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Rosslyn, VA
Rosslyn, VA
Operations

Rosslyn BID Operations

The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) provides a variety of services that create a clean, safe, and vibrant environment for everyone in the neighborhood. The BID’s services supplement services provided by Arlington County.

The BID’s current services include:

Ambassador Program

If you walk around Rosslyn, you are likely to see Rosslyn’s Ambassadors in their familiar purple sweatshirts, jackets, and hats. Their mission is to keep Rosslyn’s streets clean, give directions, offer restaurant suggestions, and even call a tow truck if a person’s car breaks down.

They lend a helping hand to Rosslyn residents, workers and visitors. Learn more details about the program here.

Homeless Outreach

In August 2018, the Rosslyn BID’s Cleaning Ambassador, Mr. Chaney, took on an additional role as our Outreach Specialist. Every Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., he makes his rounds, seeking out the neighborhood's most vulnerable people, who in some cases, are living on the street. He takes care of them by talking with them and asking how they're doing, providing gift cards so they can get something to eat, or administering first aid if they have a minor injury. His main goal is to build a relationship and connect them to PathForward, Arlington's homeless services organization, that will provide them with medical care, shelter, meals, housing, and a stable job if they are able to work. He typically speaks with 10-12 individuals per week.

If you have any questions or comments about PathForward or would like to find out how you can help please visit their website or call them directly at (703) 228-7803.

Mr. Chaney knows a lot about helping those less fortunate: He's been doing this sort of work for years. Among other roles, in 1988 he was part of a team that opened a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. Later, he worked for the Coalition for the Homeless at that same shelter. In 2004, he worked for Volunteers of America's Addictions and Drug Treatment Program. In these jobs, the people he served had chosen to be there, so they already knew they needed help. Meeting up with people on the streets in Rosslyn is different, but Mr. Chaney’s experience is helpful in building relationships. 

If there are any quality of life issues you would like to report, please contact our Senior Operations Director, Victor Carcamo, via email or you can also call Mr. Chaney directly at (202) 820-0005.

Safety and Transportation

The Rosslyn BID coordinates directly with the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) to keep Rosslyn safe. During the spring and summer months the BID contracts an off-duty officer for the BID detail. This safety detail is called the “walking officer program” and takes place three times a week and focuses on business and resident engagement as well as addressing traffic and parking issues. Ambassadors also serve as extra eyes and ears for the ACPD.

The BID’s work in transportation is an integral part of making Rosslyn more efficient and manageable. The BID works closely with Arlington County to improve access to and around Rosslyn for motorists, transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians with a focus on safety issues and encouragement of multimodal transportation.

In many cases, the BID acts as a liaison between the local government and private entities that are cooperating to make infrastructure and community improvements.

The Rosslyn BID ambassadors also help to keep pedestrians safe during winter months by removing snow and checking for slippery areas throughout the BID boundaries. Please click here to view a map of the BID’s snow removal plan.

To report the following issues directly to Arlington County please use the following links:

Please contact our Senior Operations Director, Victor Carcamo, with any other safety and transportation issues related to the Rosslyn BID.

Landscaping and Beautification 

The Rosslyn BID is proud of taking on the responsibility of beautifying the public realm and enhancing the pedestrian experience. Working through contractors, Victor has been able to install over 16,000 flowers annually in tree pits, pots, and planting beds throughout the BID. This also includes consistent maintenance of our two “pet gardens,” placemaking projects such as kabob corner, the food truck zone on Wilson Blvd, and street planters used to help improve traffic. We have also added a Rosslyn topiary to welcome those driving in from Route 110 and continue working with Arlington County’s Forestry division to ensure we provide a healthy environment for our trees.