September 6, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Shuttles Start Running Between Arlington Hall, Pentagon

Published September 6, 2011 at 4:15PM

In July we reported that Barcroft residents were concerned about the influx of an additional 1,200 workers, whose jobs were being moved to Arlington Hall as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Congestion on George Mason Drive was part of the concern, and the fact that parking is only available for one in four new workers was another part. In response, Rep. Jim Moran requested that the military speed up approval of shuttle buses between the facility and the Pentagon Transit Center.

On Aug. 19, Moran’s office was notified that the shuttle service had been approved. Today, those shuttle buses started running, according to Moran spokeswoman Anne Hughes.

News

‘Stop’ Removed from Bike Trail at Lee Hwy and Lynn Street

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 2:49PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 1:53PM

The markings were removed from the Custis Trail by Arlington’s Transportation Engineering and Operations Administration last week, according to spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel. On Friday, ARLnow.com reported that a cyclist struck and injured at the intersection last month said he was issued a warning for failing to stop at the marker.

“The markings were removed because they provided a restriction to bicyclists that conflicted with the traffic signal at this intersection,” Whalen McDaniel said today. “This was recommended as part of a comprehensive trail traffic control study over a year ago. All users of the streets and sidewalks should exercise care at intersections and obey all regulations, signals, and signage.”

Weather

Heavy Rain Prompts Flood Watch

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 2:00PM | Updated September 6, 2011 at 2:20PM

A line of heavy rain showers is ~~on its way out of~~ moving through the area, leaving behind big puddles of water on local roads. Meanwhile, more rain from the remnants of Tropical Depression Lee is expected tonight.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the region earlier today.

Around Town

Cafe Parisien Closes on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 1:06PM | Updated September 6, 2011 at 2:07PM

Cafe Parisien, located at 4520 Lee Highway in the Lee Heights shopping center, has closed.

The French restaurant first closed its doors about a week ago, one of the neighboring shopkeepers said. Most of the interior has been emptied out and a sign announcing that the space is for lease is now displayed in the window.

Around Town

Crystal City Apartment Building Sold

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 11:29AM

The Crystal Plaza Apartments in Crystal City (2111 Jefferson Davis Highway) are under new ownership.

Archstone sold the building to real estate investor Ralph Dweck at the end of last month. No word yet on why Archstone, a major Crystal City land holder, decided to sell the apartment complex.

News

Dunk Tank Nixed at Dems Labor Day Chili Cookoff

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 10:39AM

The plan was for elected officials and other Democratic notables to get dunked while raising money for the Arlington County Democratic Committee. Alas, Mother Nature had other plans. With storms in the forecast, organizers reluctantly canceled the first annual Democratic dunking. Instead, as heavy rains descended on the area, attendees had to make due with the usual formula of chili, music and conversation as they huddled inside the hot and humid Lyon Park Community Center.

Among the brave dunk tank volunteers who stayed dry last night were County Board member Mary Hynes, Del. David Englin, School Board member Sally Baird, former 31st District state Senate candidate Jaime Areizaga-Soto. Also on the dunk list were blogger and consultant Ben Tribbett, ACDC Chair Mike Lieberman, ACDC Finance Chair Bree Raum, Arlington Joint Campaign Co-Chair Lauren Hall, former School Board candidate Terron Sims and ACDC precinct operations chair Kip Malinosky.

Schools

First Day of School for APS Students

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 9:36AM | Updated September 6, 2011 at 6:59PM

From the scheduled 7:50 a.m. start at middle schools to the 9:24 a.m. start at the H-B Woodlawn secondary program, from kindergarten to 12th grade, students made their way to school this morning on foot, on the bus and via car.

No significant problems with the back-to-school effort were reported, at least not from a public safety perspective.

Opinion

Morning Poll: ‘Terrible Traffic Tuesday’ Takes its Toll

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 8:54AM

The monicker, which comes from AAA Mid-Atlantic, refers to the sudden, jolting return to heavy traffic that occurs when Washingtonians return from their summer vacations and head back to work — while students in Virginia, at the same time, head back to school.

Among other traffic jams, nearly the entire length of northbound I-395 was slow this morning, from the 14th Street Bridge through Alexandria.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2011 at 8:06AM | Updated September 6, 2011 at 9:42AM

Rain streaks on a window overlooking the monuments in D.C. (Flickr pool photo by Brian Allen)

Businesses Encouraged By Action on Sign Ordinance — Business owners are hopeful that the new, proposed changes to the sign ordinance will dramatically “streamline” the time-consuming, costly process for getting signs approved in Arlington. [Washington Examiner]

DJO Student’s Dry-Cleaning Research Makes Headlines — It’s not everyday that a high school sophomore’s science project makes it into an peer-reviewed academic research journal, but that’s exactly what happened to Bishop O’Connell High School student Alexa Dantzler. The 15-year-old’s research on chemicals that remain on clothing after dry-cleaning, conducted with the help of the Georgetown University chemistry department, was formally published last week. [Washington Post]