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Alexandria kicks off Month of the Young Child with new DASH bus messaging

Published April 6, 2026 at 1:45PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks at the unveiling of a DASH bus with Kids' First Years messaging, as part of the city's Month of the Young Child, April 6, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s DASH bus service kicked off April’s Month of the Young Child this morning (Monday) with the unveiling of a bus covered with early childhood development messaging intended to inspire parents.

The bus “takeover” was unveiled at DASH headquarters (3000 Business Center Drive) and includes exterior wraparound messaging and interior display messaging on five principles to help young children thrive. Mayor Alyia Gaskins, DASH CEO Josh Baker and Michelle Smith Howard, CEO of Kids’ First Years, were among approximately 50 children and adults who attended.

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Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 25, 2025 at 3:30PM

NVTA BRT Action Plan - Potential Network (via NVTA)

Welcome to Friday’s weekly roundup of our top stories.

With ALXnow, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news in Alexandria. This week, we focused on coverage of our local, state, and federal governments. We also reported a lot of crime, including a homicide in the city’s West End.

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JUST IN: Man assaulted and robbed of shoes on DASH Bus in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2025 at 5:33PM

Three men are in custody after allegedly assaulting a man and stealing his shoes on a DASH bus this afternoon (Tuesday) in Alexandria’s West End.

The Alexandria Police Department confirmed that three adult males were arrested in the incident. A DASH bus driver called in a fight in the bus between multiple males at around 2:20 p.m. in the 2500 block of N. Van Dorn Street.

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JUST IN: Metro Bus clipped in hit-and-run in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2025 at 11:32AM | Updated March 17, 2025 at 3:46PM

S. Washington and Franklin Streets in Old Town (via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department is on the lookout for a white Ford F-150 pickup truck that allegedly took off after crashing into a Metrobus in Old Town.

A bus driver alerted police that the F-150 struck a rear-view mirror of the bus at 11:09 a.m., and reported that the truck didn’t stop and continued northbound on Washington Street in the direction of D.C., according to dispatch.

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Alexandria to pursue $3.5 million in grant funding for significant bus stop improvements

By Vernon Miles

Published November 18, 2024 at 1:15PM

Bus stop with bus bulb and curb cut in front of the stop (image via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria is seeking $3.5 million in state funding for a new feature that could improve bus stops across the city.

Hillary Orr, deputy director of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, said in a letter to the Transportation Commission that the city is proposing to apply for a grant from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement program and the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP).

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Cyclist struck by Metro bus on King Street in Alexandria’s West End on Sunday

By James Cullum

Published August 12, 2024 at 1:45PM | Updated August 12, 2024 at 2:42PM

A bicyclist was struck by a Metro bus near the intersection of King Street and S. Walter Reed Drive on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024 (map via Google Maps)

A cyclist sustained a non-life threatening injury after being struck by a Metro Bus at a busy Alexandria intersection on Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. in the area of King Street and S. Walter Reed Drive, according to the police scanner. The area is west of the ramps to Interstate 395.

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Jefferson-Houston Elementary School administrators put on leave after autistic 4-year-old walked away from school

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2024 at 4:11PM | Updated April 9, 2024 at 4:46PM

Brianna Davis-Suggs was reunited with her daughter, four-year-old Riley, who walked away from Jefferson Houston Elementary School on March 19, 2024 (courtesy photo)

A four-year-old student with autism walked away from Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in Old Town last month and was found barefoot in the middle the street by a school bus driver near the King Street Metro station.

A number of school officials were consequently placed on administrative leave by Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt.

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DASH service cut could impact Rosemont, Parkfairfax and North Ridge neighborhoods

By Vernon Miles

Published March 18, 2024 at 11:20AM

Line 104 (image via City of Alexandria)

Rosemont, Parkfairfax, and North Ridge residents could get the short end of the stick as DASH looks to scale back bus service in those neighborhoods.

A memo from Martin Barna, director of Planning and Scheduling for DASH, said the city’s bus system could reduce service on Line 104. Barna wrote that the change is based on the City Manager’s Draft FY 2025 budget.

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Metro cutbacks could impact a dozen Alexandria Metrobus routes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2023 at 9:55AM

Metrobus near Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

If Metrobus service is cut back, as WMATA has threatened, several Alexandria lines could be on the chopping block.

General Manager Randy Clarke warned that bus service cuts and job cuts are imminent if the transit agency doesn’t close its $750 million budget gap, adding that he said it’s time for a regional tax to permanently fund WMATA.

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City Council to weigh temporary bus shelters and signs until West End transit center reopens in 2028

By James Cullum

Published October 19, 2023 at 2:30PM

A DASH bus pulls into Landmark Mall (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the reopening of the Dash Transit Center at the future WestEnd development years away, Alexandria is looking to ask Richmond to help pay for $800,000 in temporary bus bays, benches and real-time signage.