A taxi in downtown DC by Aimee Custis Photography licensed under Creative Commons.

DC Taxis fail to meet accessibility standards

While DC law requires companies with 20 or more taxis to make 20% of their fleet wheelchair-accessible, only 4% of the 5,300 total taxis meet accessibility requirements, and many are rarely driven. Lyft and Uber also have few accessible vehicles. Frequent Metro elevator closures also make transit more difficult to access.  (DCist)  

Some Anne Arundel County students walk along highways with no sidewalks

Students from Meade Village in Anne Arundel County have not had a school bus this school year and often walk 4.5 miles to school, including along highways with no sidewalks. The county claims it does not have enough staff with commercial driver’s licenses to provide adequate busing.  (Chris Papst / WJLA)  

WMATA GM proposes lower fares for low-income riders

WMATA General Manager/CEO Randy Clarke proposes cutting fares in half for anyone eligible for federal SNAP benefits while increasing fares for other riders. The proposal includes eliminating separate peak and off-peak fares. It would also increase train frequencies on parts of the green, yellow, and orange lines.  (Tom Roussey / abc7news)  

DC Council unanimously passes free DC bus bill

The DC Council voted 13-0 to pass the Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2022, paving the way for free Metrobus service in the District starting next summer. DC residents and visitors alike will be eligible for free Metrobus rides for any ride initiated within the city. The bill also adds a 24-hour schedule for twelve major Metrobus lines.   (WUSA9)  

Arlington County Planning Commission approves the Ballston Macy’s 555-unit redevelopment

The Planning Commission gave a green light to move the proposal along to the Arlington County Board. The Commission voiced expectations that the developer pursues all possible options to make a contentious intersection more pedestrian-friendly. The project will include 12 affordable units and preserves 118 at the Haven Apartments along Columbia Pike.  (Jo DeVoe / ARLNow)  

Washington region drunk driving fatalities dropped 10% between 2020 and 2021

While fatalities are down, alcohol-related injuries, crashes, and arrests have increased in the Washington region, with variance across the area. Drunk driving incidents increased by 30% in Prince George’s County while they decreased by 6% in Montgomery County from 2020 to 2021.  (Kristi King / WTOP)  

Second car crashes into the same residential fence in Barry Farm neighborhood

Area residents report cars coming from Suitland Parkway onto Stanton Rd SE often speed into the neighborhood, where at least three similar incidents have occurred, including the killing of a dog. Residents are pushing DDOT to add speed bumps or other traffic-calming measures to prevent further crashes.  (Megan Rivers / WUSA9)  

Alexandria launches incentives for residential flood-mitigation infrastructure projects

The new Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program incentivizes residents to install flood-mitigation infrastructure on their properties.   (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

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