NEWS & EVENTS

Read about what’s happening in today’s news that affects your daily commute. We’ve consolidated a collection of the latest articles about transportation and commuter related trends and challenges faced by Washington area commuters. Be sure to check back on a regular basis to keep tabs on the most up to date news.

Visit our construction projects section and learn about upcoming road improvements taking place around the Washington region. Anticipate roadwork delays and avoid the snarls to stay ahead of the construction curve.

Find out about upcoming events that pertain to commuting in the Washington metropolitan region and read recent Commuter Connections press releases.

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Drop Your Car Keys for a Day!

In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Car Free Day 2023 will be celebrated on Friday, September 22, 2023.

Choose the travel method that fits you best! That may include Telework, Transit, Carpool/Vanpool (Car-Lite), Bike, Scooter, or Walking.

All are welcome to take the Car Free Day pledge whether you’re a Washington DC area resident, commuter, or student. Once you take the Online Pledge, we will automatically enter you into a raffle for all sorts of great prizes.

For immediate release: July 17, 2023

Metro wants your feedback on proposals to improve service and reliability on the Blue, Orange, Silver lines 

Metro quiere su opinión sobre las propuestas para mejorar el servicio y la confiabilidad en las líneas Azul, Naranja y Plata

En español

Metro today opened its public engagement and feedback period on six options to address future capacity, reliability, and customer needs on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. The proposed alternatives, part of the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity and Reliability Study (BOS Study) launched in 2019, include a set of potential infrastructure and operational improvements that will ensure quality service while meeting the needs of the growing region.

Beginning today, July 17, Metro will conduct a series of virtual and in-person engagement activities to provide information about the proposed alternatives and receive public input that will help Metro’s Board of Directors select a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Visit wmata.com/BOSstudy for full details about the proposals and how to weigh in.

The Board’s selection of an LPA is only the first step in a long process. The type of large project needed to address the needs and opportunities on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines will require federal funding as well as support and investment from Metro’s regional partners. Recognizing this, the BOS Study is structured according to federal guidelines and requirements to qualify for federal grants. Projects of this scale can take ten to twenty years or more to plan, design, fund, and build. Metro and the region need to be planning now for our growing region.

Engagement Opportunities

Website

Members of the public are encouraged to review materials on the BOS study website, wmata.com/BOSstudy, and provide feedback on the proposed alternatives by responding to an online survey.

Online Survey

The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed alternatives through an online survey. The survey, available in English and Spanish, will be open until September 30, 2023, at wmata.com/BOSstudy.

VISA Gift Card Giveaway: By responding to the survey, respondents may enter for a chance to win a $50 VISA gift card in a drawing to be held once the survey closes.

Hybrid Public Meetings

In addition, the public is encouraged to register for and attend one of three upcoming hybrid public meetings, either in-person or virtually (online). These hybrid meetings include a live presentation by project staff, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Tuesday, July 25 | 6:30-8 PM - George Mason University - Van Metre Hall Multipurpose Room (3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA 22201)
Saturday, August 26 | 10:30 AM -12:00 PM - St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church Omega Room (408 Addison Rd S, Capitol Heights MD 20743)
Tuesday, September 12 | 6:30-8 PM - Metro L'Enfant Plaza HQ Board Room (300 7th Street SW, Washington DC 20024)

To register for an upcoming meeting, visit: wmata.com/BOSstudy

About the Study

Metro launched the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity & Reliability Study (BOS Study) in early 2019 to identify the best and most cost-effective solutions to address ridership, service, and reliability needs on these Metrorail lines. After conducting an analysis of the key issues and trends, Metro developed a broad range of potential options for addressing the study goals. Following two rounds of public engagement and extensive feedback, Metro worked with community stakeholders and local jurisdictions to evaluate and narrow these options to six potential alternatives addressing capacity, reliability, and customer needs on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines.

Click here to view the proposed alternatives.

The BOS Study is a type of study known as an Alternatives Analysis (AA). The AA complies with best-practices guidelines from the Federal Transit Administration and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This will allow Metro to move forward with the study recommendation(s) and compete for federal funding, while reducing the length and cost of any future environmental review process. The study recommendations will be based on data analysis, with input from regional stakeholders and the public to define the problems and determine the preferred solution.

