Alexandria’s public transit is getting a significant boost thanks to a $39.5 million investment approved by Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board on Tuesday (June 24).
This funding, part of the I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program, aims to reduce traffic congestion in Northern Virginia by enhancing public transit options.
City staff are recommending a phased transition to replace school buses for Alexandria City High School students with DASH buses.
The City Council asked staff in January to consider the transition for ACHS, Virginia’s largest high school with multiple campuses and over 4,500 students. Staff have returned with the recommendation for a three-phase approach that would kick off in the fall of the 2026-2027 school year.
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.
Alexandria is set to gain from new transit projects planned for the I-395/95 corridor. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is reviewing 14 proposals aimed at easing traffic congestion, with several directly impacting the city.
The I-395/95 Commuter Choice program, which uses toll revenue for transportation improvements, includes potential upgrades to Alexandria’s DASH bus service in its draft project list.
Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Increasing clouds, with a high near 78 degrees. South wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. It will be partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 63 degrees. South wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. There will be increasing clouds on Saturday, with a high near 86 degrees. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
