The first commercial seaplane flights out of the College Park Airport were supposed to launch this week, but safety concerns raised from multiple federal agencies delayed the plans, canceling many pre-booked flights.
Gaithersburg, Md. (July 6, 2022) – The City of Gaithersburg recently deployed the first all-electric vehicle (EV) in its municipal fleet of approximately 200 cars and trucks. The new car joins 24 hybrid vehicles that are already in use by staff in the Police Department (15), Public Works (3)…
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will temporarily reduce Ride On bus service beginning Sunday, Jan. 16, due to a growing number of employees sick from, or exposed to, COVID-19.
ROCKVILLE – Montgomery County has begun its efforts to bring more focus on their Vision Zero goals to stop traffic-related deaths by 2030 following the introduction of a new coordinator and projects to stop the growing number of incidents in the county. Three pedestrians were killed already to start 2020 following the deaths of 13 […]
SILVER SPRING – A proposed agreement has been reached to enable the road widening of Interstates 495 and 270 to get back on track. It calls for delaying work on a section of 495 and will not include the taking of any property before final approval of the entire plan. The proposal had been at […]
SILVER SPRING – With the proposed widening of Routes I-495 and I-270, an emphasis on eliminating pedestrian deaths and the coming of the Purple Line light rail highlighted transportation issues during 2019. Because of congestion along the major Interstates 495 and 270, the state came out with a plan in 2018 that included 19 alternatives. […]
SILVER SPRING – A standing room only crowd of homeowners afraid of losing their properties, environmental groups concerned about increased emissions, and others opposed to adding expensive toll lanes loudly voiced their opposition to the $11 billion widening projects proposed for Interstates 495 and 270. The two-hour pep rally held at the Silver Spring Civic […]
WHEATON – Members of the Montgomery County Council and the District 18 State Delegation held a community forum on Nov. 18 for residents to express their concerns about the Wheaton Metro Parking garage. Over the years, the Wheaton Metro Parking garage has been a cause for concern due to unhealthy and unsafe conditions inside the […]
SILVER SPRING – During a briefing about Maryland’s six-year capital budget for transportation projects, State Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn revealed that the governor is no longer considering an alternative the county proposed to widening Interstate Highway 270 and the Beltway. In 2017, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) unveiled a plan to fix traffic congestion in the […]
ROCKVILLE — State legislators from Maryland and Virginia announced that they would work together to create a unified Capital Beltway and replace the American Legion Bridge, which has created a significant bottleneck for commuters. The bridge connects Fairfax County, Virginia, with Montgomery County over the Potomac River. Its narrow width creates a significant bottleneck for […]
GERMANTOWN — Local elected officials and members of the community have been disappointed to find out that Maryland transportation officials have nixed plans to fund bus transportation that would connect the up-county with more populated areas closer to the District. Designs for the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) have been in the works for the last […]
ROCKVILLE – The proposed $150 million for Metro capital funding in FY 2020 is one step closer to approval by the U.S. Congress as the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the respective budget bill. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Appropriations Committee member, said the fact that the proposed bill includes money for Metro […]
SILVER SPRING — Attendees at the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board meeting on Sept. 23 voiced their disdain for construction plans for the new Purple Line light rail system as the Purple Line’s Community Advisory Team presented updates on the plans. The Purple Line will be a 16.2 mile light rail system that connects Bethesda […]
WASHINGTON – Maryland Secretary of Transportation Pete Rahn said after a Sept. 12 Metro Board Committee meeting that the state’s transportation department will likely soon release the $53 million it withheld from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for more than two months. Rahn, in a letter to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld in […]
SILVER SPRING – Besides attending Northwood High School, Kayla Tengeya also cheerleads in Rockville and interns with Montgomery County Councilman Evan Glass. The high school senior is not sure she would be able to do all the things she enjoys if it were not for the county’s new program that allows county residents 18 years […]
SILVER SPRING—On Sept. 6, the Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously approved a proposal to create the county’s first Pedestrian Master Plan. This new master plan will recommend practices, change design standards and prioritize infrastructure allowing residents to travel safely in Montgomery County so it is safer for all pedestrians. According to the Montgomery County Planning […]
SILVER SPRING – A new organization launched at the recent Montgomery County Agricultural Fair supports the State Highway Administration’s plans to relieve traffic congestion on Routes 495 and 270. Citizens4TrafficRelief was created to give a voice to those who support plans for the managed lanes and road widening that the state currently is working on, […]
SILVER SPRING—Downtown Silver Spring is the first location on the East Coast to receive a “protected intersection,” which will make four-way crossing safer for pedestrians. The intersection is on the corner of Spring Street and Second Avenue. Matt Johnson, a project manager for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), explained that protected intersections are […]
