A crash this afternoon near Ballston pulverized a bus shelter and littered a sidewalk with strewn trash.
The reported single-vehicle crash happened just before 1 p.m. Friday on the 3900 block of Wilson Blvd, at the entrance to the parking lot of the &pizza, Gold’s Gym and other businesses.
A recent health fair sponsored by a local nonprofit gave at-risk county residents valuable support going into the winter months.
The event, presented by PathForward, served 74 individuals, including those staying at the organization’s two 24-hour programs — the Homeless Services Center and Residential Program Center — along with clients using other PathForward services and those supported by other safety-net providers.
Falls Church city and school leaders head into planning for the fiscal year 2027 budget with many unknowns to contend with.
David So, the city government’s new budget director, sketched out a number of budget scenarios at a Monday (Dec. 1) work session between members of the City Council and School Board. Depending on the scenario, his projections leave a budget gap of between $2.7 million and $5.4 million that will have to be addressed before a final budget is adopted next May.
The seven-week government shutdown derailed growth at Arlington Transit (ART), but county leaders anticipate a return to higher numbers.
October is “typically the highest ridership month we have,” said Paul Mounier, a transit planner for the county government, at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee. But figures show a ridership decline of 2.2% year-over-year that month, dropping to just over 243,000 riders.
Arlington’s apartment-rental costs continued a seasonal slide in November, but remained the highest outside California in a national survey.
According to figures reported Dec. 3 by Apartment List, the median rent in Arlington was $2,398 for a one-bedroom unit, $2,898 for two bedrooms and $2,547 overall. That’s down 0.9% month-over-month, compared to a 1% decrease nationally, and is down 0.3% year-over-year.
No Plowing Under Two Inches — “Plowing when there are 2 or more inches of snowfall helps avoid damaging equipment and road surfaces. While you’re tracking the plows’ progress during a major snow event, here are other things to know about Arlington’s snow and ice response.” [Arlington County]
HQ2 Holiday Event Tomorrow — “On December 6, the National Landing BID, in partnership with Amazon, brings The Lodge to Met Park with a full lineup of seasonal activities that also spotlight local businesses and artists. Neighbors, families, and four-legged friends can enjoy gingerbread chalet building inside the MoCA Arlington Innovation Studio, along with selfies with Santa, face painting, letters to Santa, ornament making, and Ski Vacation Bingo under covered tents on the Central Green.” [Amazon]
VHC Partners for Virtual Care — “VHC Health has inked a deal with West Coast physician platform HealthTap Inc. to take over its virtual urgent care services, aiming to alleviate pressure on the system’s brick-and-mortar sites in Northern Virginia. The Arlington health system said the arrangement gives VHC patients access to HealthTap’s tech platform to make on-demand video appointments.” [WBJ]
Fare Evasion Leads to Assault — “At approximately 5:02 p.m. on December 3, officers inside the Pentagon City Metro Station took the female suspect into custody for fare evasion. While in custody, the suspect was noncompliant and attempted to flee from officers during which she kicked one officer. No injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect was wanted out of Prince William County, Va. and Loudoun County, Va.” [ACPD]
Beyer Blasts Possible Tax Change — “A group of Democrats in both chambers, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. of Virginia, is leading opposition to a potential regulatory carve-out from a new minimum tax on corporate profits that critics say could generate an unjustified windfall for big companies.” [Roll Call]
Welcoming New Citizens — “Welcoming new Americans taking the oath after the arduous process of seeking citizenship is one of my favorite things. It’s a wonderful experience that helps you see why people have looked to America with hope for over two centuries.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Fairfax Is a Net Contributor to Va. — “A new analysis by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia confirms a stark fiscal imbalance: for every dollar in state revenue generated by Fairfax County, Virginia, residents receive only about 50 cents back in state funding and appropriations. While the report was exclusive to Fairfax County, and does not include Falls Church, it can be assured that similar net imbalance conclusions apply to the neighboring Little City.” [FCNP]
No D.C. Waymo Service Yet — “A bill to legalize driverless driving is stalled in a D.C. Council committee — and its chairman won’t move it until the city publishes an overdue safety study… Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is all in, unlike D.C. leaders. ‘It’s going to help spur growth,’ he says, and ‘make our roads safer.'” [Axios]
