Skip to Main Content

News

To receive a daily email with new blog posts, news items, and upcoming events, or to include CommuterPage.com News in your RSS feed, see the Subscribe page.

Latest News

Anne Arundel County seeks to expand transportation mitigation
The multimodal approach to APF would require new development and some tenant improvement /redevelopment projects to build or improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to meet minimum “stress comfort levels.” Transit systems would also have to meet access and service frequency requirements.
October 17, 2025, City Biz
Transportation Metro DC leaders drop express lanes planned for Woodrow Wilson Bridge, for now
Wednesday’s vote by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board pulls the project for now, but directs the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to improve its studies and report back next year on the status and outcomes of its work with all relevant jurisdictions.
Nathaniel Cline, October 17, 2025, Maryland Matters
How Southwest DC helped residents and visitors get around the neighborhood
The innovation district selected Circuit, a provider of electric shuttle services, for a pilot program. A fixed-route service and an on-demand service began in October 2022.
Dan Zukowski, October 16, 2025, Smart Cities Dive
NoMa-Gallaudet Metro Station closed for weekend maintenance
Free shuttle buses will replace the trains between Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) said.
Jessica James, October 17, 2025, ABC7 News
Can a video game help solve public transit in Baltimore?
“Subway Builder,” a new simulation game, allows amateur transit planners to remake the rail system in Baltimore and 25 other U.S. cities. Players start with a budget — or can play in a budget-free sandbox mode — to build Metro lines and attract commuters across the city. 
Daniel Zawodny/Greg Morton, October 9, 2025, Baltimore Banner
Budget cuts kill DC Streetcar a year ahead of schedule
Ridership on the streetcar never gained strength, in part because the line lacks a dedicated, blocked-off track and plans to extend it to more areas never materialized. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in May that the streetcar will be replaced by an electric bus using the same overhead wires in late 2028 or 2029.
Diana Ionescu, October 15, 2025, Planetizen
Improving transit accessibility by offering assistive listening
Did you know that there are literally tens of millions of people worldwide with hearing loss, many of whom will use some form of public transit at some point? According to the CDC, the reported number of Americans with mobility-related disabilities is around 41 million, or about 12% of the country. 
Jim Scott, October 15, 2025, Metro Magazine
Proposed changes to bus commute along congested Route 7 gets public feedback from riders
According to project leaders, Envision Route 7 would increase access to transit by connecting stops and job centers along a 14-mile stretch, which could include changes like bus-only lanes and off-board fare collection to speed up bus service.
Christian Flores, October 15, 2025, ABC7 News
Weekend track work: Buses replace trains between Union Station and Rhode Island Av
On Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, the NoMa-Gallaudet U Station will be closed. Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Union Station and Rhode Island Av while crews perform essential maintenance, replacing crossties and cables to improve safety and reliability, ensuring smoother rides for customers.
October 15, 2025, WMATA
Regional planners exclude VDOT's I-495 Express Lanes project from 2050 plan
The Express Lanes project was proposed by the Virginia Department of Transportation as a means of reducing congestion on one of the most heavily traveled stretches of the Beltway. It would span 11 miles between the Maryland Route 210 interchange near Oxon Hill and the Springfield interchange, connecting with Express Lanes in Springfield.
Nate Doughty, October 15, 2025, Washington Business Journal
Clean transportation programs have supported $4.6B in investments: report
Federal clean transportation programs have supported $4.6 billion in investments and 14,400 jobs in domestic manufacturing, according to a recent report by Atlas Public Policy and the Coalition Helping America Rebuild and Go Electric (CHARGE).

