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Commuter Stores, Call Centers closed January 20

All Arlington Commuter Store and Mobile Commuter Store locations, the CommuterDirect.com Customer Service Call Center, and the ART - Arlington Transit Call Center will be closed January 20 for Inauguration Day. Affiliate Commuter Stores will be open. CommuterDirect.com orders placed after 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 19 will be processed and mailed Thursday, January 21. ART 41, 42, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules. All other ART routes will not operate.
January 12, 2021, Commuter Store

Commuter Stores, Call Centers closed January 18

The Commuter Store Arlington locations, Mobile Commuter Store Arlington and D.C. locations, CommuterDirect.com Customer Service Call Center, and ART - Arlington Transit Call Center will be closed Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Odenton and Takoma Langley Crossroads stores will be open. CommuterDirect.com orders placed after 2 p.m. Friday, January 15 will be processed and mailed on Tuesday, January 19. ART 41, 42, 45, 51, 55, 77 and 87 will operate on Saturday schedules. All other ART routes will not operate.
January 12, 2021, Commuter Store

DC Streetcar, DC Circulator, and Capital Bikeshare service modifications

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will modify service in preparation for the 59th Presidential Inauguration on the following transit systems.
January 15, 2021, DDOT

How to get around -- and avoid -- downtown Washington during the inauguration. It won't be easy.

For those who want to witness the moment Joseph R. Biden Jr. is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, your best bet is to watch from home.
Luz Lazo, January 15, 2021, Washington Post

MLK weekend Metro schedule: Here's what to expect

Here's what to expect if you're taking the Metro this holiday weekend.
Alessia Grunberger, January 15, 2021, Vienna Patch

D.C. to begin long-awaited revamp of Rock Creek Park bike paths

If you’ve ever been for bike ride on the multi-use path that runs along Rock Creek, you know much of it is narrow, winding, bumpy, and crowded. Some of the trail is in such bad repair it’s nonexistent -- eroded into the creek and long closed to park users.
Jacob Fenston, January 15, 2021, dcist

VRE service adjustments

Due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and enhanced security measures related to the Presidential Inauguration, VRE trains will not operate Monday through Wednesday next week.
January 15, 2021, VRE

Biden: $20B for 'hardest hit' public transit agencies

President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan on Jan. 14 that includes a $20 billion investment to “protect the future of transit.”
Marybeth Luczak, January 15, 2021, Railway Age

Drivers are still top polluters, even during quarentine

Not even months of quarantine orders that confined millions of Americans to their homes were enough to unseat transportation as the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States — and cars are the biggest polluters in the sector, a new study finds.
Kea Wilson, January 14, 2021, Streetsblog USA

Fredericksburg train station improvement plan advances

The Fredericksburg train station is inching closer to proposed upgrades.
Mike Morones, January 14, 2021, Free Lance-Star

Inauguration Day closures expected to include the Mall, major bridges

All or most of the Mall is expected to close to the general public for Inauguration Day, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues.
Emily Davies, Justin Jouvenal, January 14, 2021, Washington Post

Metro is planning normal service this year, but hoping for a cash infusion in 2022

With the most recent federal stimulus coming to Metro’s rescue, the transit agency is proposing to leave service levels stable for a year until the money runs out.
Justin George, January 14, 2021, Washington Post

Montgomery County conducting transportation survey for visually impaired

Officials in Montgomery County are conducting a survey on how they can best help the visually impaired safely navigate their communities.
Alessia Grunberger, January 14, 2021, Takoma Park Patch

Metro committee agrees to send new budget for public comment

A Metro committee has agreed to send the 2022 budget for public comment. It avoids major cuts, but members said that’s temporary if more help doesn’t come soon.
Valerie Bonk, January 14, 2021, WTOP

Weekend Road and Rail: Inauguration closures, roadwork planned for I-66 & I-495

Starting Friday, and lasting through Thursday, Jan. 21, Metro will close 13 stations inside a security perimeter that has been established for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, with 11 stations closing Friday and another two stations closing Saturday.
Mary DePompa, January 15, 2021, WTOP

Metro GM Wiedefeld says 'don't travel' as inauguration shuts down major Metro transfer stations

