Metro | ALXnow

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

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.

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Metro service restored after ‘trespasser’ struck by train in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 22, 2025 at 3:46PM | Updated September 22, 2025 at 5:57PM

Police are seen outside Potomac Yard Metro station following an incident that has suspended train service between National Airport and King Street stations. (Photo by James Cullum/ALXnow)

Metro train service has been restored between National Airport and King Street as of 4:08 p.m. after a “trespasser” was struck by a train outside Potomac Yard, according to Metro officials.

Service on track 1 and track 2 was shut down for approximately 30 minutes. During the disruption, Metro established shuttle bus service and offered route A1X as an alternative for travel between Braddock Road, Potomac Yard and Pentagon.

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Teen charged with armed robbery on Metro train in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2025 at 2:00PM

Waiting for a train at the King St-Old Town Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

A 15-year-old Alexandria male has been issued a detention order and charged with robbery using a firearm after allegedly robbing a man on a Metro train near the King St-Old Town Metro station.

The incident occurred on Monday, Aug. 4, just after 7 p.m. The victim was on a train traveling from the Van Dorn Street Metro station to the King Street station when he was approached from behind by a masked male, put in a choke hold, hit in the face and then had a black handgun “jammed into his person,” and allegedly said, “Give me everything,” according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. The victim told the Metro Transit Police Department that the suspect stole $300 in cash, an Apple watch, and a Louis Vuitton backpack.

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Notes: Metro safety commission finds critical staffing, training deficiencies in rail operations audit

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 28, 2025 at 7:25AM | Updated August 28, 2025 at 8:21AM

A train arrives at the Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Thursday, Aug. 28, the 240th day of 2025. There are 125 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 80 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 62 degrees. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

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Notes: Metro announces winning design for new 8000-series rail fleet after public vote

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 27, 2025 at 8:00AM

Metro unveils winning design for new 8000-series rail fleet (Credit: WMATA.com)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Wednesday, Aug. 27, the 239th day of 2025. There are 126 days left in the year.

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 78 degrees. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees. Northwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening.

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Metro riders have until Friday to vote on new train designs

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2025 at 12:30PM

Metro is asking the public to vote on three design options for its upcoming 8000-series rail fleet (via WMATA)

The deadline is Friday, Aug. 22, for the public to vote for one of three proposed designs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s upcoming 8000-series rail fleet.

Voting on the three exterior design options opened on Aug. 18 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. The winning concept will be announced in a week, according to Metro. The new trains feature “safe and spacious connected cars” with space for wheelchairs, scooters, and bikes, and additional seating. The “fleet of the future” is expected to go into service in 2027.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

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Police: Suspect in fatal Huntington stabbing lived in a storage unit in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2025 at 5:15PM | Updated July 11, 2025 at 3:11PM

Robert Reed (via Fairfax County Police Department)

The man charged in the June 10 fatal stabbing of 32-year-old Marvin Waters at a Huntington Metro station bus stop was living in a storage unit in Alexandria, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Robert Andrew Reed was arrested on June 15 in the bus bay area of the Huntington Metro station.

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Here’s how Metro’s summer infrastructure project will impact Alexandria commuters

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2025 at 12:00PM

Summer Metro Updates: Blue Line Closures & New Bus Route Changes in Alexandria (via City of Alexandria)

Metro’s summer construction project kicked off over the weekend, temporarily shutting down rail service at two well-traveled stations in and around Alexandria for the next three weeks.

Metro shut down rail at the Van Dorn Street station in Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield station in Fairfax County until July 26. The Blue Line will end service at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station for the duration of the project.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:30PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

It’s been another fast week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories over the last several days.

Our Tuesday (June 24) story on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s headquarters (2415 Eisenhower Avenue) garnered more than 125,000 views, making it the most-read story of the year. While bringing in more than 2,700 HUD workers, the move will also displace about 1,800 NSF employees over the next two years.

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Alexandria riders face new bus routes, signs as Metro launches system-wide overhaul

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 27, 2025 at 1:00PM

Metrobus near Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria residents will experience a fundamentally different bus system starting Sunday as Metro launches its Better Bus Network Redesign, the first comprehensive overhaul of Metrobus service since 1973.

The transformation, which takes effect June 29, introduces new route naming conventions across the Washington metropolitan area. Alexandria bus routes will now carry the “A” designation, indicating their service to the Arlington and Alexandria communities.