A proposed $4.5 billion investment plan for Arlington County includes more investment in clean energy, mental health services and emergency preparedness over the next decade.
The proposal, presented by County Manager Mark Schwartz on Tuesday, is nearly $600 million bigger than the previous 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) passed in 2022. It involves the county taking on more debt, including $174 million in bond referenda for voters to consider in November.
“This CIP proposal aims to address current and future capital needs in Arlington County, ensuring we can be responsive to change through investments in resiliency and maintain financial flexibility,” said Schwartz. “We want to focus on key planned investments and ensure our existing assets and facilities are maintained, refurbished, and kept strong to benefit County residents and businesses long-term.”
Notable new developments in Schwartz’s CIP overview include:
- Creating a $12.9 million “Situational Awareness Center” for emergency events, allowing “various public safety partners to co-locate in a shared space to monitor, filter, and disseminate key information”
- A $135 million investment into electrifying Arlington’s bus fleet and building up bus infrastructure, plus more funding for solar panels and electric vehicle chargers at public facilities
- Outfitting the Lubber Run Community Center to become a “resiliency hub” during emergency events such as a long-term power outage
- More funding for a forthcoming mental health and rehab facility at 601 S. Carlin Springs Road
- Expanding Arlington’s backup water supply
A substantial chunk of the proposed CIP — $1.9 billion — is for transportation projects, including $304 million for new Metro station entrances in Ballston and Crystal City and $52 million for ongoing roadwork on Columbia Pike. Another $880 million is requested for the county’s utility fund, while up to $696 million would go to Arlington Public Schools projects.
If the Arlington County Board approves the plan, Arlington voters are expected to consider four county bond referenda in November: $76 million for community infrastructure, $72 million for Metro and transportation, $26 million for parks and recreation and $14 million for utilities projects.
The proposed CIP calls for a gradual increase in Arlington’s ratio of debt service to general government expenditures, rising from 8.8% in Fiscal Year 2025 to a maximum of 9.8% in 2031. Schwartz noted that the county’s $150 million Barcroft Apartments loan “greatly impacts debt capacity.”
The county manager’s overview highlights societal and financial challenges Arlington has faced since the passage of the last CIP, including a rise in mental health concerns and the effects of inflation and increasing interest rates. It underlines a balance the county must strike between expanding projects and maintaining existing investments.
“The desire for new facilities and better and more efficient use of these assets is real, intense, and welcome,” Schwartz said. “However, we cannot and should not lose sight of investing smartly to ensure that what we have is secure and what we want is affordable.”
A series of CIP work sessions are scheduled to take place over the next several weeks, followed by a public hearing on July 10 and final County Board approval later in July.
