[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6621633,"mediaKeyId","2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6","parentId",2800968,"title","Transportation capital: county flags PAYGO needs, Vision Zero maintenance and Capital Bikeshare expansion","audioSeconds",1606,"startMs",5588000,"endMs",7194000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6&start=5588&end=7194","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6/thumbnail_5588000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621633/Arlington-County/Virginia/Transportation-capital-county-flags-PAYGO-needs-Vision-Zero-maintenance-and-Capital-Bikeshare-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621633-d5b88b7fb86fef190dd2612341678579/orig.mp4?Expires=1770743622&Signature=aj26Zp~oRENugETN~tuhdFJO10s0dMLD~1rAaN8ee49SSqa7bRWrUnn-XELfnbwvfRSZ9R5ow~TskGJDsqOk0ihaMxU3iCKpGK6hnSo5~3y8wlRgQdblXYNjS4-31tFw4M6ydDWEBe1RurTQy3UyGZFJWuSBgEeCGWajTnRGXV9pQBXZWk19-t6b7IPajbVD8Q-jReMIRj8DqQHs6CNcLCDbDZ1rB0ZGup~xUPcMBa6mdjHgaF9d5YQD28LSdJUscbV21h9MTzPZGiVbHerqIeETSEQUYpP45VETL6iNLdybnHqMgJMvOMh-7KkWei~R-wBZhrWJlNgiolEK2lKN8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arlington County Government","date","2025-03-27T21:21:31.623Z","article","Arlington transportation staff presented the FY26 transportation capital programs and funding plan, stressing that most project dollars come from legally restricted sources—Transportation Capital Fund (TCF), Crystal City/Pentagon City TIF, state and federal grants—and that PAYGO is needed to maintain assets such as slurry seals, sidewalks, signals and in‑street Vision Zero devices.

Assistant Director Sarah Crawford and Transportation Funds Manager Vijetha Huffman said PAYGO for transportation is proposed at $5.1 million for FY26 and supports programs and projects not eligible for dedicated transportation revenue sources. Staff emphasized that preventative pavement treatments (slurry seal and micro‑surfacing) are far more cost‑effective than mill‑and‑overlay or full‑depth rebuilds, and that declining PAYGO or construction inflation can increase future costs.

Staff reviewed condition metrics: the county’s PCI (pavement condition index) was 83.7 for calendar 2023; sidewalk condition improved from 83 to 88 since 2021 after a tripping‑hazard blitz and zone maintenance program. The county is implementing more tactical Vision Zero devices—bollards, turn‑hardening, and pilot deployments—and staff warned those devices require ongoing maintenance. Staff estimated a roughly 20% increase in potholes for FY25 versus FY24 attributable to a severe winter.

On funding, staff described TCF revenues (commercial/industrial assessment and an add‑on sales tax component) and noted a forecasted TCF revenue decline compared with FY25 due mainly to commercial assessment pressure; TCF will still pay operating and maintenance costs for transit and bike share. TIF funding remains important for transformational projects such as the Crystal City East entrance (staff cited roughly $90 million of external funding leveraged by local TIF contributions).

Capital Bikeshare was a core topic: staff said installed and planned solar and charging infrastructure and bike share expansion will push the county’s on‑site solar above one megawatt. Staff proposed converting a contractor role to a county FTE to directly manage the Capital Bikeshare contract and shared mobility permits. Fiscal 2024 was a record year for bikeshare ridership in Arlington; staff noted strong e‑bike adoption and proposed $2.0 million for operations/maintenance and $1.2 million for expansion in FY26, with a continued emphasis on e‑bikes.

Board members and the Transportation Commission praised Vision Zero pilot projects and asked about maintenance costs for tactical devices, sidewalk accessibility, bus stop accessibility and the timeline for bus and Columbia Pike projects. Staff said they would return with more detailed planning and noted the master transportation plan update (Arlington’s Transportation Future) is underway.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Arlington County Board FY 2026 Proposed Budget Work Session - March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Transportation staff told the County Board that FY26 transportation PAYGO is $5.1 million to maintain pavements, sidewalks, signals and Vision Zero devices while most capital work is funded from TCF, TIF and external grants.","taxTitle","Arlington County, Virginia","taxId",20560,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621637,"Public safety capital: county to replace 911 call‑taking system, continue radio fleet refresh and fund mission‑critical gear",690,3900000,4590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6&start=3900&end=4590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6/thumbnail_3900000.jpg","/articles/6621637/Arlington-County/Virginia/Public-safety-capital-county-to-replace-911-calltaking-system-continue-radio-fleet-refresh-and-fund-missioncritical-gear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621637-34a2a0d511a69d6d13cf86db6294b101/orig.mp4?Expires=1770743622&Signature=clWvagdT2H6~iZ7ogcCyrVyBhYqgS5YjvgNu0FPX6MWr8YlOOyyNG2gmb-jqyAnQxxzxKk9e58fYPZPMHcOzG-QM7KGnpfzzSeczJPhFst2nVnjXYpjzjlLDCcGgNLoP18jGf~B8LALIWcg~57CpPVe9k2WsNelcHQBHCPDDz7GgTaM11oIieCgGGdmLOnlBIlPm1TBTfrMVJ-ghwTa1hjQyRaXo6GUJKQEcPXl-1Nd-p5RjZp0eXTf-0CChyXusvjeSJS-sQfoOJOrwh-aaqTNK-Ai8lAeV3F7uiDVhlad0YoZwFaax2-7ubnG8AO-kUwsJsusrT2RPMhxP8cE2UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeffrey Bergen, financial officer for the Department of Human and Public Safety Management (DHPSM), told the board that public safety capital requests for FY26 focus on mission‑critical communications, response equipment and vehicle technology used daily by first responders.

