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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.

News

Colorful DASH bus to be unveiled at ‘Month of the Young Child’ kickoff in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 1, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated April 2, 2026 at 9:06AM

DASH bus at the DASH facility (via DASH/Facebook)

Alexandria’s DASH bus service will unveil a bus with colorful wraparound graphics next week to kick off April as the city’s Month of the Young Child.

At 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, Mayor Alyia Gaskins will be on hand at DASH headquarters (3000 Business Center Drive) to reveal the bus, which includes colorful wraparound graphics outside the bus. Through a partnership with local nonprofit Kids’ First Years, buses will display messaging on the five principles to help young children thrive. This is the second year that the city has devoted April toward promoting early childhood education and development with planned activities across the city.

News

DASH and paratransit cancel Monday service as Alexandria facilities plan to close

By Katie Taranto

Published January 25, 2026 at 10:25PM | Updated January 25, 2026 at 10:45PM

DASH bus in the snow, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

DASH and DOT Paratransit have canceled all services for tomorrow (Monday), according to announcements from both systems this evening.

DASH’s service cancellation is the system’s first in years, it said, and comes as Alexandria’s public schools, libraries, government offices, facilities and trash collection have announced Monday closures and cancellations.

Around Town

Contest deadline approaches for poems to be displayed in DASH buses

By Katie Taranto

Published January 13, 2026 at 12:30PM

New, 60-foot 100% electric DASH bus acquired in June 2025 (via DASH)

Residents who want to see their literary creations displayed in Alexandria’s buses and trolleys have until Friday to enter DASH’s 12th annual poetry contest.

“DASHing Words in Motion” is accepting poetry submissions until 5 p.m. Friday from writers age 16 and older who live, work or study in the city. Contest winners’ poems will be displayed for thousands of city transit riders to see during National Poetry Month in April.

News

Old Town Farmers’ Market relocates to N. Royal Street tomorrow

By Katie Taranto

Published January 9, 2026 at 12:30PM

Old Town Farmers' Market (via City of Alexandria)

The Old Town Farmers’ Market is officially relocating this weekend in advance of construction on City Hall and Market Square.

The Saturday morning market is moving across the street from Market Square to the 100 block of N. Royal Street before construction is set to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Around Town

DASH party bus helps Del Ray preschooler celebrate his ‘dream’ birthday

By Katie Taranto

Published January 5, 2026 at 3:45PM

Group photo at Rowan Gilbart's fourth birthday party with DASH (courtesy of Erica Toler)

The wheels on a Del Ray preschooler’s birthday party bus went round and round Alexandria last week.

Four-year-old Rowan Gilbart celebrated his best birthday yet with a DASH charter bus ride and tour of the system’s facilities on Friday. The Del Ray kid “loves riding the bus,” mother Erica Toler told ALXnow, and the duo regularly take Line 33 to get to preschool and other places around town.

News

Alexandria to receive $10.9 million in funding for DASH, senators announce

By Katie Taranto

Published November 19, 2025 at 2:15PM

New, 60-foot 100% electric DASH bus acquired in June 2025 (via DASH)

The city of Alexandria will receive $10.9 million in federal grant funding toward DASH, Sens. Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) announced today (Wednesday).

Funding will benefit the transit system’s Bus Fleet Replacement & Facility Rehabilitation project, an undertaking that aims to transition Alexandria to 100% zero-emission buses over the next decade and build infrastructure to support the growing fleet, according to a release.

News

DASH to break ground for electric bus charging station in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 7, 2025 at 12:30PM

Rendering of DASH electric bus charging station at 3000 Business Center Drive (via DASH)

Alexandria’s DASH bus system will break ground later this month on its expansion project to build a new electric bus charging station at a city impound lot next to the transit company’s headquarters at 3000 Business Center Drive. The groundbreaking will be held on Thursday, October 30, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. With a completion goal of early 2027, the project will “support our growing fleet and the City of Alexandria’s transition to 100% zero-emission buses,” DASH said in an email.

“This expansion project is about looking ahead, and as we see more people choose transit, this will help ensure DASH is ready to support cleaner, more efficient service,” said DASH General Manager & CEO Josh Baker. “The new facility will give us the space to grow, the infrastructure to charge electric buses, and the flexibility to improve how we operate.”

News

Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2025 at 3:30PM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

News

DASH places 2 registered sex offenders on leave following ALXnow reporting

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 6:00PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Following Tuesday’s story about DASH hiring policies not prohibiting sex offenders, the transit agency has placed two employees on the Virginia State Police registry on administrative leave to “assess the rigor of our recruitment standards and ensure we meet the highest standards in providing safe, fair, and accessible transit to our community.”

ALXnow looked into DASH’s hiring practices after the Alexandria School Board discussed safety concerns about a proposal to transport Alexandria City High School students on DASH buses starting next school year.

News

Amid school board safety concerns over student transport, DASH says it doesn’t ‘expressly prohibit’ hiring sex offenders

By James Cullum

Published September 23, 2025 at 5:52PM | Updated September 24, 2025 at 6:03PM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

UPDATE (Sept. 24, 2025): Following this reporting, DASH has placed both registered sex offenders on administrative leave. The transit agency said it is now assessing “the rigor of our recruitment standards” and confirmed that one of the employees is a bus driver, contradicting its initial statement Tuesday that no drivers were on the registry. DASH places 2 registered sex offenders on leave following ALXnow reporting

Following a discussion on the Alexandria School Board’s safety concerns about the proposal to transport Alexandria City High School students on DASH buses, ALXnow investigated the transit agency’s background check policies and discovered that it does not “expressly prohibit” sex offenders from employment.