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US traffic patterns are shifting, but car-centric development persists

Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco ranked among the nation’s most congested cities, while New York reduced traffic and increased transit speed and ridership thanks to its congestion pricing program.
Diana Ionescu, January 26, 2026, Planetizen

How digital signage is reshaping the traveler experience at transportation hubs

From the moment a traveler arrives at a transportation hub, whether an international airport, a downtown train station, or a regional bus terminal, their experience is now shaped not just by architecture or amenities, but by the immediacy and intelligence of digital display technology.
Dan Verbsky, January 26, 2026, Metro Magazine

Dozens of Metrobuses go into service, trains running with delays

Starting at 6 a.m., Metro said 41 bus routes will operate Tuesday, prioritizing main roads, access to hospitals and essential services.
January 27, 2026, DC News Now

How to check your Metrorail, bus lines as snow service slowly returns to normal

WMATA's app and website, MetroPulse, offer real-time tracking on bus and train locations, frequency, schedule adherence, and service advisories.
Sophie Rosenthal, January 26, 2026, WUSA9

Metro to suspend overnight bus service; modified service planned Tuesday as weather impacts continue

Metro will operate modified service on Tuesday, Jan. 27, continuing to assess conditions throughout the day and expand service as safety allows.
January 26, 2026, WMATA

Arlington County facilities closed again Tuesday, transit service limited

“Due to the icy weather conditions ART will keep suspended service for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with plans to resume service once road conditions permit,” Arlington Transit said. “All standing orders except for dialysis, will be cancelled for STAR.”
January 26, 2026, ARLNow

Ride On adjusts bus service as freezing temperatures impact roads

MCDOT will monitor weather and road conditions on an ongoing basis and may reduce or end bus service early if conditions become unsafe. Officials emphasized that rider and staff safety is the top priority, noting that worsening ice could increase the risk of buses and passengers becoming stranded.
Patrick Herron, January 26, 2026, The MoCo Show

DASH and paratransit cancel Monday service as Alexandria facilities plan to close

DASH’s service cancellation is the system’s first in years, it said, and comes as Alexandria’s public schools, libraries, government offices, facilities and trash collection have announced Monday closures and cancellations.
Katie Taranto, January 25, 2026, ALXNow

Fairfax Connector suspends service Jan 26

Fairfax Connector will halt service on Jan. 26 due to severe weather. Riders should check for delays and stay informed via email alerts and social media updates.
Amber Anderson, January 25, 2026, WUSA9

Metro Bus service delayed due to hazardous road conditions

As roads become passable and more operators become available to deliver service, Metro will add service back, beginning with priority routes that serve hospitals and life-sustaining facilities. Customers should expect limited service, with most routes remaining suspended or operating on detour.
January 26, 2026, WMATA

Nearly half of D.C.-area workers stick with hybrid schedule post-pandemic, report finds

Conducted every three years, the new report represents the first post-Covid look at local commuting patterns. It found that rates of telework are coming down, but likely to remain a fact of life going forward.
Scott McCaffrey, January 23, 2026, FFXNow

How Metro is preparing for this weekend's winter storm

According to Metro’s protocol, if snowfall exceeds 8 inches, some train services may be suspended as a precaution.
Thayma Sanchez, January 23, 2026, NBC4 Washington

Congress advances transportation funding bill

The bill “provides the overwhelming majority of public transit and passenger rail investments” funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Dan Zukowski, January 22, 2026, Smart Cities Dive

MDOT issues $22.1b, six-year capital budget

The six-year Final CTP outlines capital investments in each mode funded by the Transportation Trust Fund: Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, State Highway Administration, and The Secretary’s Office, as well as Maryland’s investment in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Marybeth Luczak, January 22, 2026, Railway Age

City Council is next stop for transit boosters with regional 'DMVMoves' initiative

The proposal also calls for a network of bus-rapid-transit lines across the metro area, as well as new funding for commuter-rail operations and local bus services, including DASH.
Scott McCaffrey, January 22, 2026, ALXNow

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

$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