Connect with us

Washington, D.C

D.C. will begin fining drivers in bus-only lanes

Published

on

D.C. will begin fining drivers in bus-only lanes


correction

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that DDOT and WMATA lowered the fine for driving in a bus lane from $200 to $100. While DDOT proposed lowering the fine, the D.C. Council passed legislation in November to make it official. The article has been corrected.

Starting Monday, D.C. drivers could be fined $100 for driving, parking or stopping in a bus lane.

The fines are part of a program called the Clear Lanes Project, a $7.7 million joint initiative between the District Department of Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that aims to reduce the number of vehicles blocking bus lanes and bus zones — the 80 feet in front of a bus stop and 20 feet after it.

Advertisement

Through the program, WMATA will mount cameras on 140 of its buses to capture video of vehicles that block bus lanes or zones. City officials say the effort will improve traffic and safety by reducing bus idle times and better allowing them to pull up to the curb for passenger entry and exit.

Vehicles that remain in the lanes or zones long-term will be towed.

The District has 12.7 miles of bus lanes where cars are not permitted, but transit users have long complained that cars and trucks have continued to block the lanes, slowing buses down. WMATA data shows that the average bus speed in D.C. is 9.8 miles per hour, a 9 percent decline from 15 years ago.

“In the District, Metrobus is the only mode of transportation for many people,” said Sherri Ly, a spokesperson for WMATA. “Keeping bus stop zones and bus lanes clear will improve the customer experience with faster, better, more reliable and equitable service.”

The fine was originally slated to be $200, but DDOT proposed changing it to address concerns that it would place an excessive burden on low-income drivers. The D.C. Council passed emergency legislation introduced by Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) lowering the fine on Nov. 7. The $100 fine matches fines for parking at a bus stop.

Advertisement

DDOT has issued more than 48,000 warning notices for vehicles parked in a bus lane or zone since July, according to data provided by city officials.

Authorized vehicles — including school buses, emergency vehicles and accessible transportation service vehicles — as well as bikes and scooters will continue to be permitted in bus lanes.

Unauthorized vehicles can still enter bus lanes under specific situations, such as when parking, pulling over for an emergency vehicle, or turning within 40 feet of an intersection or driveway.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Washington, D.C

Ballard Partners’ Washington office grows with four lobbyists and significant office expansion

Published

on

Ballard Partners’ Washington office grows with four lobbyists and significant office expansion


Thomas Boodry, Grace Colvin, Alison Anway and Scott Wagner are joining the D.C. team.

Ballard Partners is announcing the addition of four lobbyists to its Washington, D.C. office: Thomas Boodry, Grace Colvin, Alison Anway, and Scott Wagner. This significant expansion of talent is complemented by the firm’s new, larger footprint in its Washington office, occupying approximately 20,000 square feet.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Grace, Thomas, Scott, and Alison to our powerhouse Washington team,” said Brian Ballard, President of Ballard Partners. “Their combined experience and deep understanding of the policy landscape will be invaluable to our clients as we continue to navigate complex issues in Washington.

“This expansion of both our talent and our physical presence in the Homer Building underscores our firm’s sustained growth and unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled advocacy and strategic counsel.”

Advertisement

Boodry is the former Special Assistant to President Donald J. Trump and Senior Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council. He also served as Legislative Director to former U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz and as Legislative Aide to then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Colvin is the former VP of Federal Advocacy and Strategy for The League of Credit Unions and Affiliates, where he represented nearly 400 credit unions across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia before the White House, Congress, and regulatory agencies.

Anway is a health policy specialist formerly in Ballard’s Tallahassee office. She started her career with Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas during the ACA debate and later led federal public policy for Anthem.

