ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Editor's Note: The video above first aired on December 4, 2019.
An updated timeline for the opening of the new Potomac Yard Station was announced Tuesday by Metro.
The new station, located in Alexandria between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations on the Blue and Yellow lines, will be Metro's 98th rail station.
“We are excited to have an opening in sight for Potomac Yard Station,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Our team, the City of Alexandria, and contractors are working hard to complete the station and we look forward to providing new transit service to this rapidly developing area.”
On Saturday, Nov. 5, work to tie in the station and new track with the rest of the Metrorail system came to an end and trains are now passing through the station without stopping, according to officials.
Metro continues to work alongside the City of Alexandria and the contractor to complete construction on the station. In addition, Metro and its safety partners will complete critical safety reviews and provide staff training prior to opening for service to the public.
The project was initiated by the City of Alexandria. Officials say it is being funded by taxes and developer contributions generated by planned new development in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, as well as state grants, loans and regional sources.
Officials claim the new station will provide a wide range of benefits for Alexandria and the surrounding communities, including walkable access to regional transportation systems for residents in the northeast area of the city.
The station is 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.
New development immediately adjacent and north of the station is a mix of retail, residential and commercial development, including the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, according to a news release.
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