Metro Center, Gallery Place and Union Station -- some of the busiest transfer stations in the Metro system -- are closing starting tomorrow through Thursday due to inauguration.
Jordan Pascale, January 14, 2021, dcist

Biden's new relief plan may help Metro avoid cuts next year

A new $1.9 trillion stimulus plan out from the Biden administration tonight is pitching $20 billion to “the hardest hit public transit agencies” so they can avoid cutting routes and laying off workers.
Jordan Pascale, January 14, 2021, dcist

New data: Most D.C. voters support protected bike lanes

This past December, WABA partnered with Data for Progress on a citywide poll on biking issues.
January 14, 2021, WABA

Washington area employers expect majority of workers back in offices by fall

Employers across the Washington area anticipate only 29% of their workforce to return physically to the workplace this winter but that the majority of their employees will return in-person by the fall, according to survey results released Thursday.
James Jarvis, January 14, 2021, Inside NoVa

Greenbelt police officer dies after being hit by vehicle while on duty

A Maryland police officer died Thursday of injuries she received when she was hit by a vehicle while on duty earlier this month, officials say.
January 14, 2021, NBC Washington

D.C.'s 'inauguration perimeter' will make it hard for many to get around Nation's Capitol

D.C. officials are working to get the word out about street closures ahead of Inauguration Day 2021 on Jan. 20 and giving the public an idea of what to expect in the next week.
Nick Boykin, January 13, 2021, WUSA9

DDOT Director Jeff Marootian tapped for Biden's climate team

Jeff Marootian, the director of D.C.’s Department of Transportation, just got a job in the Biden administration: He’ll serve as the Special Assistant to the President for Climate and Science Agency Personnel.
Jenny Gathright, Jordan Pascale, January 14, 2021, dcist

Your Metrorail trips in 2021 might get quicker – five seconds at a time

The agency has a new plan to make its train doors open automatically at stations again, beginning on the Red Line in January, and coming to the rest of the system later in the year.
Stephen Repetski, January 14, 2021, GGWash

Three Md. teams submit proposals for American Legion Bridge, I-270 relief plan

The Maryland Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it had received three final proposals from private sector teams to complete Phase 1 of the Public-Private Partnership program for the American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-70 Relief Plan.
Liz Carey, January 14, 2021, Transportation Today

Metro announces Inauguration service plans, station closures

Metro will close 13 stations inside the security perimeter, with 11 stations closing on Friday and two additional stations on Saturday and continuing through the end of service on Thursday. During this time trains will pass through the closed stations without stopping.
January 13, 2021, WMATA

MARC Train - Washington Metrorail service modifications

Washington Metrorail has notified MARC Train that the Union Station Metro station and other downtown Metrorail stations will be closed beginning Friday, January 15 at 5:00am.
January 14, 2021, MDOT MTA

Fairfax Connector alters service for inauguration road closures

With only a week left until President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, Fairfax Connector announced that two bus routes will stop operating today (Wednesday) through Jan. 20 due to planned road closures in Washington, D.C.
Angela Woolsey, January 13, 2021, Tysons Reporter

With pedestrian fatalities still high, Fairfax County mulls ways to reduce accidents

With 38 pedestrian fatalities, 2019 was the deadliest year in the last decade to walk in Northern Virginia, according to Virginia DMV data.
Jo DeVoe, January 13, 2021, Reston Now

Civic associations recommend taking Rt. 1 underground

While VDOT considers lowering a section of Route 1 to a surface boulevard, a group of civic associations, known as Livability 22202, recommends going below ground instead.
Jo DeVoe, January 13, 2021, ARLnow

Biden forgoing Amtrak trip to Washington over security fears

President-elect Joe Biden will no longer be taking an Amtrak train to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns, a person briefed on the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Alexandra Jaffe, Zeke Miller, January 13, 2021, NBC Washington

Metro isn't making commemorative SmarTrip cards for Biden inauguration

As the pandemic and last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol continue to complicate Inauguration Day plans, another tradition is canceled: A Metro spokesperson says the agency isn’t creating a commemorative SmarTrip card this year for the Biden inauguration as it has for presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
Jordan Pascale, January 13, 2021, dcist

