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Free buses would mean 12% faster rides and 20% more riders: study

The key to the increased bus speeds is that by doing away with fares, you reduce the dwell time — the amount of time it takes to get people onto the bus — at each stop. 
Dave Colon, April 14, 2025, Streetsblog USA

VDOT lifts lane closures to brighten Easter Holiday travel

VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, April 18, until noon on Tuesday, April 22.  
April 10, 2025, VDOT

How to make US trains faster

A new report by the NYU Marron Institute’s Transit Costs Project by researcher Nolan Hicks suggests a “suite of targeted improvements” dubbed the “momentum” framework that could speed up passenger rail service in the United States by up to 30 percent — without high-speed rail.
Diana Ionescu, April 11, 2025, Planetizen

Free bus transit in Richmond to continue for another year

Many Richmond residents simply cannot afford to lose fare-free transit, said Faith Walker, executive director of RVA Rapid Transit — an organization that advocates for an enhanced regional transportation system.
Samual B. Parker, April 11, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine

Electrifying our future: The power of partnerships in transit's green revolution

These agencies aren't merely reducing emissions; they're proving that zero-emissions mass transit can effectively serve our communities. Yet, this transformation extends beyond simply swapping vehicles. 
Brendan Harney, April 11, 2025, Mass Transit Magazine

Metro Board of Directors approves $4.957 billion FY2026 budget that improves service without raising fares

The approved budget continues to fund Metro at levels where service is safe, frequent, and reliable. In recent years, Metro has seen increased ridership thanks to those tenets and expects that trend to continue with additional Metrorail service and a revamped bus network coming in June.
April 10, 2025, WMATA

Virginia's new speed-limiting device law could inspire other states

The new rule, approved by Governor Glenn Youngkin late last month and expected to go into effect in July 2026, will enable judges to force drivers convicted of going over 100 miles per hour to install a “speed governor” in their vehicles.
Aaron Short, April 10, 2025, Greater Greater Washington

Metro approves nearly $5B budget that extends weekend hours starting in June

Starting Sunday, June 22, Metrorail will open at 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and close at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Additional trains will also be introduced on the Silver and Red Lines during peak rush hour on weekdays, and will be scheduled to run at least every 4 minutes.
Ciara Wells, April 11, 2025, WTOP

Car prices will go up. Taking the train or a bus looks like a bargain

Public transit advocates hope soaring car costs will push more people to the US transit system and spur government investment to improve service. Trump’s 25% tariffs on all cars shipped to the United States are likely to pile costs on to the already steep financial burdens of driving, and consumers can save thousands of dollars annually by switching to transit.
Nathaniel Meyersohn, April 10, 2025, CNN

Planned commuter path from Newington Road to Springfield Metro met with ongoing concern

Mostly funded with federal dollars, the bikeway is slated to be constructed along the west side of Cinder Bed Road and connect to an existing trail through Fairfax County Park Authority property. 
Scott McCaffrey, April 9, 2025, FFXNow

A warning for Metro about expanding automated train service

Metro has had about 220 station overruns on the Red Line since automation began on Dec. 15, according to the safety commission. That’s compared to 144 in all of 2023 for the entire Metrorail system.
Luke Lukert, April 9, 2025, WTOP

What the 'walk score' misses

Calling the Walk Score tool a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” the researchers caution that “A market urbanism that suggests universal provision of walkable neighborhoods will fix inequities doesn't reflect the structural forces [in our cities] — and WalkScore, in particular, is about investment flows.”
Diana Ionescu, April 8, 2025, Planetizen

DMV Moves task force might not deliver specific recommendations for future transit funding

The DMV Moves task force already has vetted a range of funding options. A December report provided revenue estimates on a host of possibilities, ranging from property and sales tax increases to higher vehicle-related taxes and fees.
Scott McCaffrey, April 8, 2025, FFXNow

See the Purple Line under construction

We’ll hopefully get to ride the Purple Line in winter 2027, though if you’re on Veterans Parkway in New Carrollton, you’ll soon see trains doing test runs. For now, check out these photos, courtesy of the Maryland Transit Administration.
Dan Reed, April 8, 2025, Greater Greater Washington

Automatic trains 'cannot be relied upon' amid station overruns on Red Line: WMSC

In March, there were 33 overruns, according to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. The agency said that could impact activities such as passengers being able to get off a train.
Adam Tuss, April 8, 2025, NBC4 Washington

Arlington to launch microtransit pilot program later this year

A pilot program, which would last at least a year, would be centered on an area with N. Glebe Road to the east, Langston Blvd to the south and the county line to the north and west. 
Scott McCaffrey, April 8, 2025, ARLNow

Why should we subsidize public transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Todd Litman, April 7, 2025, Planetizen

Alexandria station ranks second busiest in Southeast Amtrak Network

Alexandria’s station is a key stop in Amtrak Virginia’s network. It connects passengers to major cities like Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. From here, travelers can also hop on trains to Chicago, Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah, and Miami.
Ryan Belmore, April 7, 2025, ALXNow

Advocates push to build commuter rail to western Loudoun Co. along W&OD trail

The train line would include stops in Fairfax County, including Herndon, Reston and Vienna, connecting with the Silver Line in Reston, and the Orange and Silver lines in East Falls Church.
Neal Augenstein, April 7, 2025, WTOP

