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Metro passes $4.8B budget for FY25
Metro’s board of directors on Thursday passed a $4.8 billion capital and operations budget for fiscal year 2025, which avoids massive service cuts, although fares will increase by 12.5% beginning July 1. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which oversees the Metrorail and Metrobus public transportation systems, had warned of “catastrophic” cuts to service because [...]
Rail equipment manufacturer to expand in Salem
Wabtec Corp. is investing $2.7 million to expand its existing facility in Salem, adding 38 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Wabtec provides equipment, systems, digital solutions and other services for freight and transit rail globally. The expansion will accommodate the relocation of its pneumatically controlled braking systems manufacturing lines within [...]
Cabbies cry foul over Va. Beach’s free ride service
Lynne Johnston’s business, All City Cab Co., took a hit from the pandemic. But when the city of Virginia Beach started offering free door-to-door rides in one of her busiest zones — the Oceanfront — during tourist season, it was like another punch to the gut. This year, Virginia Beach contracted with Miami-based microtransit service […]
Metro bringing back first group of 7000-series trains
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Wednesday that it will return eight 7000-series trains to service on Thursday, months after all 748 railcars were taken off track due to a wheel malfunction that caused a derailment near Arlington National Cemetery. The return of eight trains — with eight railcars each — to service comes […]
Q&A: Quebec official discusses Va. trade mission
Quebec’s delegate general in New York, Martine Hébert, visited Virginia this week on a trip to strengthen economic relations between her province and the commonwealth. Appointed in August by Quebec Premier François Legault and based out of New York, Hébert is responsible for promoting the province’s economic interests in the mid-Atlantic region. She previously served […]
Laying tracks for The Tide
Commuters are on board with Hampton Roads Transit‘s plans to extend The Tide, its 7.4-mile light rail system, according to recent public discussions about proposed new routes. This fall, HRT held one virtual discussion and three pop-up sessions at transit stations in Norfolk to gather public input about expanding the light rail to Sentara Leigh […]
Metro to keep reduced service levels through end of year
Metro customers will see reduced rail service through the end of the year, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Monday. The transit system authority attributed the disruption to its 7000-series fleet, the newest rail cars, still being out of service. These trains make up much of Metro‘s fleet but have been sidelined since October. […]
Virginia public transit grapples with reduced ridership, zero fare
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia public transit systems from Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads are looking for a path forward after losing riders and revenue during the pandemic. Some transit systems have been harder hit than others. “We are serving a market of essential workers that can’t stay home; they have to use our service,” said […]
Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn St. stations to close during holidays
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Thursday that the Blue Line Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed for safety improvements from Dec. 19 through Jan. 3. “Doing this work during the holidays will help minimize the number of riders affected by the closures,” according to a WMATA statement. “Ridership at the […]
Metro Rail managers cleared of allegations, but workplace is ‘disrespectful and unprofessional’
Following a three-month investigation into Metro‘s Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC), the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Friday that complaints of racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation by senior rail officials were unsubstantiated — but that disrespect and unprofessional conduct is commonplace there. San Francisco-based law firm Littler Mend[...]
Hampton Roads to deploy first electric buses in Va.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday signed legislation that will bring zero-emission electric buses to Virginia as part of an initiative to change public transportation in Hampton Roads. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Louise Lucas and Del. Alex Askew creates the first-ever dedicated Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund, which will be managed by the […]
Metro closing stations to deter cherry blossom visitors
In order to prevent use of the Metrorail for recreational visits to the cherry blossom trees around the Washington, D.C., Tidal Basin during the COVID-19 crisis, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is closing the Smithsonian and Arlington Cemetery Metro stations at 5 p.m. on Thursday March 19 until further notice. Metro service has been cut […]
