I live in Alexandria, and while I sometimes drive, I really value the days I take transit. My go-to option is heading to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station on the Blue Line. In the morning, I drive a short distance to the station, park in the Metro garage, and tap my phone to begin my trip. Having parking right at the station makes easy to combine driving with transit – no need to deal with traffic the entire way into Rosslyn.
If you hadn't heard, the IRS increased the pre-tax commuter benefit limit to $340 per month at the beginning of 2026. With this increase in mind, ATP hosted a webinar discussing commuter benefit programs - if you were unable to attend or simply want to refresh your memory, read more to learn what was discussed.
Every year on Earth Day, April 22, people are reminded to consider our environment and take steps to make our living more sustainable. In Arlington County, that reminder is not limited to a single day. It actually shows up as a full month of events.
All throughout April, residents have multiple opportunities to engage directly with environmental sustainability through Arlington's EarthFest programming. Across the county, this includes invasive plant removal events in parks like Powhatan Springs Park and Upton Hill Regional Park, as well as trash cleanup events at Barcroft Park, all focused on restoring native habitats and improving local ecosystems through direct volunteer work.
That momentum does not stop on Earth Day or even at the end of April. Many of these events continue into May, carrying Earth Month forward with additional opportunities to stay engaged through park programming, environmental education, and direct activities. These include continued volunteer days, outdoor programs, and smaller-scale events offering a range of ways for residents to participate. See the full list of events here!
Commuter and regional rail is set to receive a major upgrade, addressing a long-standing bottleneck that has impacted travel times and future rail expansion. Led by the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), the Long Bridge project, which began construction in 2024, will add a second two-track span across the Potomac River, separating passenger and freight traffic and increasing overall rail capacity.
Bike to Work Day (BTWD) will take place this year on Friday, May 15. If you’ve ever thought about biking to work, but weren’t sure where to start, this event serves as the perfect opportunity to try it out. Whether you’re brand new to biking or looking for a reason to try out a bike commute, BTWD offers a fun and low-pressure way to try a sustainable commute while joining hundreds of other cyclists across the region.