 
Melina Druga, October 16, 2025, Transportation Today

Every tap pays back for Metro riders: WMATA and FutureCard partnership delivers new Metro rewards in the DMV
Riders simply tap their FutureCard at faregates to enter and exit the Metro system and automatically benefit from 5% cashback and a $5 bonus when they ride ten times in a week. 
October 14, 2025, PR Newswire
This year's 'Week Without Driving' proved America needs more transportation choices
For many participants, the experience showed how much of daily life becomes more complicated without a car. Getting to work, buying groceries, or reaching a doctor often means crossing unsafe streets, waiting on unreliable buses, or paying for expensive rideshares.
Emily Salazar, October 14, 2025, Streetsblog USA
Metro, Washington Spirit agree to partnership that promotes taking transit to games
Nearly 40% of fans coming to Spirit matches take public transportation to and from, making both the Metro bus and rail a primary form of transportation for the fanbase. So far in 2025, an estimated 56,000 fans have taken transit to Spirit games at Audi Field. The Spirit and Metro hope to get even higher ridership.
October 14, 2025, WMATA
More buses, more riders: the case for frequent transit
Think of transit like the elevator at your workplace. It’s only useful if it actually comes in a reasonable time. For elevators, a reasonable amount of time is about 20 seconds, per Otis Elevators. For transit, a reasonable amount of time is about 7-8 minutes.
Joshua Woods, October 14, 2025, Planetizen
The major transportation projects poised to change Greater Washington
Billions of dollars are reshaping how Greater Washington moves — from rails and roads to airports and bridges. Some major projects, years in the making, are nearing an end as others slog through delays and new ones break ground.
Nate Doughty, October 14, 2025, Washington Business Journal
Goodbye, grody carpet: Metro retires 2000 series railcars
The 2000 series railcars with the iconic brown and orange seats and carpet are out of service forever. Carpeted railcars bring back memories for riders, but not necessarily good ones.
Adam Tuss, October 13, 2025, NBC4 Washington
Decision looms on future of I-495 express lanes across Woodrow Wilson Bridge
The project, which has been pushed by the Virginia Department of Transportation since 2022, would add 11 miles of new express lanes from the Springfield Interchange in Fairfax County, Virginia, crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and ending at the Maryland Route 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Mike Murillo, October 13, 2025, WTOP
Mastercard expands $2.50 public transit credit to more U.S. cities
Mastercard just expanded its Public Transit Benefit to 2 new cities, New York and Washington, D.C., bringing the total to 7 major cities where cardholders can get a $2.50 statment credit each month on eligible purchases.
Chris Hassan, October 13, 2025, Upgraded Points
Public invited to comment on the refresh of Metro's Strategic Transformation Plan
The refresh streamlines the plan around three goals: Service Excellence, Talented Teams, and Financial and Organizational Efficiency, with Regional Partnership and Long-Term Transit Planning recognized as a critical cross-cutting enabler across all goals. Metro is already emphasizing efficiency by saving hundreds of millions of dollars in recent budget years. 
October 10, 2025, WMATA
The Baltimore region needs major league transit
The good news is that the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), under the leadership of Holly Arnold, released a new strategy this summer for vastly improving public transportation in the Baltimore region. It’s called Bmore Bus and, if implemented, would transform the daily experience for Baltimore-area transit riders.
Paul Sturm, October 10, 2025, Maryland Matters
MDOT MTA to expand, modernize MARC storage facilities at Martin Maintenance Yard
The project scope includes increased storage capacity for MARC Trains at the Martin Maintenance Yard (located near Martin State Airport), new tracks with catenary electrification, crossover tracks, a new inspection pit, and equipment that includes water hydrants, air piping extensions and light fixtures to support train car maintenance. 
Carolina Worrell, October 10, Railway Age
Metro announces Green Line service changes in December for winter construction
The Green Line will not operate between Hyattsville Crossing and Greenbelt from Saturday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 7. Green Line trains will run every 10 minutes, with Local and Express shuttle buses replacing trains between Hyattsville Crossing and Greenbelt.
October 10, 2025, WMATA
WMATA removes final 2000-series railcar after more than four decades of service
The final train was removed from service at the Greenbelt Rail Yard this past week, closing the book on a fleet that first entered operation in the early 1980s.
October 9, 2025, The MoCo Show
Fairfax City considers CUE bus overhaul that would simplify routes, cut some stops
A draft transportation development plan for the next 10 years of service envisions three simplified routes between the Vienna metro station, Old Town, and George Mason University, the areas with the highest demand.
Mary Stachyra Lopez, October 9, 2025, FFXNow
Weekend track work and service information for Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight, operating on Saturday frequencies at all stations not experiencing track work. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule.
October 9, 2025, WMATA
Budget cut means D.C. Streetcar will shut down in March
The D.C. Streetcar will shut down more than a year earlier than planned, with no clear timeline for the “next generation” electric bus service Mayor Muriel E. Bowser says will eventually replace it.