For More Information

To learn more about the project, upcoming engagement activities, and complete the online survey, visit the project website at wmata.com/BOSstudy

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, disability, or family status. If you require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or translation services (free of charge), contact the project team at 703-683-7447, ext. 115 (TTY: 711) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.

MDOT Wants to Hear from You!

Second Survey for Long-Range Transportation Plan
Now Available!

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) kicked off its long-range transportation plan development, known as the 2050 Maryland Transportation Plan (2050 MTP), in April with a survey asking Marylanders to provide input on a range of priorities, goals, and guiding principles.

MDOT now is launching a second short survey on proposed key outcomes, locations where transportation improvements are needed, and budget investment priorities. Please take the survey here by July 10, 2023 and help guide the state's vision and corresponding policy and investment priorities for the next 20 years!

The 2050 MTP proposed guiding principles, goals, and objectives will be refined throughout the planning process as they collect input from Maryland’s residents and visitors through 2023. MDOT expects to finalize the 2050 MTP by January 2024. Click below to learn more about the 2050 MTP and how input from the first survey is helping to shape the state's long-range transportation plan.

For more information, email MDOTMTP@mdot.maryland.gov.

Click here to visit the MTP website.

Bike to Work Day 2023

Gear up for Bike to Work Day 2023! Join us Friday, May 19 and get started on a healthy routine. Sign up by May 12 for a free T-shirt and your chance to win an e-bike. Please register at Bike to Work 2023, today.

Metro seeks public input on East Falls Church bus loop expansion and pedestrian Improvements

Metro is seeking public input on the proposed bus loop expansion and pedestrian improvements at East Falls Church Station.

The station currently has four bus bays that are operating at maximum capacity. In coordination with Metro, Arlington County seeks to expand the footprint of the existing bus loop, upgrade the existing bus shelters, and add three bus bays with shelters at the station. The project also aims to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, and landscaping within and around the station, including improving the crosswalks between the station entrance and the existing bus loop on North Sycamore Street.

Bus capacity and pedestrian access improvements are necessary to accommodate projected transit ridership growth at the station. East Falls Church Station is the first eastbound station that connects the Silver Line with the Orange Line, making it an important transfer point for rail and bus riders. Feedback from the public on these proposed changes is essential as this project moves forward.

To learn more about the project, visit Arlington County’s website.

How to provide feedback

Take a survey and provide written comments by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 1.
Participate in a virtual public hearing on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
- To participate by phone, call 855-925-2801 and enter meeting code 4773.
- To participate via video, preregister by emailing speak@wmata.com by 5 p.m. the day before the Public Hearing.
- Watch or listen to the virtual public hearing live at on our capital and service plans page, on YouTube, or by calling 855-925-2801 and entering meeting code 4773.

Public feedback will be provided to Metro's Board of Directors as part of the final decision-making process.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, disability, or family status. ASL interpretation will be provided. To request other accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or other language interpretation services (free of charge), contact the Office of the Board Secretary at 202-962-2511 (TTY: 202-962-2033) or send a message to speak@wmata.com as soon as possible, so Metro can make the necessary arrangements before the public hearing date.

VDRPT Will Hold a Virtual Public Meeting July 19, 2022 on the I-495 Southside Transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Study

Tuesday, July 19th at 6:30pm

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) invites you to learn about and provide input on its I-495 Southside Transit and TDM study by attending a public information meeting June 19. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public and organizations to ask questions and offer comments and/or suggestions on the study.

Register now for the upcoming virtual public meeting!

The I-495 Southside Transit and TDM study aims to evaluate existing transportation options and identify future multimodal mobility solutions. The study will consider potential mobility options for travel along I-495 Southside, including— but not limited to—carpool, rideshare, local bus, express bus, bus rapid transit, Metrorail, regional rail, and intercity rail service. The study area extends for 11 miles of I-495 from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, VA to Maryland Route 210 in Prince George’s County, MD and includes the Metrorail and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) lines between Springfield, VA and Alexandria, VA. This study will help inform the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study that is looking at potentially extending the express lanes system on the southern section of the Capital Beltway.