ROCKVILLE – Dozens of members of the Maryland General Assembly say they share Maryland’s secretary of transportation’s concerns about Metro transparency and want him to update them on his efforts working with the agency. Forty-one Maryland state senators and delegates signed a letter to Maryland Secretary of Transportation Pete Rahn dated July 29, in response […]
WASHINGTON – Metro Board committee members gave mixed feedback to a consultant’s drafted strategy and accompanying suggestions to overhaul bus operations throughout the D.C. metro area. Rich Davey, associate director of the Boston Consulting Group – joined by the chairman of the project’s executive steering committee Rob Puentes – presented to the Metro board’s safety […]
ROCKVILLE – Two members of a U.S. House of Representatives committee wrote a letter on July 16 to the chairman of Metro’s Board of Directors, requesting documents about the ethics committee’s investigation of ex-board member Jack Evans. “The apparent lack of documentation about the investigation raises questions about whether this effort was a genuine one, […]
ROCKVILLE – Maryland is withholding money scheduled to be sent to Metro for capital projects due to concerns about transparency, the Maryland transportation secretary wrote in a letter to the general manager on July 1. Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn said he does not want to give the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) funding as […]
WASHINGTON – Following a week of investigations into their leadership, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors approved the transition of the new board leadership during their meeting on June 27. The Metro Board unanimously voted to approve Board Member Paul Smedberg, who represents Virginia, as the new chairman. Members accepted the […]
WHEATON—Local officials gathered at the entrance of the Wheaton Metro station to recognize the end of the Silver Spring turnbacks. Councilmember Tom Hucker, who serves as the chair of the Transportation and Environment Committee, explained that by ending the Silver Spring turnbacks, commuters in the area can expect to see twice as many trains and […]
WASHINGTON – Four U.S. Senators announced at a press conference plans to propose a bill to renew the 10-year funding commitment for Metro’s capital budget, which will end after the fiscal year. On May 23, U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), along with Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both […]
ROCKVILLE — Local community officials and members of the public attended the fifth Managed Lanes Study workshop in large numbers to learn more about possible widening of interstates in the area. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) are in the process of looking for viable […]
A federal judge on March 1 dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Maryland Department of Transportation, the U.S. Transportation Department and the Federal Transit Administration. Judge Richard J. Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) request that he dismiss a lawsuit filed by the […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Metro Board of Directors voted to keep the system’s existing rail service schedule for one more year to allow time for crews to perform maintenance, inspections and repairs and keep Metro safe. The motion to continue using the schedule with reduced late-night service for a year passed, 7-1, with D.C. Board […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos Riding mowers didn’t always have cup holders. Early on, they were purely utilitarian — a loud, bouncy machine with a seat. But then someone realized that it’s more pleasant to mow the lawn if you have a cold drink within reach. That’s also the story of the Jeep Wrangler. Tracing […]
By Barbara Trainin Blank @traininblank Sometimes a hobby becomes more. When she was a student at Catholic University, Mary Roach was a piano-performance major. She always loved art, however, and brushed up her skills in classes at Montgomery College. The classes led to a shift in focus. A few of Roach’s fellow students were painting […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos When you’re looking for an extra-affordable compact car, there’s bound to be something you sacrifice. Most likely, that means you’ll get less interior space or a less-refined driving experience than a pricier competitor. Among today’s compact sedans, the Honda Civic stands out for its balance of ride, handling, power, fuel […]
MoCo and P.G. elected officials sign letter requesting timely return of late-night Metrorail service
By Kathleen Stubbs @kathleenstubbs3 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dozens of elected officials from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties signed a letter to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld and the Board of Directors requesting the return of late-night rail service. Del. David Moon (D-20), who represents Montgomery County, said he came up with the idea to […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos The flagship model of a luxury brand serves multiple roles. On the surface, it’s generally the biggest and most expensive vehicle that brand offers — the model that loyal customers aspire to trade up to. But it’s also a symbol of the brand, a showcase of what it’s capable of. […]
By Kathleen Stubbs @kathleenstubbs3 SILVER SPRING — A water main break near the intersection of Connecticut and Georgia Avenues in Aspen Hill left more than 300 customers without water Sunday night and Monday and led to a school closing Monday. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission received a call about the break of a 10-inch […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos Ask most automotive journalists to name the best compact crossover, and you’ll likely hear one of several names. The Honda CR-V offers tremendous interior space and fuel economy, along with pleasant driving dynamics. The Mazda CX-5 is sporty and luxurious. The newly-redesigned Subaru Forester brings new refinement to a highly-functional, […]
