An intersection in Wheaton by thisisbossi licensed under Creative Commons.

Maryland Transportation Trust Fund bolsered by increased vehicle registration, ride-hailing fees

Depending on the weight of their vehicle, drivers in Maryland will see an increase of 60% to 75% when they register their vehicles as of Monday, July 1. The state also added surcharges on electric vehicles, meant to make up for gas taxes that these drivers don’t pay, along with a 75-cent fee for ride-hailing services. These increases are expected to add about $230 million to the state’s Transportation Trust Fund over the next year.  (WTOP)  

Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess will be fare-free on the Fourth of July after 5 pm

This is the second year WMATA has provided free fares on the evening of the Fourth of July. The agency plans to run rush hour service levels on Metrorail to accommodate crowds.  (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

Short-term rentals make up 25% of Alexandria ‘hotel’ tax revenue

The 700 short-term rentals listed on sites like Airbnb make up less than 1% of Alexandria’s housing stock, but about a quarter of transient lodging tax revenues, totaling $3.3 million in the last fiscal year. City staff will engage the community this summer to discuss new regulations for short-term rentals that the mayor will send to the City Council in the fall.  (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

DC office vacancy rate hit new high in second quarter of 2024

The office vacancy rate in DC rose from 21.6% at the end of the first quarter to 22.4% at the end of the second quarter. Foreclosures so far in 2024 have already exceeded the total number in 2023. The only office building under construction in DC is the redevelopment of WMATA’s former headquarters. (This article is behind a paywall).  (Ben Peters / Business Journal)  

WMATA swears in third inspector general in as many years

Michelle Zamarin was sworn in as WMATA’s new inspector general on Thursday, June 27. The previous inspector general resigned in November 2023 out of concern that he would be fired after publishing a report outlining that he was not given the level of independence required under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Zamarin is the third person to hold the job since 2022.  (Tom Roussey / WJLA)  

Reston Town Center expansion to feature increased office space

Developer Boston Properties proposes 930,000 square feet of office space for the next phase of its expansion of the Reston Town Center, up from the previously proposed 643,000 square feet. Amid widespread office foreclosures and conversions in the region, the developer reasoned that the prime location near retail and Metro makes it attractive for office development.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)  

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