By Ron Thompson (Transportation Equity Organizer) • March 24, 2020
The coronavirus outbreak has sent shockwaves around the globe. Although local leaders stopped short of a formal “shelter in place” order, WMATA, the region’s transit agency, has taken extraordinary measures to keep people from gathering. While some measures make clear sense, others have been questioned, particularly among riders who continue to rely on Metrobus even in the face of COVID-19.
By Wyatt Gordon (Virginia Correspondent) • March 24, 2020
Facing the worst pandemic in at least a century, transit agencies throughout Virginia and the nation are struggling to balance the needs of their riders, the safety of their operators, and the implications of the coronavirus for their finances.
By David Alpert (Executive Director) • March 24, 2020
Ridership on public transit systems nationwide has plummeted and many, including Metro, are actively discouraging people from riding unless absolutely necessary. This is going to obliterate transit systems’ budgets, and so over 220 elected officials and organizations signed a letter to Congress on March 18 asking for emergency funding for transit in a coronavirus relief bill.
Metro will close 19 stations and close all but one entrance at nine more stations starting Thursday. Metro says this is necessary to protect its workers and conserve resources, and will close stations with low ridership or ones located near another station that can stay open. Some have voiced concerns about where the closures leave people who still need to use transit. (Justin George, Katherine Shaver / Post)
As public transportation systems across the country cut service and people who can shy away from crowds, Uber and Lyft drivers are shuttling essential workers to their jobs, elderly individuals to grocery stores, and sometimes people needing care to the hospital. (Sarah Holder / CityLab)
DC is closing nonessential businesses by 10 pm Wednesday, while Maryland and Virginia already closed or restricted those businesses on Monday. What does each jurisdiction count as “essential”? (Jenna Portnoy / Post)
Mayor Bowser announced Tuesday that nonessential businesses will be ordered closed Wednesday night. Healthcare, childcare, financial instituions, and food service options are essential, and the Mayor clarified that bike stores can stay open too. (Rachel Kurzius / DCist)
Arlington’s water, electricity and waste managements services are still operational, though the county has taken precautions like delaying planned maintenance, staggering shift start times and suspending some services like bulk trash pickup. (ARL Now)
Developer RPAI announced it will delay construction on a planned mixed-use transit-oriented development project in Prince George’s County in an effort to be more risk-averse due to the pandemic-induced economic downturn. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
City Manager Mark Jinks says that the pandemic crash means that Alexandria is now facing a $35 million shortfall in its budget, instead of the $10 million surplus he expected. He directed the city to cut $100 million from the budget and is looking at postponing or canceling capital projects. (James Cullum / ALX Now)
On Monday students in DC returned to class, often via Zoom or Facebook Live, but an estimated 30% of DCPS’s 52,000 students don’t have reliable internet access. For now, the city is distributing school laptops to some and raising money for more, but many students are learning from paper instruction packets without seeing their teachers or classmates. (Perry Stein / Post)
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