Looking Forward
The City Council’ s five strategic priorities, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Enhance Regional Mobility,
Invest in Our Economy, Put Technology to Work and Support Quality Education, remained unchanged for FY 2018. City leadership believes these are still the areas of focus that will propel Arlington wisely into the future.
As in previous years, significant investments are planned for public safety and information technology in FY 2018. This includes the replacement of police digital video recorders and police and fire mobile data computers. IT, in conjunction with its client departments, is also undertaking several large projects in 2018. Among those are the upgrade of AMANDA, which is our key development services and code compliance software, the full deployment of our body-worn cameras and new electronic citation devices, as well as the migration of Fire’ s electronic medical records and redesign of the City’ s website. Enterprise-wide, IT will also complete several large network infrastructure upgrades.
Great neighborhoods contribute to a higher quality of life and greater investment in our economy. In FY 2018, Code Compliance will continue to focus on code violations by proactively addressing violations and increasing outreach to the community. Community Development and Planning has once again implemented the popular Neighborhood Matching Grant Program. The goal of the program is to provide financial support for resident and communitybased programs and activities that foster civic pride, enhance and beautify neighborhoods, and improve neighborhood vitality and participation. The program benefits the City of Arlington by making neighborhoods more attractive, raising the level of community pride, increasing civic participation by residents, and encouraging collaboration and formal
organization of and among neighbors, neighborhoods and city government.
Economic Development and targeted investment remains a key focus in FY 2018. The muchanticipated new Downtown Library will open in June, bringing with it a sense of excitement and rejuvenation to the Downtown core. The Community Development and Planning Department will harness this excitement and take the opportunity to update the Downtown Master Plan. The Office of Economic Development will also continue its focus on business recruitment and retention including targeted outreach of direct foreign investment.
Arlington recognizes the importance of providing adequate roadway, bicycle and pedestrian, and aviation infrastructure to ensure
residents and visitors can travel safely and efficiently. In 2018, Arlington will implement a new rideshare service, Via, as an alternative to the now completed pilot of the Metro Arlington Xpress commuter bus service. This“ on-demand” service increases flexibility and access to a wide range of destinations. The Milo autonomous shuttle pilot initiative in the City’ s Entertainment District will carry on throughout the next year. In addition, several large regional transportation projects, including the I-30 and SH 360 Interchange will continue.
Looking forward to FY 2018 and beyond, the City of Arlington is poised to achieve great things, to realize the goal of being a live, learn, work and play city – a true American Dream City.
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