Photo by afagen

Both WTOP and the Examiner are reporting that free bus rides in Northern Virginia on Code Red air quality days will be a thing of the past this summer. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission this week voted to end the program, in place since 1999, that offered free bus rides around Northern Virginia to help reduce vehicle emissions on days of critical air quality. The reason? Duh, it’s too expensive, costing Northern Virginia over $2.5 million a year. It looks like some Maryland counties, however, including Montgomery, Prince George’s and Frederick, will continue the program this summer from May 1 through Sept. 15.