By Suzanne Pollak @SuzannePollak SILVER SPRING — Two County officials called attention to what they believed to be serious flaws in the State Highway Administration’s proposal to widen Interstates 495 and 270 during a meeting Monday night at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The state’s 19 proposed alternatives, some of which include adding express […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos When you think about luxury cars, which brands come to mind first? Mercedes-Benz and BMW? Lexus and Audi? What about Acura and Volvo? Sometimes dismissed as “second-tier” luxury, these two brands are often overlooked. Acuras are sometimes seen as fancy Hondas rather than true luxury cars, while some folks consider Volvos […]
By Kathleen Stubbs @kathleenstubbs3 WASHINGTON — Budget and Finance Committee members asked Metro’s chief financial officer on Thursday the reasoning behind the general manager’s proposed operating budget for FY 2020, which includes several new, costly initiatives. Metro Board member Mike Goldman, who represents Montgomery County, said he would support Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld’s […]
By Brady Holt @BradyHoltAutos The essence of a midsize sedan is simple. It should have room for five people, a quiet ride, good gas mileage, plenty of safety features and a reasonable price. By that mark, the outgoing generation of the Nissan Altima was hard to fault. It might as well have been designed to […]
By Brady Holt If you’re shopping for an affordable hybrid, chances are you’re looking at the best-selling Toyota Prius or its Hyundai Ioniq rival, which the Sentinel reviewed earlier this year. But there’s a new rival to these compact hatchbacks: the 2019 Honda Insight, essentially a gas-electric version of the Civic sedan, only designed to […]
By Brady Holt Subarus are known as stellar family cars — user-friendly, all-wheel-drive cars and crossovers that are easy to drive and well-designed to withstand a crash. But until now, the company reserved these qualities for smaller families who could fit into its five-passenger Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy, and Outback. It briefly offered a three-row […]
By Brady Holt In this space, we’ve praised a series of plug-in hybrids – vehicles whose electric battery can recharge off the grid, yet also have a gasoline engine that can keep you running after you’ve used up that electric charge. Recently-tested models include the Honda Clarity and Kia Optima midsize sedans, Kia Niro and […]
By Kathleen Stubbs Metro may rehire a track inspection supervisor who had been fired almost two years ago, following an arbitration decision Oct. 5, according to David Stephen, spokesperson for the supervisor’s union. Stephen, spokesperson for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, said a three-member arbitration panel voted with a majority supporting that Metro rehire former […]
By Suzanne Pollak ROCKVILLE — Several times during a heated briefing on Thursday night between Montgomery County politicians and representatives from the Maryland State Highway Administration, Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn emphatically told a packed room that any changes to Interstates 495 and 270 to alleviate congestion will take place within the current right-of-way. “No, we […]
By Brady Holt When automakers position their products against the competition, big tends to be an advantage: “Our car has more room than their car.” If you’re looking for a crossover with three rows of seats, that’s a pretty significant advantage. When you have a large family, every inch of legroom and every cubic foot […]
By Kathleen Stubbs D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported a man to a hospital with life-threatening injuries after finding him beside his wheelchair in a Metro station. D.C. Fire and EMS personnel found the man by an escalator at Columbia Heights Metro Station in Northwest D.C., and transported him to a hospital with […]
By Brady Holt Regular Auto Drive readers know about recent improvements to two class leaders in the midsize family sedan class: the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. These models are better than ever these days, with outstanding fuel efficiency, improved driving dynamics, fancier interiors, and more luxury and convenience features. You may have also read […]
By Brady Holt Once upon a time, car enthusiasts widely embraced the idea that “there’s no replacement for displacement” — meaning that if you want to go fast, big engines reign supreme. But more than ever, automakers are following other paths. Today, turbochargers help squeeze absurd horsepower out of little four-cylinder engines. Some high-end sports […]
WASHINGTON — Past efforts to improve bus service have failed in the D.C. region because jurisdictions were using tactics, not a regional strategy, Metro consultants say. Metro leadership wants to change the business model of bus service in the region, both for Metrobus and for local bus service such as Ride On in Montgomery County […]
By Brady Holt For nearly two decades, the Toyota Prius has proven itself to be a fuel-efficient and relatively affordable way to minimize fuel usage. This best-selling hybrid uses its gas engine in connection with an electric motor to reduce gasoline usage. But it’s a compact car that starts at $24,395. While the Prius’ driving […]
A baby born in February 2010 has probably just entered the third grade. But the Toyota Sienna minivan, now also more than eight years old, hasn’t changed quite that much during that time. Eight years is a long time for a car to go without major changes. The market keeps setting new standards for driving […]
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