OVERVIEW
Mobility and Connectivity
Business in Washington, DC moves quickly, and the District’s highly capable transportation and resilient infrastructure systems enable others to do just that.
Year over year, DC is ranked among the best cities for public transportation, recognized for efficiency, affordability and diversity. Over 600,000-plus people rely on the DC Metrorail, that keeps commuters moving in and out of the city for work each day. When it’s time to travel beyond the District, three major airports (Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International) offer dozens of daily non-stop flights to other domestic and international business hubs.
Supported by micro-mobility pilot projects and emerging technologies, DC innovators are using cloud computing, machine learning, IoT and sensor technologies, to develop cutting edge connectivity to enhance infrastructure, making Washington, DC the world’s sixth-smartest city. Resilient, sustainable and inclusive, DC’s transportation and infrastructure are the city’s platform for progress.
The WDCEP DC Transportation and Infrastructure Map highlights the DC Metropolitan Area’s transportation system and ongoing infrastructure projects. This map was published in February 2020 and all data is current as of February 2020.
Data, Maps, Infographics:
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An Economy on the Move
Continually ranked one of the top transit systems in the country, DC’s Metrorail is the primary and most efficient way locals make their way around the nation’s capital.
The Metro handles over 175 million trips per year, making it the third largest system by ridership in the United States. It’s crucial role in commerce and livability, the majority of DC’s current development is taking place within a one-half mile radius of a Metro station.
The public bus service (124 million annual trips) is also part of the DC Metro network, and five interstate highways merge in and around the city.
Washington, DC is served by two major airports minutes from any location and are accessible via metro and traditional modes of transportation. DC’s closest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located across the Potomac River. Eight airlines serve Reagan Airport, with nearly 100 non-stop domestic destinations.
Also located in Virginia, and 26 miles from DC’s core business district, is Washington Dulles International Airport. DIA is the primary international airport for the DC region, with 200-plus nonstop domestic and international destinations on 39 airlines.
Some residents and business professionals opt for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, about a 60-minute drive from the city center, also accessible by Amtrak and MARC trains from Union Station.
Historic Union Station located just north of the United States Capital building, is one of DC’s premier multimodal transportation hubs, with over thirty providers to chose from including MARC and Amtrak servicing 65,000 trips per weekday to places like New York and Boston.
Local commuters looking for solution to the “final mile” also opt for micro transportation options like Capital bikeshare, electric scooters and traditional bicycles. Although trends indicate more workers are opting for remote work locations, DC experienced a 50% increase in remote working from 2000 to 2013, during the same time period biking more than doubled with a 122% increase.
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The Power of a Dependable Energy Ecosystem
Reliability and sustainability are integrated in the District’s energy landscape.
Pepco, one of the largest utilities in the nation, provides electric service for the entire city. Investments in infrastructure and operations are paying off for customers. In 2017, outages decreased by 20 percent compared to 2014, and the average outage in 2018 was less than 90 minutes.
In 2018, D.C. passed the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act. This mean DC will source 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2023. The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) has led the District in becoming the first LEED-Platinum certified city in the world.
Washington Gas is the area’s natural gas service provider, while the DC Water and Sewer Authority manage water and wastewater with a state-of-the-art water treatment facility at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plan.
DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) offers a variety of workforce development programs, trainings and rebates on electric and utility options from solar installment projects to commercial building operations.
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Cool and Connected
DC has premier connectivity options for residents and businesses, alike. The District has open and unmonitored Wi-Fi that connects more than 15 million users – nearly five times the use of other U.S. smart cities.
A top-five U.S. Ignite Smart Gigabit Community, DC is known for its efforts to leverage intelligent city infrastructure. Connected devices, sensors and data analytics are improving quality of life, enhancing economic growth and capitalizing on city opportunities. Current smart city initiatives include smart waste management, movement analytics and water quality sensing.
Washington, DC is a historic city and has expanded into the future with the Resilient DC strategy to thrive in the face of change – a tactical strategy that brings together major planning efforts across public and private sectors.
DC is also home to the most LEED Certified Buildings in the U.S. Recognized as the “center of green building” by the US Green Building Council in 2017, D.C. has nearly 30 square feet of LEED space per resident, more than any other U.S. state, and is recognized as the first LEED-platinum certified city across the globe.
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Chad Shuskey
Senior Vice President of Programs