Metro to close 13 stations for a week amid threats of inauguration violence

Metro will shut down more than a dozen stations near the U.S. Capitol and Mall for days around the presidential inauguration because of the possibility of violent protests.
Justin George, January 13, 2021, Washington Post

NTSB: Electric vehicle battery fires a threat to first responders

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Wednesday said that electric vehicle fires pose a threat to first responders and that vehicle manufacturers have distributed inadequate guidance to mitigate safety risks.
Celine Castronuovo, January 13, 2021, The Hill

D.C., along with three states, signs the Transportation Climate Initiative, but controversy remains

On December 21, the District of Columbia was among the first to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to the Transportation Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P).
Ethan Goffman, January 13, 2021, GGWash

USDOT releases automated vehicles comprehensive plan

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Monday that it had released its “Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan” (AVCP), which lays out the department’s multimodal strategy towards integrating safe Automated Driving Systems (ADS).
Liz Carey, January 13, 2021, Transportation Today

Widespread street closures in effect as D.C. preps for inauguration

Federal authorities are busy locking down a large swath of D.C. six days earlier than originally planned after last week’s riots and ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Alejandro Alvarez, Mark Lewis, January 12, 2021, WTOP

Road closures, parking restrictions as D.C. clamps down before inauguration

Washington, D.C., is locking down near the U.S. Capitol, White House and National Mall, bracing for the possibility of further unrest before and on Inauguration Day.
Sophia Barnes, January 13, 2021, NBC Washington

Van Buren St. improvements project delayed

The Town of Herndon’s plans for major upgrades to an 0.5-mile stretch from Old Spring Street to Herndon Parkway along Van Buren Street have been delayed. The project, which would add curb-and-gutter, widen travel lanes to 11 feet, and add bike lanes in each direction, was originally set to be complete by the winter of this year.
Fatimah Waseem, January 12, 2021, Reston Now

Lawmakers unveil an ambitious climate action plan for Maryland

Maryland would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% and plant 5 million trees by 2030, under a revamped, ambitious climate change bill that lawmakers plan to introduce in this year’s General Assembly session.
Elizabeth Shwe, January 13, 2021, WTOP

Man dead after van strikes tractor-trailer on US 50 shoulder

A man is dead after driving off the eastbound lanes of U.S. Route 50 in Lanham, Maryland, and striking a tractor-trailer on the shoulder late Tuesday.
Alejandro Alvarez, January 13, 2021, WTOP

American Legion Bridge transit options proposed at Md., Va. virtual hearing

Transportation leaders from Maryland and Virginia took part in an online public hearing to go over studies that suggest ways to expand bus service with the addition of a new American Legion Bridge along Interstate 495.
Ken Duffy, January 13, 2021, WTOP

Inauguration Day is a week away. The traffic challenges have begun.

Some restrictions went into effect Tuesday morning.
Luz Lazo, January 12, 2021, Washington Post

CDC to require negative COVID-19 tests from international passengers boarding US flights

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines that require all international passengers boarding U.S. flights to get a negative COVID-19 test before flying.
Lexi Lonas, January 12, 2021, The Hill

41 DUI arrests made in seventh round of 2020-21 alchohol crackdown

The Alcohol Holiday Task Force arrested 41 people for driving under the influence during a four-day period in Montgomery County.
Alessia Grunberger, January 12, 2021, Takoma Park Patch

Sound off on proposed Ride On changes to Route 36

Montgomery County commuters can sound off on the proposed bus service changes on Jan. 28.
Alessia Grunberger, January 12, 2021, Takoma Park Patch

Electric school bus arrives in Fairfax County today

Fairfax County Public Schools is getting its first electric school bus today as part of a statewide initiative led by Dominion Energy.
Angela Woolsey, January 12, 2021, Reston Now

Inauguration perimeter to restrict access to downtown D.C.

