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County May Ask State for $78 Million for Second Crystal City Metro Entrance

Published July 11, 2018 at 9:45AM | Updated July 11, 2018 at 10:02AM

Proposed second entrance at Crystal City Metro station (via Arlington County)

(Updated at 10 a.m.) Arlington is getting ready to seek nearly $78 million in state transportation funding to build a second entrance at the Crystal City Metro station.

The County Board is considering submitting the project for “Smart Scale” funding, money handed out by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for big-ticket projects around the state. If approved, Arlington would have the money it needs to add an eastern entrance to the station at the northwest corner of the intersection of Crystal Drive and 18th Street S., perhaps by sometime in 2024.

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Second Entrance at East Falls Church Metro Station May Be On Hold For a Decade Or More

By Alex Koma

Published July 5, 2018 at 9:45AM

A concept drawing for a new East Falls Church Metro entrance (via WMATA)

Arlington likely won’t be able to add a second entrance at the East Falls Church Metro station until sometime in the 2030s, as county officials re-examine their funding priorities for the next decade.

The county has hoped for years to build a western entrance to improve pedestrian access to the station, particularly with plans to someday re-develop the parking lot and properties surrounding the station.

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Plans to Build New Ballston Metro Station Entrance Could Stall

By Alex Koma

Published June 29, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 11:33AM

Plans for a western entrance to the Ballston Metro station (via the NVTA)

Arlington officials worry that their plans to build a second entrance to Ballston Metro station could stall and be delayed indefinitely if the county and WMATA can’t make progress soon.

To get a move on and finally construct a western entrance for the highly trafficked station, county leaders say they need millions more in funding, and they’ve had trouble tracking down that money.

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County Scores $83 Million in Funding for ART Facilities, Pentagon City Improvements

By Alex Koma

Published June 15, 2018 at 3:45PM

Metroway bus at station (file photo)

Arlington is now in line to receive nearly $83 million in funding to help the county afford four major transportation projects over the next six years, including the construction of two bus maintenance facilities and a major expansion of transit options in Pentagon City.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority announced its new Six Year Program today (Friday), outlining the regional body’s plans to shell out a total of nearly $1.3 billion for transportation projects through 2024. The NVTA collects a select set of regional taxes, then identifies which construction efforts around the region are most likely to reduce in congestion before doling out money to help localities fund them.

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Video: Crystal City Metro Station Gets Unexpected Visitor

By ARLnow.com

Published June 12, 2018 at 9:50AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 9:11AM

Seems like *everyone* wants to get aboard the @Capitals train this morning! (Crystal City Station, 8:30 a.m. today — this little guy somehow wandered into the tunnel & ended up at the station. Safely exited through the tunnel back toward DCA.) #OHDEER #ALLCAPS #WMATA #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/3ibeGuYwUe

— Metro Forward (@wmata) June 12, 2018

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Arlington Metro Ridership Drops in Early 2018, As Riders Fail to Return After SafeTrack

By Alex Koma

Published May 24, 2018 at 9:55AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 9:11AM

Nearly a year after Metro’s “SafeTrack” maintenance blitz wrapped up, Arlingtonians still haven’t returned to the transit system, new data show.

An ARLnow analysis of figures compiled by WMATA and released to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission shows that ridership at Arlington’s 11 Metro stations fell by about 4.1 percent in the first three months of 2018 when compared to the same time frame last year.

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Four Courthouse Elevators Set to be Replaced, Including Two Reaching Metro

By Alex Koma

Published May 15, 2018 at 2:45PM

Courthouse Metro tunnel elevators on Clarendon Boulevard (photo via Google Maps)

Arlington County could soon embark on a $1.8 million effort to replace four elevators around Courthouse.

The County Board will vote at its meeting this weekend on a plan to fully overhaul two elevators in Arlington’s Court Square West building (1400 N. Uhle Street) and two more that connect to the Courthouse Metro station underground.

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Metro Warns Riders of Construction Delays Across All Lines This Weekend

By Alex Koma

Published April 26, 2018 at 10:00AM | Updated April 26, 2018 at 12:56PM

Metro is planning plenty of maintenance and construction this weekend, April 28-29, with work set to cause delays on all six lines.

Trains will run only once every 24 minutes on the Silver, Orange and Blue Lines, with single tracking in store for riders as well, Metro says.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2018 at 9:35AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 10:11AM

Washington Capitals sign in Clarendon

Beyer’s GOP Challenger Holding Arlington Event — “Republican congressional candidate Thomas Oh will host a campaign kickoff on Tuesday, April 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Spider Kelly’s, 3181 Wilson Blvd. Oh is the GOP challenger to U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th), who is seeking a third term. He was the only Republican to file for the nomination.” [InsideNova]

Local Scenes on Sale at Arts Fest — Among the artists at the upcoming Arlington Festival of the Arts in Clarendon will be Joseph Craig English, whose “silkscreens and lithographs capture local landmarks and street corners in vivid colors,” including “an architectural juxtaposition of old buildings and new construction in Courthouse; Potomac River vistas; local murals and street signs known to commuters who’ve passed by them for years.” [Arlington Magazine]

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New Metro Market Square Coming to Crystal City

By Bridget Reed Morawski

Published March 6, 2018 at 12:45PM | Updated March 6, 2018 at 1:08PM

Rendering of new Market Square (photo via Arlington County)

Crystal City will be getting a new, 43,900 square foot plaza called Metro Market Square, according to county planning documents.

Plans for the plaza cite Boston’s Faneuil Hall as inspiration and include retail businesses, small water features, chess tables, and a options for outdoor entertainment.

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East Falls Church Metro Station Could Get More Bus Space Under County Plan

By Chris Teale

Published December 18, 2017 at 2:45PM

The East Falls Church Metro station could get more bus stops in the future, if the Virginia Department of Transportation agrees to an Arlington County plan.

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously Saturday (December 16) to ask VDOT to redraw a limited access line for I-66 next to the Metro station’s park and ride lot, and make it parallel to the highway.

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Four Arlington Metro Stations Now Have Free Wi-Fi

By Chris Teale

Published December 14, 2017 at 1:45PM

As part of an expansion to 24 more stations, users at Rosslyn, Clarendon, Courthouse, Crystal City will now be able to access the free wireless internet. Free Wi-Fi is now offered at 30 underground Metro stations throughout the system.

Metro said it expects that all other underground Metro stations — which includes the likes of Ballston, Virginia Square and Pentagon City — to have free Wi-Fi by mid-2018.