WMATA

Per WMATA: Metro is open for business and looking to expand its regional opportunities and partnerships. With more than 18,000 purchase orders awarded annually, qualified vendors support a wide range of departments, including information technology, construction, facility maintenance, real estate, and inventory for day-to-day operations. Companies interested in doing business with Metro are invited to register now to attend Metro’s Procurement Fair, Tuesday, August 15.

The event will give business leaders an opportunity to meet with Metro’s procurement team, network with other vendors and government contractors, and attend workshops geared toward business growth and expansion.

Metro’s Cinder Bed Road Bus Division is transitioning to support an electric fleet, with the $104 million grant award from the Federal Transit Administration announced today. The funding will help Metro achieve its accelerated timeline to transition all nine bus garages and nearly 1600 buses to zero-emission by 2042.

“We appreciate the Federal Transit Administration’s leadership in the transition to zero-emission bus technology that will help reduce air pollution and improve quality of life across the region,” said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. “We also appreciate the support of Senators Kaine and Warner, Congressman Connolly and Congresswoman Holmes Norton, Mayor Bowser, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and other state and local leaders in securing this critical funding.”

Metro customers will see more trains, more buses, and simpler fares next week as Metro rolls out its tenth service improvement since last summer. Metro has adapted to post-pandemic travel patterns to provide safe, frequent and reliable service at all times of the day, all days of the week to serve all types of customers connecting our amazing region to all its possibilities.

Beginning Monday, June 26, Orange Line trains will operate every 10 minutes from opening until 9:30 p.m., and every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m., seven days a week, an improvement on the current 12-minute weekday frequency during peak hours and 15 minutes weekday frequencies during off-peak hours. Orange Line customers are reminded of ongoing summer construction work through July 16. Visit wmata.com/2023majorconstructionfor more information.

Metrobus customers who travel at night will have the option to get off between bus stops along the route, closer to their destination to provide a safer, better bus experience. These “courtesy stops” put customer safety first during times of day when it is darkest outside.

Beginning, Sunday, June 25, customers may request a courtesy stop between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. If the bus operator determines it is safe to do so, the bus will pull over to the curb and allow the customer to exit. In some cases, it may not be safe to exit, such as along busy highways, at or approaching intersections, or locations without a curb or place of safety. When exiting, customers should use the front door of the bus.

Per WMATA: Metro crews are nearing the finish line to reopen two stations and restore normal Silver Line service following construction to lay down miles of new rail and fiber-optic cables. Beginning Monday, June 26, trains will resume service to the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.

This is the first of a two-phase rail replacement project on the Orange and Silver lines. The second phase continues on the Orange Line only through July 16, with the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations remaining closed.

Per WMATA: Metro is making it more affordable for tens of thousands of Metro customers across the region. Today, customers can begin enrollment in Metro Lift, an income-qualified reduced fare program approved by Metro’s Board of Directors in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

The program’s launch, announced earlier this month, will provide a 50 percent discount on Metrorail and Metrobus fares for customers who qualify. The discount will reduce the cost of a bus trip to just $1 and rail fare to as little as $1 and no more than $3 depending on how far you travel.

Per WMATA: In observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday, Metrorail trains will run on a Saturday schedule from 5 a.m. – midnight and Metrobus will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. All routes that normally operate on Saturday will operate in addition to supplemental service on selected routes. MetroAccess customers may make a separate reservation to travel on the holiday; however, all pre-scheduled subscription trips will be canceled.

Customers traveling over the Juneteenth holiday can connect via Metro to Amtrak, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. This is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends since the pandemic, so give yourself extra time to catch your train or flight.