MetroNow Dispatch 5.2023
This month, we fawn over the bus, celebrate Metro’s May milestones, and thank those who brought WMATA’s 98th rail station to life.
Support Better Buses for Economic Growth and Inclusion
Last Month, WMATA released a vision of what a Better Bus Network could look like. The draft network represents the first comprehensive overhaul of Metrobus since it began operations 50 years ago. The vision proposes new and updated bus routes and schedules that would lead to a more frequent, more reliable network for riders across the region.
This moment is a historic opportunity to examine the importance of Metrobus to regional economic growth, competitiveness, and our shared quality of life. Is the region ready to prioritize our regional bus network accordingly in budget discussions in the years to come?
Starting April 17, WMATA began hosting 50 events over 50 days to celebrate 50 years of Metrobus and solicit feedback on the visionary network. The deadline for comments was recently extended to June 18 - we urge everyone to write WMATA to share support for Better Buses and elevate the importance of better bus service to the region’s future. Strong, vocal support on behalf of the goals, opportunity, and promise of the Visionary Bus Network will also heighten the importance and urgency of addressing WMATA’s impending financial cliff. Frequent, all-day, and all-night bus routes and the visionary proposal of a 35% increase in investment into bus services will not happen if WMATA is not fully funded.
The MetroNow Coalition thanks the WMATA team for their work on the draft and the bus operators doing the work day in and day out to provide critical mobility services. We thank and look forward to WMATA’s continued commitment to meaningful engagement with riders, businesses, and policymakers on the network redesign – so that together we can create a regional transit system that works better for all, driving economic growth and inclusion. You can provide your comments directly to WMATA by visiting betterbus.wmata.com/share.
With your support, Metrobus can become the national model of an efficient, reliable, and equitable transportation system for the next 50 years.
The ScuttleBus
Houston, we have a ScuttleBus. Here are MetroNow’s top transit picks this month:
⌛ 397 Days until the Transit Cliff: FY 2025 budget starts July 1, 2024. Is this what the term, “Use it or lose it,” refers to?
💸Budget Vote in the District: D.C. Council voted to approve a $19.7b budget for 2024 with implications for the K St Transitway, Metro for D.C., and D.C. Circulator
🚇 The ‘M’ in ‘May’ stands for Metro: Reopening of the Yellow Line, increased Red Line service, and a new station opening round out a productive month for Metro
🚉 Union Station redevelopment one step closer: Federal officials released their revised $8.8b plan to transform Union Station into the 21st century intercity rail and transit hub befitting of the nation’s capital
🟪 Purple Line looking for new Executive Director: Two key leaders announced last week they will be stepping down from the project.
🥈 Silver Line Phase 2 hits a million: Since opening in Nov. 2022, over 1 million people have taken a ride on Metro’s Silver Line extension.
✈️ Planes, Trains, and… Legs? Arlington approved the location and preliminary budget for the CC2DCA pedestrian bridge to be completed by 2028.
⏰ WMATA’s GM is an early riser: Axios caught up with Randy Clarke to talk morning rituals.
💨 The curious case of vanishing commuters: Rise in remote work has left transit agencies across the country facing substantial budget deficits.
🚗 Global mobility to shift from private vehicles: McKinsey projects that public transit’s share of total mobility globally will increase by 2035.
Transit Champion of the Month: Potomac Yard Metrorail Station
On May 19, after years of tireless work from Metro, Alexandria, and Virginia workers and officials, the Potomac Yard Metro station finally opened. Metro’s 98th station, and its second-ever infill station, could not have happened without the forward-thinking and visionary leadership from the City of Alexandria, WMATA, Virginia state government, and the business community. The new station has spurred new mixed-use, transit-oriented development in Potomac Yard and National Landing and serves as a testament to the region’s commitment to improving the sustainability, walkability, and livability of our communities. Thank you to all who were involved in bringing this project to fruition. Let’s get to Metro station #100!
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The MetroNow Coalition is made up of regional leaders from the business, non-profit, and advocacy communities who believe that transit is designed to bring us together —at work, school, and play. Today, we believe our collective advocacy for better transit for the Washington DC region is more important than ever.
We launched the MetroNow Dispatch to bring residents, leaders, and transit agencies together to think about how we can make better transit today, during the pandemic, and “tomorrow,” as we look beyond recovery to how we can build a more equitable, sustainable, and accessible transportation system for our region.