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Five ways D.C.-area commutes have changed since the pandemic

Commuting patterns have changed, however. More people are teleworking at least two days a week and taking transit; on the other hand, the region has grown, and a larger proportion of suburbanites in Maryland and Virginia are driving to work alone.
Rachel Weiner, January 22, 2026, The Washington Post

MDOT announces student rider discount program

According to MDOT, students enrolled in a high school, vocational/trade school, formal technical training program, college or university, including undergraduate and graduate programs, can save 50% on a one-way or monthly MARC Train ticket.
Kaitlyn Dillon, January 21, 2026, DC News Now

DASH partners with ABM for in-route pantograph charger

ABM has provided an in-route pantograph charger, accompanying power cabinets, electrical infrastructure and civil foundation work for the agency. The station enables DASH buses to charge while in service, providing more route flexibility and supporting uninterrupted operations for the growing electric fleet.
January 21, 2026, Mass Transit Magazine

Metro closures will affect weekend rail service in Alexandria this spring

Trains on the Blue and Yellow lines will be suspended between those stations during ten weekends this spring, and Metro will offer free connecting shuttle bus services. The closures are planned to accommodate the construction of a second entrance at Arlington’s Crystal City station.
Katie Taranto, January 21, 2026, ALXNow

How Metro could be impacted during snow storm

What happens to the DMV’s largest transit system if we get more snow than we’re used to? News4’s Joseph Olmo explains.
Joseph Olmo, January 22, 2026, NBC4 Washington

$11.3M plans for VRE's Manassas Line

Virginia Railway Express officials moved closer to seeking millions in state transportation funding for a rail expansion project near Broad Run Station aimed at supporting future growth on the Manassas Line.
Uriah Kiser, January 20, 2026, Potomac Local News

Survey: Most Americans are quite open to ditching their cars

A stunning 18 percent of car-owning U.S. residents indicated that they were "strongly interested" in living car-free, and another 40 percent said that they were "open" to it, according to a survey conducted by Arizona State University.
Kea Wilson, January 21, 2026, Streetsblog USA

Metro seeks community feedback on proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and service plan

The service plans are designed to maximize service within available funding, while meeting growing demand. Metro is advancing service efficiencies through bus schedule optimization, train automation, and the refinement of 6-car and 8-car trains to improve reliability and travel times. 
January 20, 2026, WMATA

Report: USA must triple its transit vehicles to offer 'world-class' transit

The report defines “world-class” as “Transit that operates with extensive coverage and predictable, frequent service that grants people a high level of mobility, where they can reach nearly everything they need.”
Diana Ionescu, January 20, 2026, Planetizen

Alexandria, Virginia, expands transit bus electrification

The announcement follows the Oct. 30, 2025, groundbreaking for a new facility that will include the necessary infrastructure for up to 24 overhead electric bus chargers, solar panel arrays and battery energy storage systems. 
Dan Zukowski, January 16, 2025, Smart Cities Dive

The best thing about giving up your car? According to commuters, it's almost everything

Across North America and beyond, more people are experimenting with going car-light (owning a car but using it sparingly) or car-free (ditching it altogether). 
Karen James, January 6, 2026, Momentum Mag

Metro says crime on buses, trains has dropped significantly

Metro says it’s the safest it’s been in a quarter-century — not including during the pandemic. WMATA leaders are crediting the transit agency's stepped-up enforcement for the big drop.
January 15, 2026, Fox 5 News

Virginia-to-Florida train lets you bring your car

As Zach Wichter explains in USA Today, “The Auto Train runs every day between Lorton and Sanford with no intermediate stops. It departs at 4 p.m. in each direction and arrives at 9 a.m. the next day ? a 17-hour trip altogether.” The ride allows passengers to skip the 800-mile drive and arrive with their vehicle in tow.
Diana Ionescu, January 15, 2026, Planetizen

Your input fuels better biking and walking

Fairfax County has committed to investing $100 million in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements by 2027. Thanks to the work of advocates, residents, and county leaders, $56.7 million has already been approved — with $44.4 million funding 77 new capital projects so far.
January 15, 2026, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling

