Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Expect mostly sunny skies during the day, with temperatures reaching a high of about 46 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind of 6 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will be clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of around 27 degrees, and a northwest wind of 6 to 8 mph.
🚨 You need to know
There’s a Potomac Yard-sized elephant in the room in Alexandria this morning, but an official announcement on that isn’t likely until 9 a.m.
In the meantime, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) has made recommendations to WMATA as the Metro system faces possible devastating cuts.
In a Report on the Condition and Performance of WMATA, the NVTC urged WMATA and local, state and federal authorities to:
- Seek administrative or legislative opportunities to permit Metro to re-baseline its FY 2025 operating subsidy bill to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Advocate for additional state aid in FY 2025 to match local funding for Metro
- Seek a commitment from federal, state, regional and local funding partners to develop long-term, sustainable, dedicated funding to meet Metro’s capital and operating needs
- Return federal workers to the office and secure a replacement for the region’s losses in fares from riders using federal transit benefits
NVTC said in its report that, prior to the pandemic, federal employees accounted for 40% of daily commuters on Metro. The report said WMATA received $100 million in fare revenue from federal employees in FY 2019, but since 2020 that ridership recovery has lagged behind other returning customers.
“There are 95,000 fewer weekday bus and rail trips by federal employees now compared to FY 2019,” NVTC said in the report. “Each additional day per week that federal employees ride Metro represents an additional $20 million in annual fare revenue. If federal employee ridership returns to prior levels, WMATA would receive approximately $50 million in additional fare revenue in FY 2025.”
The report also included longer-term recommendations, such as managing labor cost escalation and securing more sustainable and reliable sources of dedicated revenues.
📈 Tuesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Dec 12, 2023.
- Alexandria Italian eatery is Washingtonian readers’ second favorite Virginia restaurant (15817 views)
- Gov. Youngkin and Washington Capitals/Wizards owner expected at event in Potomac Yard tomorrow, WBJ reports (7957 views)
- Police investigate ATM stolen from 7-Eleven on Lincolnia Road (2312 views)
🗞 Other local coverage
- STC Tweaks Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” with Beatles Music and a Phenomenal Cast
Zebra (Tuesday @ 11:33 pm)
- OBIT: Michael “Mitchell” Hadeed Sr., 93, Hadeed Carpet Founder
Zebra (Tuesday @ 6:44 pm)
- What City Services Are Open and Closed in Alexandria on Christmas and New Year’s?
Zebra (Tuesday @ 5:50 pm)
- Red Light Turn Restrictions Proposed On Alexandria’s Duke Street
Patch (Tuesday @ 11:24 am)
- First Step To Move Wizards, Capitals Move To Alexandria Approved
Patch (Tuesday @ 9:56 am)
- Small Door Veterinary to Open in Alexandria
Alexandria Living (Tuesday @ 7:39 am)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
Recent Stories
It’s been a busy week in Alexandria. There were multiple mayoral and city council forums and debates this week as the city gets closer and closer to the June 18…
The Cinco de Mayo fiesta is starting early this Sunday in Carlyle. From 9 to 10 a.m., Tequila & Taco (540 John Carlyle Street) will be selling six-ounce margaritas for…
After missing an important mayoral debate this week due to a “freak accident” while canvassing that led to his hospitalization, Steven Peterson says that he’s done sitting on the sidelines….
Built in 2022 with main and upper level primary suites
Good news, D.C. area. You can save money on your next home cleaning with Well-Paid Maids. It’s easy!
We offer a discount when you set up recurring cleans — and the discounts just increased this week!
For weekly cleans, get $30 off each cleaning.
Potomac Harmony is Back! Following a gap year of competing, then virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, followed by the well-earned retirement of our long-term director, a year of a director search, Potomac Harmony hit the regional contest stage in Concord, North Carolina in March for the first time since 2018! It was exhilarating, reaffirming, and rewarding!
The chorus hit all of its goals, the biggest of which was to have fun and sing our best on contest stage — we did both! Because we earned a score over 400 points, our new Director, Allison Lynskey, was awarded the Novice Director award, photo above. Additionally, one of our charter members, Jackie Bottash, was nominated for and honored with the Leadership Excellence award. It was a celebratory weekend!
What’s next? So much! We now look forward to upcoming performances, growing our membership, and expanding our musical product with new arrangements and an education component each week. It’s an exciting time to be part of this ever-growing ensemble!
Alexandria NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, DPC to hold City Council…
The Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, Shiloh Baptist Church, and The Departmental Progressive Club to hold the City Council Candidate Forum for ALL Candidates in the City of Alexandria Virginia. The event is Free of Charge and Open to The
