Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Metrobus changes could put more buses on underused transitway

Published May 31, 2023 at 2:40PM

Metrobus near Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria’s DASH bus network isn’t the only transit agency going through changes: the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Better Bus initiative could impact Alexandria riders.

Route 10B runs from Ballston to Alexandria via Shirlington. The new plan would cut out the stop at the Shirlington transit center and make the trip around 15 minutes shorter, ABC7 news reported.

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Zoning change could make it easier for Alexandria to add new trails and playground equipment

By Vernon Miles

Published May 30, 2023 at 3:30PM

Playing at Four Mile Run Park in Arlandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The city is a victim of its own bureaucracy when it comes to parks, but a new zoning change (docket item 8) essentially lets the city get out of its own way to make park improvements.

A staff report said that the city is currently hamstrung by requirements that virtually any type of improvement or change at a park must go through the city’s special use permits (SUP), a lengthy process that involves public and city leadership hearings and review.

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Pump the brakes: new speed cameras issuing tickets starting today

By Vernon Miles

Published May 30, 2023 at 2:20PM

Map of speed cameras across Alexandria (image via City of Alexandria)

Drivers should always keep it slow in school zones but there’s a new incentive starting today: new speed cameras across Alexandria are issuing warning tickets starting today.

The new cameras have been installed near John Adams Elementary School, Ferdinand Day Elementary School, Francis Hammond Middle School and George Washington Middle School.

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UPDATED: Power mostly restored after widespread outage

By Vernon Miles

Published May 30, 2023 at 10:35AM

Power outage in Alexandria on May 30 (image via Dominion Energy)

A power outage hit over 4,300 Dominion Energy customers across Alexandria, but within an hour it seems most of that has been restored..

Dominion Energy said there were 4,364 customers without power across Alexandria this morning, but as of 10:45 p.m. that was down to scattered pockets like 156 customers without power in North Ridge.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published May 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s been another busy week in Alexandria as the city heads into Memorial Day weekend.

For those driving this weekend, be aware that some of the major roads are likely to be significantly congested starting… well, now.

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ALXnow answers your questions about Alexandria… kind of

By Vernon Miles

Published May 26, 2023 at 12:10PM | Updated May 26, 2023 at 1:15PM

Landmark Mall demolition in progress (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Earlier this week, ALXnow launched a survey for readers to provide feedback on the site. At the same time, we asked on Twitter if anyone had questions they wanted answered about Alexandria.

We’re here to provide and update on that — but both questions had pretty vague answers that will require a little more digging.

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Alexandria kicking off Pride Month with drag queen storytelling

By Vernon Miles

Published May 25, 2023 at 3:50PM | Updated May 25, 2023 at 11:16PM

Pride flag (photo via Sophie emeny/Unsplash)

The City of Alexandria is kicking off Pride Month next weekend with an afternoon of everything from spoken word poetry to a “Drag Queen Story Hour.”

The 6th annual kick-off event is scheduled for Saturday, June 3, from 2-5 p.m. at Market Square (301 King Street).

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Potomac River could rise by two feet on Alexandria waterfront by 2050

By Vernon Miles

Published May 25, 2023 at 11:15AM

Heidi DeuPree and Keith Harmon canoeing down Union Street in Old Town, Friday, October 29, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

If you think it floods a lot in Old Town now, just wait until 2050.

During a City Council meeting earlier this week, Matthew Landes, division chief for project implementation, said current projections estimate a two-foot increase in sea elevation, meaning the city will need to install some type of flood mitigation if it wants to keep Old Town from being consistently underwater.

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Police responding to robbery at AutoZone in Arlandria

By Vernon Miles

Published May 25, 2023 at 9:00AM

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is responding to a commercial robbery at the AutoZone (3705 Mount Vernon Avenue) in the Arlandria neighborhood this morning.

According to scanner traffic, a male suspect entered the business with a “black assault rifle” while two other men with him waited outside. The suspect reportedly took money from the register and the safe.

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What to do if your Confederate-honoring Alexandria street gets renamed?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 24, 2023 at 2:45PM

Forrest Street, named for Nathan Bedford Forrest (image via Google Maps)

As the city works through plans to systemize the renaming of streets honoring Confederate leaders, some Alexandrians could be taking a trip to the DMV or the bank.

One of the questions going into the renaming process has been: what will that mean for locals living on those streets? Ahead of the renaming process coming back for a public hearing in October, city staff put together a guide to what locals will and won’t have to change.

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Upcoming Alexandria and American birthday celebrations could bring more tall ships

By Vernon Miles

Published May 24, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated May 24, 2023 at 2:02PM

The Tall Ship Providence and The Cherry Blossom on the Potomac River with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the distance. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is planning to pull out all the stops for its 275 birthday next year and, can we just say: it doesn’t look a day over 200.

At a City Council meeting last night, Gretchen Bulova, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, said the city is preparing for the big 275 next summer with celebrations tying in with state and nationwide events. The city is planning to celebrate from April 24 through Labor Day.