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Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’

Published April 30, 2025 at 9:05PM

Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously adopted its $956.5 million operating budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon said it was challenging crafting a budget that keeps city services without increasing real estate or property taxes. The city’s budget grew 3.2% over the current fiscal year, with its largest line item being a fully-funded Alexandria City Public Schools, as well as significant stormwater management funding for the city’s $2.1 billion FY 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program.

News

DASH wants public input on bus expansion into Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated March 21, 2025 at 12:19PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Alexandria’s DASH bus system wants to expand its free service into the city’s Arlandria neighborhood.

The proposed changes are included in an update of the transit system’s 10-year strategic plan, now in its community review process until April 18. The public feedback on four alternatives will be reviewed by the DASH board of directors on May 14.

News

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.

News

DASH removes bus and trolley stops on King Street in bid to boost reliability

By Vernon Miles

Published February 24, 2025 at 11:15AM

King Street Trolley in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s DASH bus network is hoping that cutting half a dozen bus stops along King Street — as well as adding two others — can help make the bus and King Street Trolley lines that travel along the street more reliable and help reduce traffic congestion.

In a release, DASH said the new changes were implemented effective yesterday (Sunday).

Opinion

Poll: Do you support using DASH instead of school buses to transport Alexandria high school students?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2025 at 1:50PM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 2:48PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

At a City Council meeting last week, City Council member Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley introduced a proposal that could change the way Alexandria City High School students get to school.

Elnoubi and Bagley, with the unanimous backing of the City Council, asked staff to explore the utilization of the DASH bus network to transport for high school students, eliminating the need for school buses at the high school level.

News

There’s plenty of free transportation options this New Year’s in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 31, 2024 at 1:30PM

First Night Alexandria (photo via First Night Alexandria/Facebook)

Put the car keys away, because there’s a number of free transportation options for partiers this New Year’s Eve in Alexandria.

Metro trains and buses throughout the region are operating fare-free from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

News

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).

News

Alexandria bus network celebrating new ridership record with block party

By Vernon Miles

Published August 27, 2024 at 10:00AM | Updated August 27, 2024 at 11:35AM

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

Last year saw the highest DASH ridership in the bus service’s history. This year, DASH beat its own record.

DASH said on Twitter that the final ridership figure for FY 2024 was 5.3 million, up from 4.5 million last year, which in turn beat the network’s record of 4.3 million in 2015.

News

Alexandria launching pilot program to make buses more wheelchair and scooter accessible

By Vernon Miles

Published July 23, 2024 at 3:55PM

Alexandria’s DASH bus network is getting a new pilot that could make buses less of a hassle for those who use wheelchairs or scooters.

A small number of DASH buses will have the Q’Straint’s Quantum system installed. The system is designed to help those who use mobility assistance devices easily and quickly secure themselves on the bus. According to the release:

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published April 12, 2024 at 4:00PM

Karla Berospi fits glasses on her three-year-old son, Dylan, as her daughter Arianna, 8, looks at the eclipse on her own, April 8, 2024, at Ben Brenman Park. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was quite a week in Alexandria.

It seems that nearly all of Monday’s news was overshadowed by the eclipse. Hundreds of bespectacled residents turned out at Ben Brenaman Park to witness the cosmic event.

News

Motorcyclist dies after crash with DASH bus on Duke Street

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2024 at 8:59PM | Updated April 9, 2024 at 10:25PM

The DASH bus that was involved in a crash that killed a motorcyclist near the intersection of Duke and N. Ripley Streets in the West End, April 9, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A motorcyclist is dead after crashing into a DASH Bus early this evening on Duke Street in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

A DASH bus driver announced via dispatch that the crash occurred at 5:07 p.m. He reported that the motorcyclist was speeding past the bus as it was turning onto N. Ripley Street.