Washington, DC Transportation

(Maryland and Virginia)

Over 1.6 million people drive to work in the Washington metro area. An estimated 420,000 commuters spend over 100 minutes in their car weekdays and commute times are growing commensurate with the region’s urban sprawl. Traffic congestion is without question the region’s greatest frustration and socio-economic challenge. With the area’s exponential growth, the demand for new homes exceeds road infrastructure capability to service the population surge, particularly in Northern Virginia. Many blame Richmond, the state’s capitol, for not sharing with Northern Virginia its’ fair share of tax revenues needed for road development. Citizens often claim “taxation without representation.”

Northern Virginia is by far the greatest tax generating revenue base for The Commonwealth. Fairfax County boasts America’s wealthiest per capita economy and is the first county in the nation to break the $90,000 family income median. Maryland’s Montgomery County is likewise one of America’s richest. In the first week of 2003, it was forecasted the Washington metropolitan area will likely experience transportation challenges and housing shortages for the next two decades further straining transportation systems and escalating real estate values.

There are several transportation alternatives worth considering for more efficient commutes. The Metro system is clean, efficient and convenient. In fact, the rail system is a monument unto itself and may be our nation’s finest. Over 10,000 bus stops service the rail systems (Metro, VRE and MARC) providing access to every part of the District also serving the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Three airports are very conveniently located, well managed and easily accessible: Reagan, Dulles and Baltimore Washington International. Taxi companies, bus services and carpooling are also popular means of day to day transportation.

In spite of the traffic congestion complaints, Washington has all one needs to make commuting reasonably manageable.

 

Transportation Websites

Metropolitan Washington 
Council of Governments                 
Commuter Connections
Washington Metropolitan 
Telework Centers
Slug-lines (Free carpools)
The Slugging Homepage
Maryland Department of 
Transportation
Virginia Department of 
Transportation
DC Department of Public Works            
            

Metro

Washington Metropolitan 
Area Transit Authority
(WMATA) 
Metrorail
600 5th Street N.W. 
Washington, DC  20001
(202) 962-1234

Metrobus
Hours: 6 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Dates and times vary by route

MetroAccess
(paratransit service)
(301) 588-8181(86) 
TripFax (Timetables, info. by fax)
(202) 962-1420

Metro Mobility Link 
(visually impaired and 
wheelchair users) (202) 962-6464
Wheelchair lift-equipped 
Metrobus On-Call Service: 
(202) 962-1825

Regional Transit

Alexandria DASH
(703) 370-3274
Fairfax Connector
(703) 339-7200
(703) 339-1608
Fairfax City SUE
(703) 385-7859
Fastran 
(Income restricted)
(handicapped, elderly): 
(703) 222-9764
Laurel Connect-A-Ride
(301) 725-3600
MTA/MARC Train 
(Suburban MD)
(800) 325-RAIL (7245) 
(410) 859-7422
Montgomery County Ride-On 
(301) 217- 7433
Prince George’s County  Buses 
(301) 883-5656
Prince William County OmniRide
OmniLink (703) 490-4811
Ride-On 
(800) 732-3327 
(240) 777-7433
Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
(703) 684-1001

Carpools

Commuter Connection 
(800) 745-RIDE (7433)            
            

Airports

Ronald Regan Washington 
National Airport
(703) 417-8000,
(703) 661-2700
Baltimore-Washington 
International Airport
(800) I FLY BWI (435-9294) 
or (410) 859-7034
Washington Dulles 
International Airport
(703) 527-2700

National Bus and Rail

Greyhound Bus
(800) 231-2222 or 
(202) 289-5160
Peter Pan Trailways
(800) 343-9999 or 
(202) 371-2111
Amtrak 
(800) USA-RAIL 
(872-7245) or 
(202) 906-4971

Taxi Cab Companies

DC Taxicab Commission
(301) 229-5993
A Cavalier Cab
(703) 777-5959
AAAA Prince George’s 
Taxi Service
(301) 322-9797
A-1 Time Airport 
Service
(24 hours): (703) 759-7053
A-Paima International 
Limousine  
(703) 922-4040
Access Dulles Taxi
(202) 338-0700, 
(703) 404-2228
(703) 729-8899
Action Taxicab Inc 
(301) 840-1000
Airport Car Service 
(202) 388-5466
Airport Express
(202) 244-4606, 
(703) 241-9741
Airport Taxi Corporation Inc
(703) 430-2000, 
(301) 926-2900
Alexandria Imports
(703) 683-1000
Alexandria VIP Cab
(703) 549-6900
All around Shuttle
(540) 349-8870
All County Cab 
(301) 924-4344
B&J Community Cabs Inc
(301) 843-7302
Battles Transportation Inc 
(202) 832-6195
Best Cab Association
(202) 265-7834
Blue Bird Taxi 
(301) 864-7700 
(301) 270-6000
Blue Top Cab Co.
(Northern VA, 24 hours):
(703) 243-TAXI (8294)
Bob’s Cab Co
(301) 270-0107
Boston Coach
(703) 836-2601
Bowie Cab Co
(301) 390-9091
Cab of Waldorf
(301) 870-7216
Capital Sedan 
(703) 404-9788
Capitol Cab Coop 
(202) 546-2400, 
(301) 322-8877
Checker Cab Co
(301) 270-6000, 
(301) 927-2227 
Loudoun 
(703) 437-8294
City Cab
(202) 269-0990
College Park Taxi
(301) 887-1900
Columbia Cab
(301) 604-5800, 
(410) 792-4151,
(410) 880-6916
Community Cab
(301) 420-4484, 
(301) 459-4454
Countryside Cab 
(703) 444-2259
Crown Cab
(703) 528-0202
D.C. Express Cab 
Association
(202) 484) 8516