Authorities are preparing to restrict access to parts of downtown Washington, D.C., more than a week before Inauguration Day amid warnings that demonstrators and armed groups may plan to disrupt ceremonies or commit more violence.
January 12, 2021, NBC Washington

Metro's revised budget avoids major cuts, adds bus service thanks to federal aid

Metro will avoid many of the doomsday cuts and layoffs officials previously said would be needed to stem the financial impacts of COVID-19 -- at least for now.
Jordan Pascale, January 11, 2021, dcist

Sign up now for Safe Routes to School workshop

Plan now to participate in a great event on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 hosted by the Safe Routes Partnership and led by PLACE IT!.
January 12, 2021, FABB

Metro to lower its annual subsidy request from Washington-area jurisdictions

Newly cash-infused Metro has gone from an agency on the financial brink to cutting its funding partners a break, proposing to lower the amount of money it requests from jurisdictions for annual operating expenses.
Justin George, January 11, 2021, Washington Post

Metro GM still proposes cuts to rail and bus service despite funds from COVID relief bill

Despite expecting to receive $610 million in COVID relief funding from a bill signed last month by the president, Metro's general manager is still proposing large cuts to the transit system. They would take effect in January 2022, six months later than he had previously proposed.
Tom Roussey, January 11, 2021, WJLA

Southeast Freeway, 3rd Street Tunnel to be renumbered

The District Department of Transportation is taking big steps in an effort to improve safety on one of D.C.’s busiest and most vexing roads: the Southeast-Southwest Freeway.
Dave Dildine, January 11, 2021, WTOP

Arlington ranks among top cities for working from home

The list, compiled by the website SmartAsset, takes into account factors like “estimated percentage of the workforce who can work from home,” “percentage of the workforce who worked from home in 2019,” and “housing costs as a percentage of earnings.”
January 11, 2021, ARLnow

Washington Monument, other sites temporarily close due to 'credible threats' following Capitol riots

The groups responsible for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 are continuing to threaten the District and the set-up prior to Inauguration Day, NPS says.
Jonathan Franklin, Khalida Volou, January 11, 2021, WUSA9

New Virginia bill could affect future toll hikes on Dulles Greenway

The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that would make the Dulles Greenway’s operators prove that future toll rates are reasonable, and won’t discourage use of a 14-mile roadway linking Leesburg and Dulles International Airport.
Neal Augenstein, January 11, 2021, WTOP

Senate considering $10B for highway removal

Cities might soon get federal money to tear down inner-city highways that federal dollars built in the first place -- and use that money to reinvest in communities of color that those highways destroyed.
Kea Wilson, January 11, 2021, Streetsblog USA

How office development rules limit walkability in Tysons

When Fairfax County policymakers adopted a plan for redevelopment in Tysons in 2010, improving walkability was a key objective.
Emily Hamilton, January 11, 2021, GGWash

Video shows DC police taking over a Metrobus last week during the Capitol riot

In case we needed another reminder of how much Wednesday’s pro-Trump riot at the Capitol has affected locals, a video captured on January 6 shows Metropolitan Police seemingly using a Metrobus to travel toward the Capitol.
Libby Solomon, January 11, 2021, GGWash

Loudoun delegation unites behind new Greenway bill in upcoming session

Armed with a new bill, Virginia state lawmakers and local leaders are proposing new measures to strengthen the powers and duties of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) and to address concerns about rising toll rates on the 14-mile Dulles Greenway.
Nathaniel Cline, January 10, 2021, Loudoun Times

H street businesses prepare letter to DDOT demanding safety improvements

H street businesses are prepping a letter for the District Department of Transportation demanding safer streets.
Tobias Rodriguez, January 9, 2021, WJLA

Memorial bike ride calls for changes to Montgomery County intersection

A memorial rally was held in Maryland on Sunday for a local leader who was killed after being struck by a car.
Valerie Bonk, January 10, 2021, WTOP

Safety advocates offer mixed reviews for road rules throughout DC region

Virginia, Maryland and D.C. all lack recommended safety measures, and road safety advocates say its affecting new drivers and young passengers.
Kristi King, January 11, 2021, WTOP

Speak up on American Legion Bridge Transit Study

Northern Virginia (and Maryland) bicyclists should take advantage of a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) virtual public meeting this week to insist that bike commuter needs be included in the development of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans for the American Legion Bridge.
January 10, 2021, FABB