Rachel Weiner, October 9, 2025, The Washington Post
Metro outlines upcoming rail closures through fall 2026
Upcoming closures on the Red Line include Union Station to Rhode Island Avenue on Oct. 18 and 19 and Friendship Heights to North Bethesda from July 2026 to September 2026.
Jeffery Leon, October 9, 2025, WTOP
Metro's 2026 summer shutdown expected to impact multiple stations
Commuters reacting tonight to Metro‘s plan to shut down several stations on the red line next summer. The closures are to accommodate Purple Line construction. FOX 5’s Tisha Lewis is live from Bethesda with more.
October 8, 2025, Fox 5 News
Should the new RFK Stadium get a second Metro station?
As redevelopment of the RFK stadium site begins in D.C., Metro wants to rev up an in-depth study about whether a new station should be built to handle the crowds that a new stadium would bring. Other transit improvements are also being proposed. This is the first time that Metro has put these plans into a document.
Adam Tuss, October 8, 2025, NBC4 Washington
Researcher develops tool to boost transit ridership in Virginia
The impact goes beyond ridership numbers. Every trip that shifts from car to transit helps reduce congestion, improve air quality, and strengthen the social fabric of communities.
Courtney Sakry, October 7, 2025, Virginia Tech News
This newsroom is looking for its next big tip on the train
One of America's top investigative newsrooms wants to uncover news stories about the federal government by appealing to potential tipsters on public transit — and highlighting the importance of shared modes for reinforcing the pillars of democracy.
Kea Wilson, October 8, 2025, Streetsblog USA
A way forward for DC's bus shelters
Bus shelters are both critical to supporting existing bus ridership and attracting new riders to the bus. They allow riders to rest and stay protected from the elements, including direct sunlight, which is especially important in the urban heat islands across DC.
Santiago Lakatos, October 8, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
Hampton Roads Transit adds light rail trips to connect with Amtrak
On Sundays, two additional evening light rail trips will be added westbound from Harbor Park Station to accommodate Amtrak passengers arriving at 8:35 p.m. with service toward downtown Norfolk.
October 7, 2025, City of Portsmouth
The 5 safest cities for cyclists in America — and what they have in common
As Ron Johnson explains in Momentum, “The study covered nearly 300 U.S. cities with populations over 100,000, comparing rates of pedestrian and cyclist deaths against state averages and matching them with Walk and Bike Scores to create an overall safety index.”
Diana Ionescu, October 7, 2025, Planetizen
Metro plans 2-month Red Line shutdown: Bethesda, Medical Center, Grosvenor stops affected
Metro will also be closing the Crystal City stop on 10 separate weekends. Details of the planned shutdowns within the next year became public this week.
Tom Roussey, October 7, 2025, ABC7 News
County to seek $463 million in regional funds to boost Route 1 bus project
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a number of procedural steps last Tuesday (Sept. 30) to advance plans for the nearly billion-dollar Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) initiative known as The One.
Scott McCaffrey, October 7, 2025, FFXNow
Hampton Roads Transit to offer free rides on Election Day
“With free access to HRT’s comprehensive transit solutions throughout Hampton Roads, we are once again doing our part to facilitate mobility on Election Day,” said William E. Harrell, President and CEO of HRT.
Madison Pearman, October 6, 2025, Wavy.com
Washington D.C. eyes Metro expansion
Moving thousands of football fans into a new NFL stadium in Washington D.C. is sparking the stakeholders to explore options for expanding access to public transportation via a reported $2 million study commissioned by the city and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 
Scott Sowers, October 6, 2025, The Bond Buyer
Week Without Driving : How transit can serve people in rural towns
“Mobility is a human right” is a theme of the national Week Without Driving, an annual event that highlights how people struggle to exercise that right when driving is not an option.
Abby Arnold, October 3, 2025, Streetsblog USA
Dave Thomas Circle is dead. Long live Peanut Johnson Plaza.
The $41 million renovation of Block 709 and its surrounding streets has reclaimed over an acre of asphalt, built a complete network of bicycle lanes and sidewalks, and rationalized traffic flow.
David Edmondson, October 6, 2025, Greater Greater Washington
Northern Virginia's unlikely transit-oriented-development success story
By providing a direct Metrorail connection to the heart of Tysons, the station has transformed shopping trips, commutes, and daily errands, making car-free access to one of the largest retail hubs on the East Coast a reality.
Diana Ionescu, October 5, 2025, Planetizen
DoorDash plans to deploy delivery robots in suburban bike lanes
According to the company, “The core sensor, hardware, and software approach is similar to that of robotaxis, enabling the kind of reliable, door-to-door autonomous deliveries that customers expect and merchants rely on.” 
Diana Ionescu, October 5, 2025, Planetizen
How the federal shutdown impacts Amtrak and U.S. rail travel?
Amtrak reassured commuters that it will keep its regular schedule despite Congress not voting for a spending bill. The Shutdown began October 1, 2025, yet trains continue to circulate in 46 states, Washington, D.C., and parts of Canada.
October 5, 2025, Railway Supply

Related Content

Upcoming Events