The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that eight surplus properties are up for sale in Maryland, Virginia, and the District with potential for commercial, residential, and/or mixed-use development. The parcels include several sites near or adjacent to Metro stations, including Columbia Heights, College Park, and Glenmont.
The sale of surplus property is expected to save money by reducing maintenance expenses on property WMATA no longer needs, while generating additional revenue for capital and operating expenses.
“Our riders want affordable, cost-effective public transit and to do that we need to find new sources of revenue and efficiencies,” said Metro GM/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We are turning over every stone, looking at all of our assets to get the most out of every dollar and ensure continued financial stability.”
All eight parcels are in areas surrounded by commercial or residential development and provide infill opportunities that will benefit the neighboring community. The offering includes more than 7,000 square feet of land in the heart of Columbia Heights on Park Road, close to popular restaurants and retailers that is prime for development.
An additional property adjacent to Glenmont Metro is also being offered for ground lease.
METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.
BART began offering select parking lots to non-BART riders to generate new revenue to help address its FY27 $376M operating budget deficit brought on by remote work.
Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.
The renewals include continued operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida; the PRTC in Virginia; and RTC Washoe in Nevada.
The governor’s proposed auto insurance reforms could save the agency $48 million annually by limiting payouts in crashes where buses are not primarily at fault.
What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
Amanda Wanke, who has worked at DART for 10 years, including the past 2½ years as CEO, will join Metro Transit as deputy chief operating officer, operations administration.
