Traffic & Transit
Amazon HQ2 Decision Spurs Major Change To Potomac Yard Metro
Plans are back on for the Potomac Yard Metro south entrance with new state funding.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—The announcement of Amazon's future headquarters in Crystal City has brought news that the south entrance of the future Potomac Yard Metro station will be again included in plans. The state has promised $50 million in funding for the entrance from Potomac Avenue, which had previously been scrapped due to anticipated construction costs.
The state announced the funding to address increased ridership expected from Amazon, as well as the $1 billion Virginia Tech Innovation Campus coming to Potomac Yard. The city said in a news release funds will be released based on Amazon job creation targets, although the state has "committed to support development of transportation projects on an accelerated basis." In the meantime, the Commonwealth Transportation Board must formally approve the funds.
Alexandria, the state and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will look into whether it's feasible to include the south entrance in the initial station construction. The station is still on target for an early 2022 opening.
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The previous elimination of the south entrance from station plans had been a point of controversy among residents and businesses moving to Potomac Yard. A group of concerned residents criticized the announcement of the changes nearly a year after Alexandria officials found out. City Manager Mark Jinks later apologized, stating that officials believed they could not discuss the changes under a confidentiality agreement with WMATA.
That's all water under the bridge in light of the funding for the south entrance. Potomac Yard resident Dan Roth told Patch, "The temporary loss of the entrance was very frustrating. Leaders really listened to that and found a creative solution."
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The city is set to review an updated special use permit for the station with amendments to the original station design. One of these amendments is a ramp from Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road to the north station entrance pedestrian bridge. The amendment resulted from community feedback on how riders can access the north entrance from the south. The Planning Commission will consider the amendments on Dec. 6 and City Council on Dec. 15.
Image via Emily Leayman/Patch
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