The City of Alexandria will host a public groundbreaking ceremony for the new Potomac Yard Metrorail Station on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m.
The event will take place at the future location of the station’s northwest entrance (3601 Potomac Ave.), next to the Regal Potomac Yard movie theater.
“Today’s announcement is a major milestone that has been a quarter-century in the making,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “Alexandria has worked closely with Metro and our federal and state partners to plan for a new Potomac Yard Metrorail Station that will improve mobility, promote economic development, and protect our environment. We now officially move from planning the station to constructing the station.”
Announcement of the groundbreaking ceremony follows issuance of a permit Nov. 15 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the federal Clean Water Act. The permit followed an extensive evaluation process, including a public comment period and consideration of conservation, economics, aesthetics, environmental protection, cultural values, energy needs, and safety.
This was the final permit required under the Joint Permit Application process with the Corps and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The Virginia State Water Control Board unanimously approved the state permit in September. Preliminary construction activities began earlier this year, and the station will be subject to additional development review and other local permits over the next year.
The new Potomac Yard Metrorail Station, to be built on Metrorail's Yellow and Blue Lines between the existing Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations, will provide an extensive range of benefits for Alexandria and the surrounding community, including walkable access to regional transportation systems for neighborhoods in the northeast area of the city.
The station is also expected to generate billions of dollars in new private sector investment over the long term and eventually support 26,000 new jobs and 13,000 new residents. The Potomac Yard area represents the most significant redevelopment and tax base growth opportunity for Alexandria, with the potential to achieve the vision for an urban mix of uses near transit.
The $320 million station will be funded through a variety of sources – including new tax revenue from development in Potomac Yard over the next 40 years, funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and developer contributions. The station is scheduled to open in early 2022.
