Jacob Kerr

Washington, D.C.

Producer at WTOP-FM (Washington, DC)

Working @wtop. (I mostly just vent about sports on here). #htown #hookem

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Articles

Metro’s future: No rail expansion, more bus lanes

2 weeks ago | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

Metro unveiled some preliminary plans for future investment on Thursday, which include a clear shift away from rail expansion in favor of bus service improvements. At a board meeting, Metro officials laid out the direction the transit agency should take in the coming years in a presentation titled, “World Class Transit.” They said rail construction has become too expensive in the U.S., and the transit system should use its capital funds on more cost-effective ways to improve service.
Trump administration looks to address safety for travelers in DC

2 months ago | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it wants to improve travel safety in the nation’s capital, with a series of letters to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the heads of Amtrak and Metro. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s letters come as the Trump administration has increased its focus on the nation’s capital this week, with President Donald Trump requesting Mayor Bowser remove homeless encampments in the District.
DC Council committee votes unanimously to expel member Trayon White

Dec 16, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

A D.C. Council committee has voted to recommend expelling Ward 8 member Trayon White from the council. The motion to expel White, who is facing a federal bribery charge, was adopted unanimously by the ad hoc committee. He’s accused of taking cash from a business owner in exchange for influencing government officials to renew city contracts.
Metro is getting its budget process underway for the next fiscal year

Dec 13, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

Metro unveiled its initial budget proposal for the next fiscal year — and it includes additional bus and rail service. Changes include more peak-capacity service on Metrorail with longer operating hours on weekends. The Metrorail map would also see some slight changes with half northbound Yellow Line trains going to Greenbelt instead of turning around at Mount Vernon Square. Additionally, half eastbound Silver Line trains would end at New Carrollton instead of Downtown Largo.
Multiple people displaced after apartment building fire in Montgomery Co.

Oct 31, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

Several Montgomery County residents are without a home this morning after an apartment fire in Aspen Hill, Maryland, Thursday. Just before 10 a.m., around 80 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire on Pear Tree Court near Connecticut Avenue. “Firefighters did make several rescues from the top floor. The fire was on the third floor of this four-story residential apartment,” said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer.
Construction begins on new Long Bridge

Oct 16, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr |Ciara Wells

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and other elected leaders broke ground Tuesday on a major construction project that will see a new rail bridge built between D.C. and Arlington, Virginia. The project will see repairs made to the Long Bridge, which is more than 100 years old. Only having two lanes of track and shared by freight and passenger trains, it’s become a major bottleneck for rail service on the East Coast.
Metro closing multiple stations for trackwork over winter holidays

Sep 19, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

Six Metro stations in downtown D.C. will temporarily close in December to allow the transit agency to repair and upgrade tracks and signals on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, WMATA announced Tuesday. Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level of Metro Center will shut down starting on Dec. 20. Beginning on Dec. 27, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and the lower level of L’Enfant Plaza will also close. All stations will reopen on Dec. 31.
MARC, Virginia Railway Express unveil ticket-sharing agreement between states

Aug 9, 2024 | marylandmatters.org | Jacob Kerr

By Jacob KerrThe region’s two commuter rail services said they are bringing back a ticket-sharing agreement that will make train travel between Maryland and Virginia a little smoother for passengers. As of Thursday, MARC and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) riders with a weekly, monthly or 10-trip pass on either service can transfer to the other rail line at Washington, D.C.’s, Union Station without having to buy a new ticket. The program currently does not apply to single-trip tickets.
MARC and VRE unveil ticket-sharing agreement for easier transfers

Aug 8, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

The D.C. region’s two commuter rail services announced Thursday they are bringing back a ticket-sharing agreement, making train travel between Maryland and Virginia a little smoother for passengers. As of Thursday, MARC and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) riders with a weekly, monthly or 10-trip pass on either service can transfer to the other at D.C.’s Union Station without having to buy a new ticket. The program currently does not apply to single-trip tickets.
Metro avoids drastic cuts, but fares are going up in new, nearly $5B budget

Apr 25, 2024 | wtop.com | Jacob Kerr

Metro fares will soon be going up as part of the $4.8 billion budget approved Thursday by the WMATA Board of Directors. This budget, which goes into effect July 1, avoids drastic service cuts the transit agency proposed in December when it said it faced a $750 million deficit. But to help bring in more revenue, fares will increase by 12.5%. That means the base fare will go up from $2 to $2.25, while the maximum fare jumps up from $6 to $6.75. Metro Access fares will also rise to $4.50.