Recreational Weed Coming Soon — “Florida’s Jushi Holdings Inc., a public company with a national footprint that includes a 96,000-square-foot manufacturing and cultivation facility in Manassas and six Northern Virginia dispensaries under its Beyond Hello brand… expects that as a medical operator it would be able to continue serving its patients and participate in the recreational adult-use market… Jushi and other medical marijuana providers across Virginia will have to pay a $10 million fee to the state for the right.” [WBJ]
Metro Ready for Snow — “Metro is ready to keep customers moving through the first wintery mix of the season. While Metro is tracking winter weather for Friday morning, it is not expected to have major impacts on service. Since implementing a new bus network in June, Metro has also been assessing how to communicate service changes during winter weather events.” [WMATA]
New Legal Notice — Divorce complaint alleging irreconcilable differences; seeks sole custody of three. [Public Notices]
New Legal Notice — On/off-premise beer and wine license application; objections in 30 days. [Public Notices]
It’s Friday — Snow is expected before 11am, with temperatures reaching a high of around 33°F. Winds will blow from the east at 3 to 5 mph. Friday night will see patchy fog and mostly cloudy conditions, with a low temperature of approximately 26°F and calm winds. [NWS]
The worst of the roadwork on Columbia Pike is finally coming to an end.
Residents and business owners alike are breathing a sigh of relief as the extensive Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements project approaches “substantial completion” — meaning reopened lanes and sidewalks.
After more than two years, a proposal for a new apartment and townhouse development off of Columbia Pike is primed to start moving forward in 2026.
The project at 1001 and 1101 S. Glebe Road, first pitched in June 2023, has an updated design and the team is gearing up to begin working with the county on the proposal, Andrew Schneider, executive director of the Columbia Pike Partnership, told ARLnow.
The D.C. metro area stands alone in the Mid-Atlantic as the only region where home prices are expected to fall next year.
A forecast issued Wednesday (Dec. 3) by multiple-listing service Bright MLS predicts the median sales price of homes sold in the D.C. region in 2026 will drop 1% to $616,700, following a projected 3% increase in 2025.
An automated system that adjusts the timing of traffic signals when buses are running late is helping to improve transit reliability along Langston Blvd.
Since late summer, county transportation officials have been using “transit signal priority” along the 5-mile corridor from East Falls Church to Rosslyn. The system extends green lights and shortens red lights when ART buses are behind schedule — resulting in a small but measurable impact.
Update on Fatal Stabbing — “he deceased has been identified as Jonathan Alexander Diaz Chavez, 32, of No Fixed Address. He sustained multiple sharp-forced injuries during the incident, and his official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. One of the hospitalized subjects has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The second subject remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.” [ACPD]
County Continuing Equity Grants — “Arlington County has reaffirmed its support for the “Opportunities Grant,” formerly the “RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community” grant program, which is now accepting proposals. The program is continuing to invest in local organizations working to address critical community needs… Last grant cycle, in FY 2026, Arlington County awarded a total of $1.8 million to 23 nonprofits delivering a wide range of human services.” [Arlington County]
‘Miracle on 23rd Street’ Returning — “On Friday, a Christmas festival with a focus on inclusivity for those with disabilities will take over a few blocks in Arlington, Virginia, to bring on the holiday fun. Melwood has been hosting “Miracle on 23rd Street” for around 40 years… The real main attraction for the kids, of course, is Santa and Mrs. Claus, who drive down the street on a fire truck at 6:10 p.m.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 42 degrees, as northwest winds increase to 8-13 mph in the morning and gust up to 24 mph. The evening will be partly cloudy, with lows near 23 degrees. Northwest winds of 5-10 mph will become light and variable after midnight, with gusts potentially reaching 18 mph. [NWS]
A drop in occupancy rates at Arlington hotels is raising concerns about how long a rebound might take and the ripple effects it will have across the county’s overall economy.
Vacancy rates are “the biggest challenge” among local economic indicators at the moment, said Kate Ange, acting director of Arlington Economic Development.
