LOOKING Forward
In Fiscal Year 2025, the City of Arlington will focus on advancing the six strategic priorities set by the City Council: Build Unity, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Enhance Regional Mobility, Invest in Our Economy, Leverage Technology and Supporting Youth and Families. Through planned projects, programs, and initiatives, the City continues its commitment to improving the quality of life for residents and fostering sustainable growth.
As part of the Build Unity priority, the Library will conduct a pilot diversity audit to perform a comprehensive review of its juvenile fiction section. The project will assess the representation of diverse characters and narratives within the collection. The findings will help shape future collection development strategies, ensuring the library collection reflects the diverse experiences of Arlington’ s growing population. The results from the pilot audit will be used to guide the full audit, fostering inclusivity in Arlington’ s library offerings.
The Great Neighborhoods priority aims to make our communities safe, sustainable and engaging. Key initiatives include the Clean Corridors Program, which maintains the cleanliness of Arlington’ s high-traffic areas to promote sustainability and community pride. The Parks and Recreation Department is also tackling invasive plant species like Chinese Privet, using mechanical removal and organic methods such as goats to restore native plants and reduce environmental impact, all while minimizing herbicide use.
By focusing to Enhance Regional Mobility, the City of Arlington is working to improve mobility and connectivity for residents, ensuring easier access to regional destinations and more efficient transportation options. The City is piloting a new Dynamic Direct Route model as part of its Arlington On-Demand Rideshare service. This initiative aims to improve the predictability and flexibility of public transportation by offering direct routes during peak demand periods, while allowing for re-deployment of vehicles during off-peak times. The Multimodal Delivery Demonstration Project explores using autonomous electric vehicles to deliver food to underserved areas of East Arlington, testing the efficiency of air and ground delivery systems.
The Invest in Our Economy priority is advanced through new initiatives, including the development of a manufacturing facility in the west airport area. A new partnership with E-Space, a satellite manufacturing start-up, is set to create significant economic opportunity. This project will generate at least 400 jobs within five years and create a hub for innovation and economic growth in the region. This initiative aligns with Arlington’ s goal to attract high-tech industries and provide new job opportunities for residents.