Bergen said the FY26 public safety capital list totals roughly $6.4 million for replacement projects scheduled this year. The largest items are a refresh of the county’s 911 call‑taking equipment (call premise equipment) and the third year of the county’s multi‑year public safety radio replacement program. Bergen described the radio replacement as a phased program intended to maintain useful life, allow operational testing and ensure interoperability across jurisdictions.

Other projects proposed for FY26 include replacements and upgrades for thermal imaging cameras and other fire‑response tools, range improvements for police training, technology supporting mobile video trailers, and LiveScan fingerprinting equipment for the Sheriff’s Office. Bergen emphasized that these assets typically have 5–10 year useful lives and the PSIT governance structure helps coordinate procurement, lifecycle replacement and regional interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Staff noted the trend toward software as a service (SaaS) for some public safety tools, which may move costs from capital into operating budgets over time. Bergen also highlighted partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions—he cited joint procurement and prior successful collaborations with the City of Alexandria on a next‑generation 911 project—as a way to access grant funding and reduce procurement costs.

The board praised the public safety teams’ recent operational responses and underscored the importance of keeping mission‑critical systems current. Several members asked whether any items on the list were deferrable; staff said many of the radio fleet replacements and the 911 refresh are time‑sensitive because they approach end of useful life and are difficult to pause without service impacts.

Provenance: based on the DHPSM presentation by Jeffrey Bergen and related board Q&A.","The Department of Human and Public Safety Management presented a FY26 public safety capital package focused on mission‑critical communications and field equipment, including a refresh of the 911 phone system and the third year of a multi‑year radio replacement program.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621642,"Facilities teams propose PAYGO and electrification investments; boiler switch at 4‑Mile Run carries $760,000 premium",398,1051000,1449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6&start=1051&end=1449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6/thumbnail_1051000.jpg","/articles/6621642/Arlington-County/Virginia/Facilities-teams-propose-PAYGO-and-electrification-investments-boiler-switch-at-4Mile-Run-carries-760000-premium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621642-498f801fb7b443bb6157ae2f6fc285bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770743622&Signature=fCrQFw4fXRHCse9PVkh0odeEAlRv1fAmqqmJu~2WyZj8dcnttHDThGdkw9rpvyJ5JP-WGqlG6aiX8h~EeTHrsvggNv-uSHHR8rzdkwyW6tykF~fe~MVVIMsibkKu4FhiA5fn43ttmL5bMwQ5z5u11XJ2ZjmlJ~7wBLU3nUj-b2NeE1lcDSTTTsP4s9qyAsTv75~GU2LNcj10WdzgJeBX0yJiosc~96WsFSEIb0aAoxj-yPWfG8qCYRT3njrS37ri0VlsqJIw5nO-QVZb-dQ0TX5TwJ7tBdbVd6wSKmBYyE6AO18OBN-F2uEblufz~2RNuQqRCBP8NiQUsgJYx-sk-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Facilities and energy management staff told the Arlington County Board at a work session that FY26 PAYGO requests will prioritize state‑of‑good‑repair work, end‑of‑life replacements and electrification pilots to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and future operating carbon demand.

George May and colleagues said the county’s facility portfolio is aging—the average facility age is roughly 44 years—and that the FY26 requests reflect replacement cycles, critical systems upgrades and electrification initiatives. Staff highlighted prior completions such as Fire Station 8 and the Art Operations and Maintenance Facility and described an active project list of about 70 items across design and construction.

Energy projects proposed in PAYGO total roughly $1.9 million from the PAYGO budget with an additional $300,000 from the Climate Action Fund, staff said. The presentation separated short‑payback “low‑hanging” measures—such as LED lighting retrofits and retro‑commissioning with paybacks near five years—from deeper decarbonization measures that require higher up‑front capital.

