Metro station

Morning Poll: Which Metro Stop Is the Most Attractive?

By ARLnow.com

Okay, it’s not Hollywood, but Arlington certainly has its share of beautiful people.

Don’t believe us? Next time you’re out near the local gym, the local pool, or the local trail, look around and see for yourself. This is a good-looking, fitness-oriented town.

At the risk of coming off as superficial — which would be a fair criticism — we’re wondering where the greatest concentration of attractive men and women is in our fair county. To make sure the list of locations doesn’t get too long, we’ve narrowed it down to Arlington’s residential Metro stops.



Rosslyn Blasting Will Begin Early Thursday Morning

By ARLnow.com

Blasting on the Rosslyn Metrorail entrance project will begin in the wee hours of this coming Thursday morning. From Arlington County:

Controlled blasting is scheduled to begin at the Rosslyn Metrorail Station Project site (immediately across from the Station entrance on N. Moore Street) during the early morning of Thursday, March 31.  Initial blasting will occur nightly between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Due to the small area of the excavation site, minimal noise and vibration are expected. One block of N. Moore Street, between 19th Street North and Wilson Blvd., will be closed during blasting hours only.

A strobe light will be used to signal when blasting is taking place. The blasting is expected to continue through early 2012.

Crime Report: How Did He Get Away? Edition

By ARLnow.com

How did a slightly overweight 18-year-old manage to steal an elderly woman’s purse in or around the Rosslyn Metro station during the evening rush hour on a Wednesday — and apparently get away with it? The brazen crime was reported in this week’s Arlington County crime report.

ROBBERY 03/09/11, 1700 block of N. Moore Street. On March 9 at 5:30 pm, an unknown man stole a purse from an elderly woman with a walker. The suspect is described as an African American male around 18 years old, 6′ and 200 lbs. with a round face. He was wearing a red and black flannel shirt and dark pants. A teenage African American female was also seen with the suspect.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

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Where to Buy Girl Scout Cookies This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

If you haven’t secured a couple boxes of your favorite Girl Scout cookies yet, now would be a good time to make it happen.

Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Trefoils — they’re all available at a number of Arlington locations this weekend. Here’s the list.

Friday, March 11

  • East Falls Church Metro — 3:00 to 7:00 p.m
  • Courthouse Metro — 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
  • Ballston Metro — 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
  • Pentagon City Metro — 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
  • Crystal City Metro — 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 12

  • Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.) — 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Westover Market (5863 Washington Blvd) — 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Market Common Clarendon (2690 Clarendon Blvd) — 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Meridian at Pentagon City Apartments (1221 S. Eads St.) — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • East Falls Church Metro — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Pentagon City Metro — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Ballston Metro — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Courthouse Metro — 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Giant Food (2901 S. Glebe Road) — 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Safeway (5101 Wilson Blvd) — 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 13

  • Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.) — 12:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Safeway (5101 Wilson Blvd) — 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

See more cookie sale locations here.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

County Gears Up for Pothole Repairs — Arlington County and VDOT are preparing for a big spring pothole push. Crews have been out 5-6 days per week filling potholes, but as things warm up they may be able to start making more permanent repairs. You can report a pothole over the phone at 703-228-6570. [Sun Gazette]

Man Who Threatened Metro Sentenced — The Arlington View man accused of threatening to blow up Metro trains and Georgetown sidewalks has been sentenced. Awais Younis, 25, pleaded guilty in federal court to sending threatening communications. Younis, who said he never actually intended to carry out the threats, was sentenced to time served, a two-year supervised release, anger management courses and mental health counseling. [WTOP]

Rosslyn Blasting Starting Soon — The Rosslyn Metro entrance project has hit bedrock and will soon start blasting. The blasting will take place nightly between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m. for several months. Arlington County says the contractor is taking steps to minimize noise and vibration from the blasting. [TBD]

Crystal City Office Building to Be Renovated — An old 1960s-era office building at 1411 Jefferson Davis Highway will be renovated into “prime Class A office space” after BRAC forces its current tenant, the National Guard, to move out at the end of the year. [Washington Business Journal]

Englin Will Seek Re-Election — Del. David Englin, whose district includes part of South Arlington, says will not be seeking higher office this year. Instead, Englin announced yesterday that he will be running for re-election.

Flickr pool photo by Rukasu1

Metro Work to Cut Off Service Between East, West Falls Church

By ARLnow.com

On-going work on the Dulles Metrorail project will cut off service between East Falls Church and West Falls Church over the next two weekends.

The change will affect anybody who normally travels to Dulles Airport via the Washington Flyer bus from the West Falls Church station. A free shuttle bus will be provided between East and West Falls Church, but officials advise Metro customers to add 30 minutes to their travel time.

From Arlington County:

There will be no train service between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations during the weekends of March 11 to 13 and March 18 to 20 to allow the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to continue major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system.

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 11 to closing (midnight) on Sunday, March 13, and again the following weekend from 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing (midnight) on Sunday, March 20, the Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first running from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU to West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and the second between the New Carrollton and East Falls Church Metrorail stations. The East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations will remain open.

To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations. Customers should add an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone. To alert customers about this work, Metro will send e-Alerts, post signs in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, advertise in local papers and make train and system announcements. Additional information will be available on Metro’s web site at www.MetroOpensDoors.com. Extra Metro employees will be available at the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closures using the free shuttle bus service. During these two weekends, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project contractors will test critical infrastructure support systems which are necessary to connect the new rail line to the Orange Line.

Metro personnel will also be working between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations installing new rail, new ties and new insulators to make it a smoother ride for Orange Line customers

Calling All Mullets to the Clarendon Metro Station

By ARLnow.com

A local woman is hoping to round up area mullet-wearers for a photography project in Clarendon this weekend.