Wagner is a Yale and University of Miami Law graduate who co-chaired Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2022 Transition Team. He serves on the Biscayne Bay Commission and is Vice Chair of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board. He was previously based in Ballard’s Miami and Tallahassee offices


Post Views: 0

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

India-US trade deal: Indian team reaches Washington DC for fresh round of talks; Donald Trump’s tariff deadline nears – Times of India

Published

on

India-US trade deal: Indian team reaches Washington DC for fresh round of talks; Donald Trump’s tariff deadline nears – Times of India


India and the United States aim to resolve disagreements in key sectors, particularly agriculture and automobiles. (AI image)

India-US trade deal: As US President Donald Trump’s fresh reciprocal tariff deadline of August 1, 2025 nears, a senior delegation from India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry has landed in Washington DC. The team will look to finalize an interim trade deal between India and the US.India and the United States aim to resolve disagreements in key sectors, particularly agriculture and automobiles, whilst working towards a mutually beneficial trade agreement.

India Pushes Bold Quad Vision in Washington, Jaishankar To Meet Marco Rubio | Operation Sindoor

The US administration under Trump has extended the deadline for implementing additional tariffs on various nations, including India, until August 1, providing extra time for negotiations beyond the initial July 9 cut-off date.Donald Trump has been on a tariff letter spending spree since last week, and has threatened high tariffs on over 20 countries. Notably, India has not received any such letter till now and Trump said last week that the US was nearing a trade deal with India.Also Read | India-US trade deal: Will Donald Trump go for less than 20% tariff rate for India? Top 10 developments to track

India-US Trade Deal Talks

Advertisement

  • According to an ANI report, discussions on the mini or interim bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and the US are expected to start Monday morning (US time) and will span across four days.
  • The Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary of the Commerce Ministry, Rajesh Aggarwal, is scheduled to participate in the talks from Wednesday, the report said.
  • The early arrival of the preliminary team before the chief negotiator indicates a systematic approach, where initial talks will likely address agenda setting and procedural aspects, followed by detailed negotiations with senior officials.
  • A few days ago, a Bloomberg report quoting sources said that the US is working on a trade deal with India, in which America will impose a tariff rate of less than 20%. This would be lower than the 26% tariff rate announced by Trump on April 2.

India and the US have expressed interest in expanding their trade relationships and bolstering their economic collaboration through diversified partnerships.India maintains a significant trade relationship with the United States, which stands as one of its principal trading partners. American companies increasingly view India as a crucial market for their international expansion plans.Also Read | India-US trade deal: Opening India’s dairy sector to America could cause huge losses; ‘Rs 1.03 lakh crore annually…’An official statement last week confirmed that Indian negotiators would visit the United States to advance the ongoing trade discussions.Both nations have set a target to enhance their bilateral trade volume to $500 billion by 2030, with plans to establish a formal Bilateral Trade Agreement.Officials from India’s Department of Commerce have engaged in multiple discussions with their counterparts from the Office of the US Trade Representative to finalise a comprehensive trade agreement.





Source link

Continue Reading

Washington, D.C

‘We got to come out to vote as a people’: Early voting continues in special election in Ward 8 DC Council seat – WTOP News

Published

on

‘We got to come out to vote as a people’: Early voting continues in special election in Ward 8 DC Council seat – WTOP News


Early voting continues to fill the seat on the D.C. Council that Trayon White held before he was expelled in February by the council after being charged with taking bribes.

Residents went to the Anacostia Public Library Saturday to cast their ballots for the Ward 8 seat on the D.C. Council.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

Ballot stations in Southeast DC
Additional ballot stations at the Anacostia Public Library.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

Early voting sheet
The Board of Elections posted the numbers of early voting at Anacostia Public Library in Southeast D.C.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)

WTOP/Jimmy Alexander

Advertisement

Early voting continues to fill the seat on the D.C. Council that Trayon White held before he was expelled in February by the council after being charged with taking bribes.

Ward 8 residents went to the Anacostia Public Library in Southeast D.C. Saturday to cast their ballots for the council seat. The candidates are White, Mike Austin, Salim Adofo and Sheila Bunn.

“This will be the best time to get a new councilmember on Ward 8,” said Andrea Tucker.

The main issues for voters included crime, new restaurants, new recreation centers and keeping children off the streets.

Another voter, Allan Bussey, said that to see change, people will have to go out and cast their ballots.

Advertisement

“We got to come out to vote as a people. We need young voters, if we can get them, all the way up to our elders,” Bussey said.

Early voting runs through Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending