If you’re a frequent parker in Arlington, you may want to budget in some extra cash for a rate hike at parking meters. According to the Examiner, Arlington County officials are considering making some sweeping changes to the current system, such as extending the metered hours and raising the current flat rate of $1 per hour.

Obviously, there’s a tough balance to keep here for County officials – on the one hand, the Wilson Boulevard corridor has many places to eat and shop, and having available parking is tantamount to stimulating those economic opportunities. That said, pretty much everywhere between Rosslyn and Falls Church is accessible with the Orange line and a little bit of walking. But hey, on the bright side, you’ll at least be able to use your credit card to pay for your more expensive parking, if the County’s draft transportation plan goes through as planned later this year.

Engines and Cabooses: The ramp from the E Street Expressway to I-66 West has been shut down by DDOT for repairs – it should reopen on August 25… Metro Transit Police will participate in National Night Out ceremonies tonight… For those who Metro to and walk around Foggy Bottom, some sidewalks will be closed for excavation work at 2200 Pennsylvania Ave., so be aware… WaPo takes the Federal Highway Trust issue and runs with it… Pedestrian was struck and killed Saturday on the B-W Parkway ramp from New York Avenue… Metro tells Examiner and Express to stop blocking entrances to stations with stacks of newspapers every morning.