeal arbitrators' pay decision
Metro will appeal an arbitration award that gives its front-line workers three consecutive 3 percent annual pay raises, part of a package that would cost the transit agency an additional $104.5 million over four years, officials said.
By Lena H. Sun, November 6, 2009, Washington Post
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VRE's ouster of Amtrak is approved
Two Virginia transportation commissions voted Thursday night to approve Virginia Railway Express's plan to end its 17-year relationship with Amtrak and give an international company a start in the U.S. transportation industry.
By Jennifer Buske, November 6, 2009, Washington Post
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Control restored to traffic signals
As Montgomery County commuters suffered through their fourth nightmarish rush hour Thursday, county officials said computer experts finally had isolated the central computer problem that caused the traffic signal system to meltdown.
By Ashley Halsey III, November 6, 2009, Washington Post
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Metro rail and bus service changes this weekend
Track maintenance on the Orange, Blue and Yellow lines this weekend (Nov. 6-8) will cause inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track. Customers should add 30 minutes to their trips. Additionally, 15 Metrobus lines will be detoured as a result of weekend events in the Washington area.
November 5, 2009, WMATA
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Officer hits, kills pedestrian on I-295
Police in Maryland say a Montgomery County police officer hit and killed a pedestrian on Interstate 295 near the state line on Wednesday night.
November 4, 2009, myfoxdc.com
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Automated enforcement wins a convert
Dear Dr. Gridlock: Okay, I've finally given up and chosen to embrace Big Brother. Why? Simply because the wild, wild west has taken over most people's driving habits in the District and the suburbs.
By Robert Thomson, November 5, 2009, Washington Post
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Spotsy station down the line
Spotsylvania County residents can expect a Virginia Railway Express station by February 2012, according to the agreement governing the county's membership with the commuter rail service.
By Dan Telvock, November 5, 2009, fredericksburg.com
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Metro power unit failure cripples communications
Metro needs to come up with $14 million to replace two aging power units, one of which failed Wednesday, causing a massive shutdown of vital customer-related communications, including the subway's public address system and two-way radio communications with bus drivers.
By Lena H. Sun, November 5, 2009, Washington Post
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Humming along with technology, until it's not
A computer meltdown disrupted the choreography of 750 traffic lights, turning the morning and evening commutes into endless seas of red brake lights, causing thousands of drivers to arrive at work grumpy and late, and getting them home more frustrated and even later.
By Ashley Halsey III, November 5, 2009, Washington Post
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VRE rejects Amtrak contract challenge
Virginia Railway Express officials have denied Amtrak's challenge to a plan to have an international company operate the commuter rail service's trains.
By Jennifer Buske, November 5, 2009, Washington Post
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Loudoun plans bus service to Tysons during Metro construction
Loudoun County plans to launch a temporary bus service to employment centers in Tysons Corner next fall in an effort to ease traffic there during the most disruptive period of Metrorail construction.
By Kafia A. Hosh, November 4, 2009, Washington Post
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Board votes to raise rates on Dulles Toll Road
The additional revenue is being used to help finance the $5.2 billion Silver Line Metro extension to Dulles International Airport.
By Adam Tuss, November 4, 2009, wtop.com
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Montgomery Co.'s traffic computer system fails
Montgomery County is working frantically to "troubleshoot" a major computer failure that caused traffic headaches throughout the county Wednesday morning.
By Neal Augenstein, November 4, 2009, WTOP
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New bus services in Tysons are very timely
In Tysons, where more than 100,000 people report to work each weekday, the planners have to help most of them go through the construction. And the work -- the HOT lanes, the Metrorail extension, the private reconstruction -- is going to take years.
By Robert Thomson, November 4, 2009, Washington Post
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Chris Eatough joins BikeArlington
Endurance mountain biker Chris Eatough won six 24-hour solo world titles and five US 24-hour national championships during his career.
November 4, 2009, WashCycle
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Route 7 will undergo many changes as Metro work continues
Construction activities along Route 7 in Tysons Corner will intensify in coming weeks, and the work won't let up until the new Metrorail stations are complete.
November 3, 2009, FairfaxTimes.com
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VRE backers win in Spotsy
The two pro-Virginia Railway Express incumbents won re-election to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors last night, ensuring the county's membership to the commuter rail service.
By Dan Telvock, November 4, 2009, fredericksburg.com
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Metro trying to teach disabled to take trains, buses
Metro is seeking to teach some people with disabilities to use trains and buses instead of its MetroAccess service as a way to reduce the costly and growing shared-ride system.