Passenger rail Is headed for a reckoning — and the first 90 days of 2026 will decide it

And it’s not just today’s trains that hang in the balance. Of the 69 corridors selected by the Federal Railroad Administration for development, 33 would operate partly or entirely on UP or NS tracks. That’s nearly half of the future passenger rail network in this country potentially controlled by a single company.
Jim Mathews, January 15, 2026, Streetsblog USA

Metro receives TSA's Gold Standard Award for transit security for a record fifth time

“Protecting our customers and employees is at the core of everything we do,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “We continue to take a proactive and vigilant approach to addressing current and emerging security challenges while working in close coordination with our regional and federal partners.”
January 15, 2026, WMATA

Metro says it issued over 21,000 fare evasion citations in 2025

WMATA says it issued 21,841 citations for fare evasion in 2025. News4’s Adam Tuss explains.
Adam Tuss, January 14, 2026, NBC4 Washington

New Baltimore subway cars begin to replace 40-year-old trains

The first six of 78 new stainless steel Hitachi rail cars went into service Jan. 8 on Baltimore’s metro subway system, replacing rolling stock from 1983. The full order of the vehicles is expected to be delivered by 2027. 
Dan Zukowski, January 13, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

No clear track ahead

Some transit-rich places are seeing a clear indication for now, with the possibility of an “approach limited” or even a “restricted” indication some distance ahead. In this article, we will take our annual look at the passenger train and rail transit picture in the U.S. and Canada.
David Peter Alan, January 14, 2026, Railway Age

Amtrak, VRE scale back service to make way for Potomac River bridge construction

The service changes are expected to last through 2030. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority tells 7News the Amtrak and commuter rail service changes are necessary because of construction work.
Tom Roussey, January 14, 2026, ABC7 News

How Metro became D.C.'s favorite brand

Metro turns 50 this year, and it's suddenly D.C.'s underdog du jour — rebounding from its pandemic slump, cleaner and more reliable, with a surprisingly sassy online personality and undeniably cool swag.
Anna Spiegel, January 14, 2026, Axios

Contest deadline approaches for poems to be displayed in DASH buses

“DASHing Words in Motion” is accepting poetry submissions until 5 p.m. Friday from writers age 16 and older who live, work or study in the city. Contest winners’ poems will be displayed for thousands of city transit riders to see during National Poetry Month in April.
Katie Taranto, January 13, 2026, ALXNow

Analysis: What it would take for America to be first on transit again

Considering that it would mean tripling the national transit budget, spending $4.7 trillion in 20 years might sound like a big ask — except that America is already on track to spend an additional $6.3 trillion on highways over the next two decades.
Kea Wilson, January 14, 2026, Streetsblog USA

Transit Scheduling 101 — What is transit scheduling?

This simple adage applies equally to transit service. An expertly laid service plan, married to an expertly designed transit route is next to useless if the route can’t be operated reliably. 
Joshua Woods, January 13, 2026, Planetizen

Rail traffic delays over the Potomac: What to know about construction through 2030

A second span of Long Bridge will cross over the Potomac between D.C. and Arlington. The work will separate passenger trains from freight trains and turn two tracks into four. The work is expected to last through 2030.
Adam Tuss, January 12, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Series of weekend Metro closures coming to Crystal City and Reagan National

Blue and Yellow Line trains won’t run in affected areas during the closures, which are for passenger and crew safety during the construction of a second entrance to the Crystal City station.
Dan Egitto, January 12, 2026, ARLNow

Study: Induced demand works for bikes and transit, too

‘Induced demand’ is a common trope among planners, usually signifying the futility of building more vehicle lanes in an effort to reduce congestion. “If you build it, they will come,” lament multimodal transportation advocates.
Diana Ionescu, January 11, 2026, Planetizen

What December ridership shows — and doesn't — about OmniRide commuter demand

OmniRide reported higher commuter bus ridership in December, even as local routes declined, offering a mixed picture of transit demand in Prince William County heading into winter.
Uriah Kiser, January 11, 2026, Potomac Local News