Rosslyn skyline by Bradley Joines licensed under Creative Commons.

Arlington, DC stand out nationally for expensive rentals

A report by Point2 found that nearly 30% of Arlington’s rental inventory consists of “luxury” homes, defined as single-family houses with rental rates above $5,000. The share of the county’s rental stock that meets or exceeds this rent threshold places it tenth among US cities, and DC placed 11th with a similar percentage. Arlington ranks 11th for ultra-luxury rentals, defined as houses renting at rates higher than $10,000 per month.  (ARLnow)  

Metro to install vinyl seats on all buses by 2025

Metro announced plans Tuesday to replace the cloth seats on all 1,500 buses in its fleet with a vinyl material by 2025. The material is similar to the material used on Metrorail seats and is easier to clean. Officials say the upgrade will provide a more comfortable and sanitary rider experience while also reducing maintenance costs.  (JeanneTyler Moodee Lockman / WJLA)  

Northern Virginia officials propose enhancements for Metrobus’s ninth busiest route

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission proposed measures to speed up Metrobus Route 28A service, which sees about 7,700 riders a day. Potential changes included traffic light priority and “queue jumping” lanes that act as bus-only lanes near intersections. Longer term, the route is slated to become a Bus Rapid Transit corridor.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXnow)  

Natural gas infrastructure costs drive utility bill increases for Maryland residents, state report says

A report by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel criticized a state law and pilot program that allows utility companies to increase rates to cover proposed multiyear infrastructure investments. Critics argue that natural gas providers are modernizing equipment against state climate goals and putting a financial burden on households that can’t afford to convert to all-electric systems. The pilot program will be reviewed by the Public Service Commission this fall.  (Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters)  

MARC Brunswick service resumes after track fire closure

Maryland’s regional commuter line connecting West Virginia and DC resumed service yesterday evening. A track fire at the Harpers Ferry Bridge on the evening of Monday, June 24, caused both MARC and Amtrak service disruptions. (The Post article may be behind a paywall).  (Kate Corliss / WTOP, Trains Magazine, Martin Weil / Post)  

Anchor tenant plans to move out of Lafayette Centre, adding uncertainty to downtown DC’s office market

Following an announcement that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to vacate its office at the Lafayette Centre at 1120 20th Street NW, the $243 million loan on the building was transferred to special servicing. The building has other tenants and was 76% occupied as of March 2024. The CFTC will move to a smaller space in Southwest DC in 2026. (This article is behind a paywall).  (Ben Peters / Business Journal)  

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