DASH | ALXnow

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

Alexandria reopens facilities, cancels waste collection as cold weather continues

By Katie Taranto

Published January 28, 2026 at 8:15AM

Snowy day at the 1600 block of King Street in Old Town, Jan. 25, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria’s government offices and facilities are slated to reopen at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday), while waste collection has been canceled.

There will not be a make-up run for this week’s canceled trash, recycling, yard waste and composting collection, according to the City. The Alexandria Circuit Court will also remain closed for the day.

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.

News

City Council is next stop for transit boosters with regional ‘DMVMoves’ initiative

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 22, 2026 at 1:45PM

Metrobus in Old Town Alexandria near King Street metro (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria will be the next stop for leaders of the “DMVMoves” initiative as they work to gain unanimous support for more regional transit funding.

Proponents of DMVMoves are scheduled to make a presentation to City Council members next Wednesday during a legislative meeting. They intend to detail the proposal in hopes of winning support from city leaders.

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.

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 trash collection pushed back for New Year’s Day

By Katie Taranto

Published December 30, 2025 at 10:30AM

Taking out the trash in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The city of Alexandria will not collect waste on New Year’s Day, and the remainder of the week’s collection will follow a modified schedule.

After Thursday, waste collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week, according to the city.

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

New West Alexandria Transit Center to open Nov. 2, replacing Landmark facility

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 23, 2025 at 2:00PM

A diagram shows the bus bay layout at the new West Alexandria Transit Center, which opens Nov. 2. (Courtesy Metro)

A new transit hub will open its doors next month in Alexandria’s West End, marking the first phase of a major redevelopment project on the site of the former Landmark Mall.

The West Alexandria Transit Center, located on Hecht Avenue, will officially begin operations at 5 a.m. on Nov. 2, according to announcements Tuesday from DASH. The opening will coincide with the permanent closure of the temporary Landmark Transit Center, which will shut down at 2:05 a.m. that same day, with all DASH and Metrobus services relocating to the new facility.

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.