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