Climate Protection: Ride the bus to stop burning gasoline

You have a choice about how you commute. You can sit behind the wheel of a car, vigilantly avoiding getting killed in high-speed, stop-and-go, rush-hour traffic, or you can sit on a bus and read a book, listen to a podcast, watch a movie, answer email or play games.
Nick Maxwell, April 6, 2025, My Edmonds News

Purple Line dynamic testing of light rail cars to begin in Maryland

The testing will be adjacent to the project’s operations and maintenance facility along Veterans Parkway in Glenridge, Maryland, according to a news release from the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration.
Valerie Bonk, April 6, 2025, WTOP

Spring traffic enforcement campaign launches next week in Arlington

The region-wide Street Smart campaign, which runs from Monday, April 7 through Sunday, May 4, focuses on reducing traffic-related crashes and educating drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists about the law.
Dan Egitto, April 4, 2025, ARLNow

Maryland Purple Line enters dynamic testing phase as project reaches 76% completion

The testing involves eight light rail vehicles on a one-mile track, aiming to simulate real-world conditions. Purple Line Transit Operators will conduct dynamic testing during both daytime and nighttime hours, officials said.
April 4, 2025, ABC7 News

Virginia will be 1st state to order reckless drivers to install speed-limiting devices

While the bill doesn’t provide specific technologies that must be used, the small devices will use smart GPS technology, which can see where a car is being driven, gauge how fast it’s going and limit further acceleration.
Neal Augenstein, April 3, 2025, WTOP

Richmond's zero-fare bus funding could run out soon

Faith Walker, executive director of RVA Rapid Transit, said her group spoke to 100 bus riders about how zero fare transit plays a critical role in their lives. Their report shows a funding need of $6.8 million for next year.
Ian Stewart, April 2, 2025, Virginia Mercury

Transportation Department announces nearly $1B in road safety funding

The SS4A program was created as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which allocated $5 billion in funding for the program between 2022 and 2026.
Liz Carey, April 3, 2025, Transportation Today

Alexandria, VA, Transit Riders Enjoying 'The DASH Difference'

“The absence of fares has been a huge benefit for our passengers and has greatly helped our ridership numbers to increase,” Baker said. “Due to these increases in ridership, we continue to monitor and work on improving our frequency of service involving different routes and geographic regions.
Harrell Kerkhoff, April 2, 2025, Bus Line

New signs coming to Tysons will point out trails, Metro stops and other amenities

According to Palchik, Tysons has added 41 acres of public park space, and 41 transit, bicycle and pedestrian mobility improvement projects have been completed since the county adopted its 2010 comprehensive plan, which guides the 2,100-acre urban center’s future growth and development.
Angela Woolsey, April 2, 2025, FFXNow

Transportation authorities to lay out plans for new road diets and bike lanes around Fairfax

According to FCDOT, there are also plans to add bicycle lanes and crosswalk improvements on Dellwood Drive near the Vienna Metro Station in Oakton, along with four streets in the Franconia District.
Vernon Miles, April 2, 2025, FFXNow

Sean Duffy defends pause on transportation grants

He promised to follow Congress’s mandate to fund environmental initiatives such as electric vehicle charging but told lawmakers that when grant programs don’t explicitly include climate or equity goals, “I’m following your will, which is pulling out the green and the social justice.”
Rachel Weiner/Ian Duncan, April 2, 2025, The Washington Post

How the Trump administration is targeting green transportation in blue states

The moves represent an emerging pattern in the DOT’s approach to transportation under President Donald Trump: target the highest-profile climate-friendly programs in states with Democratic leadership. 
Benton Graham, April 2, 2025, Grist

Go green: Ride transit this Earth Month!

Public transportation is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental impact and support a more sustainable future. This April, try swapping a car commute for a train trip, a bus voyage or a bike ride.  
Katie Metzger, April 1, 2025, Sound Transit

Insights: How public-private transportation partnerships create innovative solutions, boost the economy

Investment in transit also means investing in goods and services needed to run systems and keep roads clear — which benefits everyone. When transportation is cut to lower costs, ridership decreases, so those who need it most may experience less reliable service, creating a downward spiral.
April 1, 2025, Washington Business Journal

A Faster Future: Unbreaking passenger rail to deliver the rapid service we need

Widespread implementation of this framework would allow passenger rail services to finally meet the Congressionally mandated goal of modern, fast and efficient service that provides a viable alternative to the automobile and air travel.
Nolan Hicks, March 31, 2025, Streetsblog USA

Consider a Purple Line South for Northern Virginia

As local communities and agencies grapple with congestion and transit limitations in our region, we have to make tough choices about our collective future that are difficult to reverse and require large investments over many years.
Ian Ollis, March 31, 2025, Greater Greater Washington

Local leaders come out against proposal to merge Northern Virginia bus systems

In addition to Arlington Transit (ART) and Fairfax Connector, there are several other local bus systems run by contractors for Northern Virginia jurisdictions. They include DASH in Alexandria and CUE in the City of Fairfax.
Scott McCaffrey, March 31, 2025, ARLNow