A package of local street safety projects and the final draft design for upgrades to Doctor’s Run Park are both collecting public feedback through this weekend.
The deadline to submit input on all projects is Sunday. The street projects are intended to improve pedestrian safety on roads in Green Valley, Virginia Square and East Falls Church, while Doctor’s Run Park is expected to get a resurfaced volleyball court and updated playground equipment, among other changes.
The civic contributions of 70 women across multiple centuries were honored last weekend at the Falls Church Women’s History Walk.
“Their stories deserve to be remembered, celebrated and shared,” said Sally Ekfelt. She leads the Falls Church Women’s History Group, which sponsored the event at the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse.
The three Democratic candidates for County Board are all in favor of extensive community input on a proposal for a new behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn.
“You need to listen — it needs to be community-first,” challenger Julie Farnam said at a debate hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation on Tuesday.
There’s good news for one group of commuters between Arlington and D.C., and bad news for another.
The southbound GW Parkway ramp onto the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge is expected to close for repairs beginning today (Friday) and continuing through mid-August, according to the District Department of Transportation. At the same time, weather permitting, the eastbound ramp onto the bridge from Arlington Blvd will be reopening for the first time since February.
Arch Contract Shortcut — The Trump administration planned to begin work at the proposed Triumphal Arch site at Memorial Circle by using an existing, unrelated White House engineering contract — a move that would bypass competitive bidding, the Washington Post reports. The arch site, near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, sits on National Park Service land. [Washington Post]
Car Carrier Crunch — “Four car carriers at once this morning,” Dave Statter wrote, after auto haulers blocked bus lanes and a bus stop outside the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. He called the recurring scene a daily indictment of the county’s $11 million safety investment in Army Navy Drive. [Dave Statter/X]
Summer Travel Season — “More than 19 million travelers are expected to take to the skies” at the region’s airports between May and August, MWAA said. Reagan National’s new arrivals include Busboys and Poets near the D Gates and Colada Shop near the C Gates, while Dulles is preparing for new nonstop service to Taipei in late June. [MWAA]
Busboys Lands at DCA — “Busboys and Poets is now open!” the airport announced. The restaurant is located near the D Gates and open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. [Reagan Airport/X]
ACPD Marks Police Week — The Arlington County Police Department is observing National Police Week, which began Sunday and honors officers who died in the line of duty. VHC Health staff stopped by evening roll call to deliver snacks and thank officers for their service. [ACPD/X, ACPD/X]
East Potomac Design Reveal — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum unveiled the proposed design for the East Potomac Golf Links renovation, calling for “championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates” from Fazio Golf Design. The course’s future remains in limbo amid a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s takeover and lease termination. [Fox 5, Secretary Burgum/X]
Bus Fare Policy Backlash — Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 condemned WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke for a “despicable and callous decision” to require bus operators to quote fares to all passengers, reversing a 2017 policy the union says has reduced operator assaults. The new fare-quote policy takes effect May 24. [PoPville]
State Revenue Beats Forecast — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced that April revenues grew 6.9% compared to the previous April, and Virginia’s general fund revenues are running 7.3% ahead year-over-year through the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2026. “Revenues for Fiscal Year 2026 are ahead of expectations,” Spanberger said, while warning that national uncertainty and federal workforce cuts remain concerns. [Press Release]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 72 and northwest winds around 12 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 53. [NWS]
A family of geese — walking, instead of flying — backed up traffic on westbound I-66 in Arlington for more than an hour this afternoon.
A Metro Transit Police K-9 officer was the first to respond, protecting the birds alone for about 45 minutes, according to a post on X from longtime D.C.-area public safety chronicler Dave Statter. Virginia State Police and Arlington County Police later joined the effort.
New publicly-accessible buildings could be required to have baby diaper changing tables after a push from state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39), whose district includes part of Arlington.
Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development voted Monday to approve Bennett-Parker’s proposal to require diaper changing tables in new buildings that are open to the public. The policy would apply to each floor containing public restrooms in new assembly, business, educational, and mercantile occupancy buildings, Group R-1 hotels and motels, and highway rest stops.
A dog was rescued from an apartment fire in Arlington this morning.
The fire was reported around 8:45 a.m. Thursday on the second floor of a high-rise building in the 4500 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive, just south of Columbia Pike, according to the Arlington County Fire Department.
Arlington voters next year will be able to select up to 10 candidates in ranked-choice elections, more than triple the number currently available.
New ballot scanners set to arrive in Arlington before this year’s Aug. 4 state primary allow for ranking up to 10 contenders. But existing ballot markers, used to assist voters with disabilities, will not be replaced until next year.
Arlington County police are looking for suspects in three business robberies reported across the county on Tuesday.
In each incident, suspects allegedly took merchandise from a retail store and either used force or made threats against employees, according to an Arlington County Police Department crime report.
Falls Church City Council members adopted a $134.5 million fiscal 2027 budget Monday night, but at the meeting warned of more significant budget challenges ahead.
On a 6-1 vote, Council members reduced the current real estate tax rate from $1.185 per $100 assessed valuation to $1.18 per $100.
Bike to Work Day Tomorrow — Tomorrow (Friday) is the regional Bike to Work Day, with BikeArlington hosting morning pit stops in Ballston, Columbia Pike and Rosslyn from 7-9 a.m. Riders who register get a free t-shirt. Additional Arlington pit stops are planned at Met Park, National Landing Water Park, Lyon Village and the National Guard HQ. [BikeArlington]
Rosslyn BID Relocating — “The Rosslyn Business Improvement District is moving its offices a few blocks south ahead of the demolition of its longtime home.” The BID will occupy a new, roughly 7,300 square foot office at 1100/1101 Wilson Blvd by the end of May. Developer Penzance plans to raze the two 12-story Rosslyn Gateway buildings to make way for One Rosslyn — three residential towers totaling some 800 units, rising as high as 29 stories. [WBJ]
ART Earns Energy Award — “The Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Facility has been named a 2026 Better Project Award Winner by the U.S. Department of Energy.” The new facility reduced energy costs by 83% through strategic upgrades, including 817 solar panels that offset annual energy consumption by 67%. The award was presented this week at the Better Buildings & Better Plants Summit in Crystal City. [Arlington County]
Notable Library Events — Among other Arlington Public Library programming this weekend, Courthouse Library will host “Descenes and Discord” on Saturday at 2 p.m. — a lecture on the late 1970s and early ’80s DMV punk scene (registration full, waitlist available). On Sunday at 11 a.m., Columbia Pike Library hosts Native Hawaiian author and journalist Sara Kehaulani Goo for an author talk on her memoir “Kuleana.” [APL, APL]
Airports Authority Names Chief — “The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has selected Police Maj. Joseph Kluh as its new police chief, with his appointment set to take effect Sunday.” The 28-year department veteran is the first chief appointed from within the agency’s ranks. The MWAA police department has more than 230 personnel covering Reagan National, Dulles International and the Dulles Toll Road. [Patch]
Bridge Construction Closures — “The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will implement temporary lane closures on the I-395 NB HOV Bridge for concrete deck replacement work.” Alternating left and right lanes of the bridge over the Potomac will close from 9:30 p.m. Friday to 4:30 a.m. Saturday for barrier relocation. Exit ramps to I-395 NB and 14th Street will also close. [AlertDC]
Spanberger to Veto Union Bill — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger intends to veto a bill that would expand collective bargaining powers for public employees after the proposed law received bipartisan pushback, according to lawmakers.” Some officials worried the bill would significantly increase local government expenses. The governor initially tried to amend the bill to delay its effective date until 2030, but that was rejected by the legislature. [WJLA]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions are expected today with a high near 65 and northwest winds at 9–13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 51. [NWS]
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