By Kytja Weir, November 4, 2009, Examiner
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Policy panel established to guide Columbia Pike streetcar
Funding, or more specifically the lack of it, continues to be the main hold-up, but the Arlington and Fairfax governments are moving forward in planning for a streetcar along the Columbia Pike corridor.
By Scott McCaffrey, November 4, 2009, Sun Gazette
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Montgomery, state officials to discuss transportation spending plan
Maryland Department of Transportation officials will join Montgomery County officials next week to discuss a six-year plan for capital spending on transportation that will be presented to the legislature in January.
By Ashley Halsey III, November 3, 2009, Washington Post
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Metro wants to hear from Montgomery commuters
Metro is hosting a public forum Tuesday in Montgomery County to hear from riders about next year's budget.
By Lena H. Sun, November 3, 2009, Washington Post
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Metro: Glitch disrupts bus and rail operations
An internal power distribution unit failed at Metro Wednesday morning, disrupting bus and rail operations.
November 4, 2009, WTOP
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Number of HOV violators staggering
How many drivers are breaking the rules and riding solo in the HOV lanes in the area? A recent high-visibility enforcement effort from the Virginia State Police is providing a snapshot.
By Adam Tuss, November 3, 2009, WTOP
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Speed cameras coming to Prince George's
Beginning in January, the county will begin placing cameras in 50 school zones over the following 18 months, and after a 30-day grace period, drivers will be mailed a $40 fine if caught by the devices, officials said. The tickets will not add points to a driver's license.
By Jonathan Mummolo, November 3, 2009,
Washington Post
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Last 3 open houses on DC transit recommendations this week
District residents still have three (3) opportunities to attend an open house to discuss the city's transit future, including streetcars.
November 2, 2009, DDOT
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Metro seeks customer input on Metrobus routes X1, X2 and X3
The Benning Road/H Street Line, which includes Metrobus routes X1, X2 and X3, has the fourth highest ridership of any line in the Metrobus system with an average of 13,600 passengers per weekday.
November 2, 2009, WMATA
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High expectations, slow start for College Park garage
Like many in the region, College Park's leaders have been hoping to build up a high-density downtown to avoid, or recover from, the slumping economy that has hit low-density communities so hard.
By Bill Myers, November 3, 2009, Examiner
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Metro scrounges up $36 million to fill gap
Metro officials say they can patch together as much as $36 million in stimulus funds, inaugural reimbursements and insurance money to plug a growing budget gap for this fiscal year.
By Lena H. Sun, November 3, 2009, Washington Post
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Metro riders should expect delays on weeknights
Metro says subway riders should expect delays of up to a half hour on weeknights after 9:30 p.m. this month as the transit agency makes repairs on most lines.
November 3, 2009, WTOP
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Md. extends warning period for speeders
It will be at least two more weeks before speeders face fines in highway work zones in Maryland.
November 3, 2009, WTOP
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Metro's November weeknight track maintenance schedule set
During November, Metro will replace fasteners, make tunnel repairs and make repairs to concrete slabs underneath the rails.
November 2, 2009, WMATA
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Study calls Md. smart growth a flop
That's the conclusion of the study by University of Maryland scholars who lead the institute the former governor founded to promote the policy.
By Lisa Rein, November 2, 2009, Washington Post
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ICC was always intended to exclude most people
The toll road vs. freeway issue was decided during the Ehrlich administration with the acquiescence of the General Assembly. Neither wanted to put their necks on the line to raise gas taxes, which haven't gone up since the early 1990s, to build the road as a freeway.
By Michael Dresser, November 2, 2009, Baltimore Sun
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Proposed extension of Potomac Heritage Trail has residents at odds
Fort Washington residents critiqued proposed changes to the Prince George's County master transportation plan Monday, with much of the debate focused on a trail for hikers and bikers that would run from the National Harbor development in Oxon Hill to Fort Foote National Park in Fort Washington.
By Joshua Garner, October 29, 2009, Gazette.Net
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Amtrak objects to VRE decision
Amtrak is challenging a Virginia Railway Express Operations Board recommendation to award a train maintenance and operations contract to Keolis Rail Services America.
By Kelly Hannon, October 31, 2009, Free Lance-Star
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D.C.'s making tracks now
The District is developing a new transit network based on a mode of transportation that disappeared from Washington half a century ago. So the city government decided it needed to get people reacquainted with the concept.
