A groundbreaking ceremony for a new two-track railroad bridge over the Potomac River took place yesterday (Tuesday) with several federal officials in attendance.
Attending the formal construction kickoff for the Long Bridge Project — part of a $729 million effort to reduce bottlenecks and improve reliability for commuters — were U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and other Northern Virginia congressional representatives.
Roughly $4.8 million for community-based projects involving Arlington is included in draft U.S. Senate appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2025.
The bills, which have now passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, would secure additional funding for affordable housing, workforce development programs and health care for low-income families in Arlington.
Arlington’s Congressional delegation made headlines over the weekend amid the ongoing intra-party debate over President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects and mental fitness.
First came the news on Friday that Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) was organizing “a group of Democratic senators to ask President Biden to exit the presidential race,” as reported by the Washington Post. Last night, however, Axios reported that a planned meeting of senators today was called off.
Arlington Public Schools is set to add several new all-electric school buses to its fleet next year.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Arlington is among 18 Virginia school districts awarded the 2023 Clean School Bus rebate to purchase five new all-electric (or low-emission) buses.
For weeks, every time Mike Najarro attempted to log into the federal student aid portal, he received an error message about server maintenance.
The Washington-Liberty High School senior watched with growing anxiety as the portal faltered, concerned these technical delays could thwart his chance to be the first in his family to attend college.
Virginia’s senators are stepping up efforts to nix a proposal to add five more round-trip flights to Reagan National Airport.
Sen. Tim Kaine — with the support of fellow Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and five other Democratic senators from Maryland, Colorado and Illinois — has proposed to strike the extra flights from a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
A bill to add more flights to Reagan National Airport is moving forward despite opposition from Virginia’s senators.
Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement to add five more daily round-trip flights to the airport. The 1,069-page reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration will now head to the Senate floor, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation announced today (Monday).
Virginia’s U.S. senators are throwing their weight behind a bill to support first-generation homebuyers.
The Downpayment Toward Equity Act would provide grants of up to $20,000 to support socially and economically disadvantaged homebuyers. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are co-sponsoring the bill, alongside several fellow Democrats, saying this will help close equity gaps.
(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) A local nonprofit specializing in job placement for disabled individuals is drawing on federal funding to expand its services.
Melwood Disability Services, a Maryland-based organization that operates a facility in the Aurora Highlands neighborhood, has received a $307,000 federal grant aimed at expanding enrollment in its 14-week neurodiverse job training program, abilIT, by subsidizing associated costs.
A proposed bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians between Crystal City and the Southwest Waterfront area of D.C. has received $20 million in federal funding to move forward.
When complete, the 16-foot-wide shared-use path will connect Long Bridge Park and East and West Potomac parks via the Mount Vernon Trail.
County Fair Starts Today — “The Arlington County Fair will take place from August 17 – 21 at Thomas Jefferson Community Center located at 3501 2nd Street S. The Arlington County Police Department will conduct the following road closure to accommodate the event: From approximately 8:00 a.m. on August 17 to 11:00 p.m. on August 21… 2nd Street S. closed between S. Jackson Street and S. Irving Street.” [ACPD]
Fewer Car Tax Notices — “Arlington County Board members as part of their annual budget process eliminated the $33-per-vehicle decal fee… About 20,000 vehicles will thus have nothing owed on them, and the treasurer’s office has decided not to send notices to them. An additional 30,000 county residents who own two or more vehicles under the same name will see their billing information consolidated into a single mailing in order to achieve ‘significant savings on paper and postage,’ Treasurer Carla de la Pava said in an Aug. 15 letter.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington Resident Moving to San Diego — Baseball superstar Juan Soto, who recently moved to Arlington, has been traded by the Nats to the San Diego Padres. He’ll presumably take with him some photos and art that were framed at a Clarendon frame store. [MLB]
Fairfax Barricade Ends — Updated at 9:25 a.m. — A man reportedly barricaded in a condo with a rifle near Lake Barcroft has been taken into custody. The barricade situation prompted a Fairfax County police helicopter to circle over parts of Arlington for hours. [FFXnow, Twitter]