Steven (energy staff) showed comparative metrics for two illustrative projects: a boiler electrification at the 3404 Four Mile Run site and a Justice Center lighting retrofit. He said the boiler electrification carries a $760,000 incremental capital premium over a like‑for‑like gas replacement but is forecast to yield substantially greater greenhouse‑gas savings over a 30‑year life. By contrast, the lighting project is about $200,000 with an estimated five‑year payback and smaller lifetime GHG savings.

Staff also described on‑site solar planning (county‑owned systems and PPAs), expanding fleet charging (the county had about 80 internal chargers across 14 sites and 160,000 kWh dispensed in 2024 supporting roughly 420,000 electric miles), and continued work on EV charging at the Art Operations and Maintenance Facility and Justice Center. The county expects to exceed one megawatt of installed on‑site solar capacity as planned arrays come online.

Facilities management requested targeted PAYGO for library and community center HVAC and window projects, electrical upgrades at Madison Community Center (including a request tied to a baseline maintenance package), and replacement of critical systems such as emergency generators, fire alarm systems at transit sites (Quincy 3), and UPS replacements at radio sites. Staff told the board the transition to electrified heating systems can add significant internal electrical upgrade costs—transformers and switchgear replacement and potentially higher monthly utility charges—so project planning factors in those tradeoffs.

Staff also raised workforce capacity and market pay concerns for technicians and project managers as a limiting factor in project delivery.

Provenance: summarizes the Facilities & Energy Management presentation and project examples discussed by George May, Steven and Adam Clowey.","Facilities and energy management staff outlined FY26 PAYGO requests and electrification pilots, including a boiler electrification at 4‑Mile Run with a $760,000 incremental capital cost versus a gas replacement, lighting retrofits at the Justice Center, and expanded EV charging and solar projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621646,"Arlington presents $253 million FY26 capital program; funding largely restricted",126,269000,395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6&start=269&end=395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6/thumbnail_269000.jpg","/articles/6621646/Arlington-County/Virginia/Arlington-presents-253-million-FY26-capital-program-funding-largely-restricted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621646-bc82932f2be9e3e99529631969a518da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770743622&Signature=IsL1lNl6H~YfWezmyCEp2I50G776TeVCCEmjNSngzCADlSHA7dwiWKBw4jCOe8AKjrgILSmUL5dveb3wJA1efXnMvU46Kpa8XHlpMof0gUqC6T0Lm9NBS3YsDdx5k3wBXmFh4kx4OTgziQusulV-Bk~qpP0DsypaWRu8ItUfY83Tpydf2~pRMieWEVsuneJ1e-rkXcprWjb~996jSMZAeaviKP46j8clY5P52LLSMHFZsO9Cr4pfJM~zE1rcKzavIO6EOBo1fsPX-gfVJgiT3SOGQKkhf2E8jY7VGf8MvcPicuXoNwUmFl9iwHcwhYMazXASSHnPebvFMb6gIOPvow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Arlington County staff presented an overview of the proposed fiscal year 2026 capital program at a board work session, telling members the portfolio totals “over $253,000,000” and spans roads, parks, technology and government facilities.

The county said nearly 90% of FY26 capital funding is legally restricted, coming from sources such as state and federal grants, transportation revenues, the Crystal City tax increment financing (TIF) district, and bond proceeds. Karen Talley, the county’s capital budget coordinator, told the board the Crystal City TIF, the Transportation Capital Fund and state and federal grants together represent about 32% of the capital portfolio.

Why it matters: restricted funding reduces the county’s flexibility to reassign dollars between competing priorities and means many projects must be matched to specific revenue sources or executed within constraints set by grant and bond rules.

Staff explained how the county uses multiple financing tools. General obligation (G.O.) bonds are proposed at roughly $140 million as part of the multi‑year implementation of the 2024 referendum approved in the adopted CIP; short‑term financing (for assets with 3–10 year useful life) represents about 4% of the annual program and typically funds technology and equipment; PAYGO (pay‑as‑you‑go) is used for routine maintenance and replacement for assets with useful life under 10 years and is proposed at just over $23.3 million for FY26.

Karen Talley said the PAYGO allocation “funds the replacement of assets with a useful life of 10 years or less,” and emphasized the county’s intent to keep PAYGO as a flexible cash source. Board members raised questions about the balance of ongoing versus one‑time PAYGO funding; staff said the county needs significantly more ongoing PAYGO to meet recurring maintenance needs but has historically relied on one‑time sources such as bond premium when they are available.

