Emily Leayman | ALXnow

Free Lyft rides offered over Halloween weekend in Alexandria to combat drunk driving

Published October 29, 2026 at 11:45AM

SoberRide vehicle (via Washington Regional Alcohol Program/Facebook)

Free Lyft rides are returning for the Halloween weekend in Alexandria to encourage impaired drivers to avoid getting behind the wheel.

The nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) offers the free SoberRide program during high-risk holidays for drinking. The program will run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 as well as Saturday, Oct. 31.

News

‘No turn on red’ restrictions approved for Old Town traffic signals

By Emily Leayman

Published October 28, 2026 at 3:45PM

Red light (via Julian Gentile/Unsplash)

“No turn on red” restrictions are coming to all traffic signals in greater Old Town after a vote by the Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board Monday (Oct. 26).

On a motion by member Dane Lauritzen, the board voted 5-1 to approve “no turn on red” restrictions between First Street to the north, the city limits to the south, the Potomac River to the east and railroad tracks to the west. There are about 100 signalized intersections within the project area, and about half already have red light turn restrictions.

News

Appeals of Russell Road project heading to Alexandria City Council in November

By Emily Leayman

Published October 28, 2026 at 11:45AM

Russell Road in front of Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School (via Google Maps)

City Council will have the final say in a project seeking changes on Russell Road near Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School.

In a written update to the Traffic and Parking Board Monday, city staff indicated appeals on the Russell Road Safe Routes to School Project are going to City Council on Nov. 14. City Council will review the appeals and full project before making a final decision.

News

Alexandria, Arlington demand customer, clean energy protections in proposed Dominion Energy-NextEra merger

By Emily Leayman

Published October 27, 2026 at 2:45PM

A Dominion Energy location at 907 W. Glebe Road in Alexandria (via Google Maps)

Alexandria and Arlington officials are pressing Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy for more customer protections and clean energy progress if their proposed merger goes through.

Officials held a briefing Monday (Oct. 26) to provide an update on the electric companies’ proposed merger. The proposed $66.8 billion merger — through Florida-based NextEra’s acquisition of Dominion Energy — is under consideration at Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. NextEra and Dominion Energy filed the proposal on July 15, which means the SCC will make a final ruling no later than Jan. 11, 2027.

News

Developer seeks to start Old Town North’s Montgomery Center construction in 2028

By Emily Leayman

Published October 27, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated October 27, 2026 at 7:35PM

The Montgomery Center at 300 Montgomery Street, which will be developed into a residential project (via Google Maps)

Carr Properties has taken over the redevelopment plans for the Montgomery Center in Old Town North as construction plans move forward.

The developer announced it acquired 300 Montgomery Street from MC Property, LLC. According to Bisnow, Oliver Carr Jr.’s CarrAmerica sold the property to his son Oliver Carr III’s Carr Properties.

News

‘No turn on red’ restrictions proposed for Old Town signalized intersections

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated October 26, 2026 at 3:09PM

Fall colors along King Street near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The ability to turn right on a red light could be eliminated entirely in Old Town.

The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board will vote Monday (Oct. 26) on whether to install “no turn on red” signage at all signalized intersections in the Old Town, Old Town North and Braddock/Parker-Gray neighborhoods. The changes would apply to traffic signals between First Street to the north, city limits to the south, the Potomac River to the east and railroad tracks to the west. There are about 100 signalized intersections within the project area.

News

Fire at Alexandria residential building injures firefighter, displaces residents in 14 units

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 10:00AM

Fire at 251 S. Pickett Street on Oct. 25, 2026 (via Alexandria Fire Department/Facebook)

Improperly discarded smoking materials were behind a Sunday fire that injured a firefighter and displaced residents from 14 apartments, according to the Alexandria Fire Department.

AFD responded around 9:03 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 25) to 251 S. Pickett Street, where visible fire and smoke were showing from the residential building. There were no resident injuries.

News

APD investigates graffiti targeting immigrants found on Mount Jefferson Park Trail

By Emily Leayman

Published October 26, 2026 at 8:30AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Graffiti appearing to target the immigrant community is being investigated on the Mount Jefferson Park Trail, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Police believe the graffiti appeared between 11 p.m. Friday (Oct. 23) and 6:30 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 24) at multiple locations on the park trail. The graffiti contained the words “ICE,” “REPORT TO DEPORT,” and the phone number “1-866-DHS-2-ICE.”

Around Town

Women’s bar crawl coming to Old Town to support Breast Cancer Collective

By Emily Leayman

Published October 20, 2026 at 11:45AM

Del Ray Women’s Crawl (courtesy of Shrinks on Tap)

A women’s bar crawl launched earlier this year is bringing the festivities to Old Town this weekend.

The Old Town Alexandria Women’s Crawl will take place 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at six participating restaurants. The Del Ray Psych & Wellness team and its podcast Shrinks On Tap launched the Women’s Crawl earlier this year. The Old Town event is the third stop following its debut in Del Ray during March and its second in Falls Church in May.

News

Additional early voting location opens in Alexandria as November election nears

By Emily Leayman

Published October 19, 2026 at 9:15AM

A voting sign at the Alexandria Registrar of Voters, 132 N. Royal Street, in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A second early voting location is open in Alexandria for the Nov. 3 election, which will decide congressional midterm elections and Virginia constitutional amendments.

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) opened for early voting Sunday (Oct. 18), supplementing the ongoing location at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Voter ID is required to vote in person, or voters can sign an ID statement affirming their identity. The deadline for early voting will be 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

News

DASH board mulls bus service cuts amid $2.4 million budget shortfall

By Emily Leayman

Published October 16, 2026 at 2:45PM

A DASH bus driver leaves the Braddock Road Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

As DASH Bus reels from a $3.3 million overspending error in the last fiscal year, the Alexandria transit agency is considering service changes to mitigate current budget challenges.

On Wednesday (Oct. 14), the DASH Board of Directors pre-authorized a package of service cuts. The changes are intended to address a $2.4 million shortfall in the current operating budget.