By Robert Thomson, November 1, 2009, Washington Post
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Inching along on I-95 gives us plenty of time to pin the blame
Dear Dr. Gridlock: There are no words to describe the traffic situation on Interstate 95 from Springfield south.
By Dr. Gridlock, November 1, 2009, Washington Post
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Alexandria opposes toll lanes on I-95
The Alexandria City Council is opposing a high-occupancy toll lane project on Interstate 95/395, following resistance from residents who arefightingthe project.
By David Sherfinski, October 29, 2009, Examiner
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The weekend and beyond
Happy Halloween. Here are some suggestions for a safe weekend and some advisories about what to expect afterward on the roads and rails.
By Robert Thomson, October 30, 2009, Washington Post
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Zombies look out for pedestrian safety
It may look funny to see people with their arms outstretched lumbering across K Street. It's part of a new Streetsmart campaign by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
By Beth Parker, October 29, 2009, myfoxdc.com
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Playing 'Beat the Clock' in HOV lanes isn't wise
Solo drivers or drivers with one passenger must exit the HOV lanes by 3:30. Morris noted that this message is displayed on the overhead signs to remind motorists: "HOV VIOLATORS WILL BE TICKETED AT 3:30 PM."
By Robert Thomson, October 29, 2009, Washington Post
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D.C. parking meter complaints soar past 140,000
The nearly 142,000 meter-related calls walloped the previous year's record total of 116,354. The average for 2009: a staggering 389 grievances every day. No other area of DDOT responsibility, from street repair to traffic signals and trees, topped 10,000 complaints.
By Michael Neibauer, October 29, 2009, Examiner
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Tysons will need $15 billion -- 'with a B'
Remaking Tysons Corner into the second city of Washington will take a lot more than a new Metro line and a downtown of tightly clustered buildings designed for walking. It will take almost $15 billion in new roads and public transportation.
By Lisa Rein, October 30, 2009, Washington Post
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The plight of pedestrians in parking lots
As Montgomery County looked over its accident stats, County Executive Isiah Leggett said this morning, it discovered that more than a fifth of pedestrian accidents are happening in parking lots.
By Robert Thomson, October 29, 2009, Washington Post
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Ambitious plan to bring streetcars back to D.C.
The D.C. Department of Transportation is traveling around the city, showing off an ambitious plan for 37 miles of modern streetcars with eight lines.
By Adam Tuss, October 29, 2009, WTOP
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Corridor Cities Transitway route through Shady Grove considered
The upcounty's long-awaited mass transit line will be far more likely to win federal funding if it is shifted more than a mile through the county's largest hub of biotech, state transportation officials say.
By Sebastian Montes, October 28, 2009, Gazette.Net
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Prince William developers say walkable communities are key to growth
Walkable town center communities are the way to bring growth to Prince William County, entrepreneurs and developers say, but there needs to be less bureaucratic oversight if they are going to be a success.
By Jennifer Buske, October 29, 2009, Washington Post
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Toll haters stewing in silence?
About a dozen people speak at hearing on proposed rates for Intercounty Connector
By Katherine Shaver, October 29, 2009, Washington Post
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Children explore new trail on new bikes
More than 30 children gathered Friday afternoon at Beacon House to receive a new bicycle from the Rail-to-Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit group dedicated to creating public trails, and their enthusiasm could hardly be contained.
By Timothy Wilson, October 29, 2009, Washington Post
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DC's Ben W. Murch Elementary receives Safe Routes to School award
U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, presented the award to Principal Dawn Ellis and the school's 17-member student Safety Patrol at a celebration this morning.
October 29, 2009, WashCycle
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Most drivers go solo
The vast majority of drivers who flood D.C. area roadways every day are going it alone.
By Adam Tuss, October 29, 2009, WTOP
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Arlington police win national traffic-safety award
The Arlington County Police Department has been awarded first place in a national traffic-safety competition, taking top honors among agencies of between 200 and 500 sworn officers.
October 26, 2009, Sun Gazette
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SmarTrip changes coming in January
Starting Jan. 1, Metro will make major changes in its popular SmartBenefits program that are designed to make transit more convenient, but information released so far has been confusing to employers and riders, who fear losing benefits.
By Lena H. Sun, October 28, 2009, Washington Post
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Major SmartBenefits changes to begin January 1, 2010
Beginning January 1, 2010, Metro's SmartBenefits? program will change and enable employers to comply with a new federal mandate that requires transit benefits to be disbursed and monitored separately from other value stored in their employees' SmarTrip? cards.
