Amid Federal Worker Return, Loudoun County Encourages Transit, Carpooling

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — While more federal workers are beginning to return to in-person work with an executive order by President Donald Trump, Loudoun County government encouraged alternatives to solo driving.

On Monday, the return of thousands of Navy Yard workers exemplified the traffic impacts that the return-to-office plan could present. WTOP reported that Navy Yard has only 4,473 parking spaces despite almost 17,000 Navy Yard employees reporting back this week. D.C.'s Department of Transportation notified commuters of traffic delays around Navy Yard and said it would work to adjust traffic signal timing. However, a WTOP reporter observed entries to the Navy Yard parking facility ran smoothly.

While Trump's deferred resignation offer to federal employees was temporarily paused by a judge, there's a chance more employees could return to the office under the president's executive order.

In light of the return-to-office plan, Loudoun County government asked commuters to consider alternatives to driving alone. The options offered to Loudoun County commuters include Loudoun County Transit, Metro's Silver Line, and Commuter Connections carpooling and vanpooling programs.

Along with local bus service, Loudoun County Transit provides commuter bus routes near work sites in Rosslyn, Crystal City, the Pentagon, and Washington, DC. The routes run during the morning and evening commutes and cost $11 with a SmarTrip card or $12 with cash for one way. The commuter buses have reclining seats, a restroom, reading lights, overhead bins and fare boxes. For more information, visit loudoun.gov/CommuterBus.

Loudoun County has two Metrorail stations along with one serving Dulles International Airport —Ashburn Metrorail Station and Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station. The stations are accessible through the fare-free local bus routes or parking at the stations. Commuter parking is available at the Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station and the Ashburn Station Metrorail Station parking garages for a fee. Loudoun County Transit local bus service also connects to the Innovation Center and Reston Metrorail stations on the Silver Line.

Aside from transit, commuters can use the regional ridematching system for carpools and vanpools managed by Commuter Connections. Park and Ride lots throughout Loudoun County offer free parking for carpools, vanpools and bus riders.

Another Commuter Connections benefit is the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which provides up to six free emergency rides home a year for commuters who carpool, vanpool or use transit to work at least two times per week.

Loudoun County has more information about commuter services on its website.