Arlington's voting authority on WMATA board now a fading memory

Nearly a decade after Arlington lost its (almost guaranteed) voting seat on the board of the Metro system, the county is no closer to getting it back.
Scott McCaffrey, January 10, 2021, Inside NoVa

Three private teams bid to build, finance toll lanes on Maryland Beltway, I-270

Three teams of companies submitted proposals Friday to develop a plan to add toll lanes to parts of Interstate 270 and Maryland’s portion of the Capital Beltway, state transportation officials said.
Katherine Shaver, January 8, 2021, Washington Post

GAO recommends FAA create centralized system for tracking helicopter noise

Efforts to address concerns about helicopter noise in the D.C. region have been hampered by a lack of communication between operators, community members and the federal agency tasked with monitoring aircraft noise complaints, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office.
Lori Aratani, January 8, 2021, Washington Post

Process to find new Purple Line design-build contractor begins

The process of looking for a new design-build contractor for the Purple Line project has begun, as state officials look to get construction back up to full speed.
Briana Adhikusuma, January 8, 2021, Bethesda Magazine

Metro service cuts, layoffs spared by COVID-19 relief funds

Federal COVID-19 relief funding is expected to stave off Metro’s service cuts and layoffs through the end of its current fiscal year.
Matthew Delaney, January 8, 2021, WTOP

Northam: Bus drivers among esssential workers next in line for COVID-19 vaccine

Phase 1B, the next group to be prioritized for innoculations, will focus on essential workers, people who are at high risk of being exposed to the novel coronavirus, and people who are unable to do their jobs remotely, Northam said.
Angela Woolsey, January 7, 2021, Reston Now

Public transit 'completely impossible' for some trips around the DC region

When you think of transit, you probably think of the daily commute. But the coronavirus pandemic may change the way it looks in the future.
Michelle Murillo, January 8, 2021, WTOP

DDOT launches project to improve safety in high crash area of I-395

Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a six-month pilot project to improve safety on northbound I-395 between Exit 4 (9th Street SW) and Exit 6 (3rd Street Tunnel/C Street).
January 7, 2021, DDOT

A new version of VRE Mobile will be released on January 12th

To support the transition to our new version of VRE Mobile, please note you will not be able to complete a purchase in VRE Mobile between Thursday, January 7th at 8pm and Monday, January 11th.
January 7, 2021, VRE

Study: E-taxis increase private car ownership in many cities

“Ride-hailing” apps that claim they can help end private car ownership are actually increasing it in many U.S. cities, a new study finds.
Kea Wilson, January 8, 2021, Streetsblog USA

DOJ charges Boeing with criminal conspiracy, fines it $2.5B

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that it filed a criminal charge against Boeing over allegations that it hid information from investigators probing the high-profile crashes of the company’s 737 Max aircraft.
Tal Axlerod, January 7, 2021, The Hill

Transportation Secretary Chao resigns in protest

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will resign in protest after a violent mob overran the Capitol after being incited by President Trump, a source with knowledge of her decision said Thursday.
Reid Wilson, January 7, 2021, The Hill

Passenger rail outlook: Building back

Amid uncertainty, there is cautious optimism for passenger rail in 2021. That was the general consensus of industry experts Railway Age interviewed in December.
Marybeth Luczak, January 7, 2021, Railway Age

Airlines boosting security as protesters leave D.C. after riots

Airlines are beefing up safety precautions to prepare for protesters flying home from the Washington, D.C., area following chaos and rioting Wednesday on Capitol Hill.
Alex Gangitano, January 7, 2021, The Hill

Washington, D.C. touts protected bike lane initiative

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser recently joined District Department of Transportation (DDOT) personnel in celebrating the completion of 4.15 miles of protected bike lanes in 2020.
Douglas Clark, January 7, 2021, Transportation Today

Maryland director on controversial Beltway, I-270 widening plan retires

Maryland’s director on a controversial state plan to widen the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270 retired Dec. 31, in the middle of one of the largest procurements in state history.
Katherine Shaver, January 7, 2021, Washington Post

Arlington Transit suspends service with County under curfew

Arlington's bus system joined Metro in closing early for public safety reasons after Wednesday's breach at the U.S. Capitol.
Emily Leayman, January 6, 2021, Arlington Patch