The woman, who would only identify herself as “Irene,” posted an ad on Craigslist to publicize the event.

“I think mullets are interesting and I think, although not in line with popular opinion, that mullets look great on those that choose to have them,” Irene wrote on the site. “I want to take your picture and ask you a couple of questions about why you have your mullet and what you think about mullets and yourself.”

The posting asks mulleteers to show up at the fountain in the park next to the Clarendon Metro station, between noon and 1:00 on Saturday.

“Be there or be square!” the ad beckons.

We asked Irene via email why, of all the possible subjects for artistic exploration, she chose mullets.

“I have been thinking about mullets for I would say 3-4 years now,” Irene wrote back. “I don’t know why I decided on mullets except that I kind of feel like so many people are stereotyped and hair has a lot to do with it, you know?”

“Mullets I feel are totally funky but I bet the people are varied and probably have a lot to offer and we all just see them as honky tonks,” she continued. “I really want to know the mullet wearer and what they are all about and hope to have it exhibited in some way in the future, assuming anyone shows up.”

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington to Install Parking Cameras? — Arlington is considering installing sensors or cameras that monitor parking space usage and using the data to hike parking rates to a more market-based price. One system the county is considering would use the same technology as the license plate readers used by police. [Greater Greater Washington]

Clarendon Metro Park To Get Overhaul — The Clarendon Metro plaza and the park adjacent to it will be getting some improvements over the next several months. The improvements will provide more room for the Wednesday farmers market and allow events to be held in the park. [TBD]

Senate Race: One Up, One Down — More developments in the quickly-developing race for state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple’s seat. Dave Foster, the last Republican to sit on the Arlington County School Board, is not denying that he may be run for the seat. Also, other Republicans are said to be interested in the GOP nomination. Meanwhile, former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Mike Signer says he’s not planning on running for Whipple’s seat, after all. [Sun Gazette, Washington Post]

Flickr pool photo by Christaki

Rosslyn, Get Ready for Some Blasting

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is warning Rosslyn workers and residents to expect some blasting as a result of work on a new entrance to the Rosslyn Metro station.

According to an email from the county, contractor Clark Construction has excavated to a depth of 20 feet but is about to hit bedrock. Once it does, Clark will need to start blasting to reach the ultimate depth of 100 feet. The blasting is expected to start “in the near future.”

County officials say they’re doing everything they can to keep the noise down, including putting a concrete cap on the “blast shaft” and using “blast mats.”

“Blasting is often a standard practice for excavation and due to the small footprint of the work site, the contractor anticipates minimal noise and vibration,” the county said. “Close coordination has occurred with all partners on the construction project, including the Arlington County Fire Marshall, Police Department, Metro, and others.”

The actual time of day when blasting will occur and possible street closures are currently being worked out with the Fire Marshal’s office.

Rosslyn Metro Changes for MLK Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Blue and Orange Line service will be split in two between Rosslyn and the District during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend due to track work. The work, which will also result in the closure of the Foggy Bottom Metro station, will start Friday night and end early Monday.

Free shuttle bus service will be available between the Rosslyn, Foggy Bottom and Farragut West stations during the closures.

See more info from Metro or the press release below.

The Rosslyn area will be impacted by the closure of Metro’s Foggy Bottom – GWU Station on MLK Weekend (January 14-18, 2011).

On the Blue and Orange Lines, there will not be service between the Rosslyn and Farragut West Metrorail stations, and the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, January 14 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, January 18.

There will be free shuttle bus service between Rosslyn and Farragut West stations with a stop at Foggy Bottom-GWU station approximately every 15 minutes before 9:30 p.m. and every 20 minutes after 9:30 p.m.

  • At Rosslyn Station, the bus stop will be on N. Moore Street near the Station entrance.
  • At Foggy Bottom-GWU Station, the bus stop will be on 23rd Street, south of G Street.
  • At Farragut West station, there will be two bus stops on Eye Street, one between 16th and 17th streets and one at 18th Street.
  • Signs will direct you to the shuttle bus stops.

If you plan to use Metrorail through the work area, please add approximately 40 minutes to your trip time.

Groundbreaking for New Rosslyn Metro Station Entrance

By ARLnow.com

Fortuitously timed between yesterday morning’s downpours, local officials and Sen. Jim Webb gathered under a tent near North Lynn Street to break ground on a new entrance to the Rosslyn Metro station.

The entrance will be located across from the existing Metro entrance, between the planned CentralPlace office and residential towers and near the future 1812 North Moore Street tower. It will feature three high-speed elevators and an emergency staircase, but no escalators.

The $32.6 million project also includes the construction of new fare collection and vending equipment, as well as a new kiosk and a new entrance mezzanine.

“I think it’s a good investment,” said Webb, who pointed to heavy traffic on the nearby Roosevelt Bridge as evidence of the importance of the Metrorail system.

The entrance will be able to serve up to 2,000 riders per hour, officials say. Local leaders hope it will help keep pace with the station’s soaring ridership, which has increased 23 percent in the past decade and is expected to increase even more with all the new development in the area.

“The project that’s being initiated today will increase the capacity of the station,” said county board member Chris Zimmerman, who is also sits on Metro’s board of directors. “It will be easier for people to get in and out of Rosslyn station… It’s going to make Rosslyn a more vital place, and help us achieve the vision for Rosslyn that everyone here has been working on for quite a long time.”

The project is being funded by a combination of federal, state and county dollars.

Construction is expected to wrap up in the spring of 2013. In the meantime, construction has necessitated some traffic changes in the Rosslyn area.

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