October 27, 2009, WMATA
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These SmartBenefit changes are baffling
Today, Metro sent out more information about the changes, which take effect Jan. 1. The transit authority says the changes are necessary to help employers comply with new IRS rules requiring that transit benefits be disbursed and monitored separately from other value stored in their employees' SmarTrip cards.
By Robert Thomson, October 27, 2009, Washington Post
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Census survey: It's a long, lonely commute
The Census Bureau's 2006-2008 American Community Survey shows that despite more than a decade of efforts to get commuters in the Washington region to carpool, take transit or live close enough to walk to work, most people continue to drive, drive alone and drive a long way to work.
By Robert Thomson, October 27, 2009, Washington Post
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Probe to check feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit system
Montgomery County is seeking proposals for a Bus Rapid Transit system that its chief proponent says would overhaul the current Ride On bus system and cut down on traffic and carbon dioxide emissions.
By Erin Cunningham, October 26, 2009, Gazette.Net
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Real horror of Halloween: Pedestrian deaths
Children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while walking on Halloween than any other night of the year, according to Safe Kids USA.
By Liz Szabo, October 26, 2009, USA Today
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Program to offer cash incentives for carpooling to work
Commuters who drive on some of the D.C. region's most congested highways will be eligible to earn $2 a day by carpooling to work, under a pilot program launched Monday.
By Lisa Rein, October 26, 2009, Washington Post
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Security checks set Friday at commuter train stations
The Maryland Transit Administration Police will launch a program of random security checks at MARC commuter train stations Friday, using bomb-sniffing dogs to screen passengers' luggage and packages to detect explosives.
By Michael Dresser, October 27, 2009, Baltimore Sun
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People living near ICC ask for toll discount
"I think it is a very reasonable idea that ought to be considered," Rosapepe tells WTOP. "I think everyone is concerned about the cost of the tolls on the road."
By Adam Tuss, October 26, 2009, WTOP
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Stafford school officials look at walking students
Some Stafford County students who currently walk to school instead of riding the bus may have safer routes next school year, school officials say.
By Jeff Branscome, October 26, 2009, Free Lance-Star
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Fairfax County Parkway extension project hits 'mega' status
Before the parkway extension improves access to the west of Interstate 95 from Newington, the project's construction phase will put drivers through some new maneuvers.
By Robert Thomson, October 25, 2009, Washington Post
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Pr. George's looks to rely more on transit, HOV
In the county's 171-page transportation master plan, planners are calling for the extension of Metrorail's Purple and Green lines and consideration of high-occupancy lanes on planned roadways to ease traffic and get commuters out of their cars.
By Ovetta Wiggins, October 26, 2009, Washington Post
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Others leave U.S. in the dust on high-speed rail
Riding the MARC Camden Line to a conference on high-speed rail is a bit like taking a horse and buggy to an auto show.
By Michael Dresser, October 26, 2009, Baltimore Sun
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'Science city' could help rail efforts
The Maryland Transit Administration says a proposed "science city" near Gaithersburg could draw more commuters, and help the state secure federal dollars for light rail.
October 25, 2009, myfoxdc.com
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Alexandria residents continue attack on toll lanes
Alexandria residents who have assailed the proposed high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 95 and 395 have persuaded the City Council to formally denounce the project.
By David Sherfinski, October 25, 2009, Examiner
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Wrong person could be hearing you use Metro train's call boxes
There is no discreet way to talk with the train operator in an emergency.
By Robert Thomson, October 25, 2009, Washington Post
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Radical alternative makes toll lanes look like a bargain
Tolls on new roads. Higher tolls on existing roads. Tolls on new lanes. Higher tolls in rush hour.
By Robert McCartney, October 25, 2009, Washington Post
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Marine Corps Marathon
Plenty of streets and roadways will be blocked from 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for Sunday's race.
October 25, 2009, Washington Post
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Car-Free Diet: Shed Traffic, Fatten Wallet
County officials spread the word last week to about 150 business people and residents at its Car-Free Diet Expo, aimed at publicizing the county's Car-Free Diet initiative, a marketing campaign as well as a quality-of-life program.
By Mark Berman, February 7, 2008, Washington Post
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Arlington Promotes Mass Transit
The government in Arlington County, Virginia wants residents and visitors to go green and lose weight at the same time -- by giving up their cars.
Rosiland Jordan reports, WAMU
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Metro ready for Skins vs. Eagles
Metro officials say they are ready to handle the crowds attending the Monday Night match-up between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles
By Susan Phillips, October 26, 2009, WUSA9.com
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