Staff also warned of cost pressures: project costs continue to rise due to construction inflation, supply‑chain lead times, and labor shortages, forcing the county to prioritize between maintaining existing assets and funding new projects. The presentation highlighted the multi‑year nature of capital projects and the difficulty of fully matching multi‑year implementation to single‑year budget approvals.

Looking ahead, staff told the board they will return with more detailed, project‑level recommendations during the CIP/bond sale process and emphasized that many FY26 projects are funded from restricted sources and therefore not available for general reallocation.

Provenance: The article summarizes the FY26 capital overview presented by Karen Talley and subsequent board discussion about PAYGO, short‑term financing, G.O. bonds, and restricted funding sources.","County staff told the Arlington County Board at a work session that the FY26 capital program totals more than $253 million and is funded mainly by legally restricted sources, including transportation revenues, state and federal grants, and bond proceeds; PAYGO and short‑term financing fill gaps for shorter‑life assets.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6621628,"Debt service edges up; Metro subsidy spike poses looming budget gap for Arlington",545,11055000,11600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6&start=11055&end=11600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800968-daac003ead838000cdc2725e09f5a9d6/thumbnail_11055000.jpg","/articles/6621628/Arlington-County/Virginia/Debt-service-edges-up-Metro-subsidy-spike-poses-looming-budget-gap-for-Arlington","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621628-0eccbf1ef41a9855ddad09ce825015c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770743622&Signature=WxLDu7Z3Oi2RJQSK36WVL-7oqnSb1ApkwupWveapDtXTlHUb2DA~0i-3APgGTjTCwmlxszk5vxGmm6Wp99lkXPMWceIYVYaKlxYMNefWwURnG0Mj5mM78y~Iw4W66TBtNjh~TILAk1z77Gt3WU2CYfs9gFqKxlkEurNz1CsnbOV6ENkHVJycjTLw8Y53OU6phcmsUCldansHBBiaD3Z1PoFPQ32aJBQfGZY7bPxgSwZI18wWFuCYStNtKtFlDkfDHXBnF2~CA9COIHy5CtE9nbEg~ZwSXiG~G5FA0kAZa9ZAc-owPFufTckuZ~kIbjD5aamR6~HJ4EUjIFQ43xj6gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Fries, managing budget staff in the Department of Management and Finance, briefed the County Board on debt service and the county’s share of WMATA funding obligations.

Fries said the county’s FY26 debt service budget (general‑fund supported debt and certain departmental debt obligations) is about $88.2 million, an increase of roughly $3.5 million (4.2%). The county’s short‑term finance and the AHIP line of credit for affordable housing were discussed as well; staff recommended a $5 million pay‑down on the AHIP line to reduce interest expense and noted that short‑term rates have been declining from recent peaks.

On regional transit, Fries said Arlington’s gross FY26 subsidy for WMATA was about $144.6 million, driven by WMATA’s budget and a multi‑year agreement in which the Commonwealth agreed to contribute a portion of the region’s increased operating need for two years. Fries warned that the Commonwealth’s supplemental contribution expires after FY26 and that federal pandemic‑era support that helped smooth the gap has also run down. As a result, absent a new regional funding mechanism, Arlington faces the prospect of substantial additional local subsidy needs in FY27–28—estimates in the presentation showed illustrative increases on the order of $24 million in FY27 and $30 million in FY28 in worst‑case projections when balances are exhausted.

Fries reviewed Arlington’s debt policy metrics, noting that the county remains under its 10% “debt service to general governmental expenditures” policy cap (projected peak ~9.7% in 2032 under current plans) but that projected Metro subsidy increases and constrained revenue outlooks make future compliance and near‑term CIP choices more challenging.

Fries and board members discussed using available balances to smooth near‑term Metro impacts versus reserving funds for later years; staff recommended continued work with regional partners to identify durable revenue sources for WMATA and said the county is actively evaluating bond sale timing to minimize borrowing costs.

Provenance: summary of DMF briefing by Jason Fries and related board discussion about Metro subsidies, AHIP, short‑term rates and debt policy.","Finance staff told the board debt service for FY26 is budgeted at about $88.2 million (an increase driven in part by planned issuances) and warned that Metro subsidy growth—supported temporarily by a state match—could create a substantial county budget gap after FY26 unless a regional funding solution is reached.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Transportation capital: county flags PAYGO needs, Vision Zero maintenance and Capital Bikeshare expansion

Public safety capital: county to replace 911 call‑taking system, continue radio fleet refresh and fund mission‑critical gear

Facilities teams propose PAYGO and electrification investments; boiler switch at 4‑Mile Run carries $760,000 premium

Arlington presents $253 million FY26 capital program; funding largely restricted

Debt service edges up; Metro subsidy spike poses looming budget gap for Arlington