ALEXANDRIA, Va. — While some are discussing the potential new Caps and Wizards arena in Alexandria as a guaranteed move, Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin says the proposed sports and entertainment complex is not a done deal.
"The general assembly has not acted and I don't think there is universal support among the General Assembly," Ebbin told WUSA9.
The democratic state lawmaker representing Alexandria is echoing the concerns of neighbors regarding public transit in the Potomac Yard neighborhood. Particularly when it comes to Metro's Potomac Yard Station which according to state officials would be among the primary methods to transport fans to the proposed arena with 20,000 seats.
Last week Metro's CEO Randy Clarke warned that the Potomac Yard station is currently not ready to handle the huge crowds and told reporters that he was not a part of the conversation regarding the possible move of the arena from downtown D.C. to Virginia's Potomac Yard station.
"Clearly it would need some kind of modification to handle a demand of that nature," Clarke said about the station that is located next to the proposed site of what could be a 70-acre complex.
Ebbin says Virginia will have to invest more in long-term funding for the Metro system if they want to be able to advance the project announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Monumental Sports majority owner Ted Leonsis.
"That it's a prerequisite for any consideration of a deal. You just can't have people come to an arena if they can't get on the metro," Ebbin said.
Time is ticking for Metro to get the funding it needs to close the massive $750-million budget gap or the system has warned that it could close stations, cut bus routes, and lay off nearly 2,300 workers in the summer.
Currently, Virginia contributes $348 million to the system, but Metro is asking for another $180 million to avoid major service interruptions, fare increases, and drastic layoffs.
With just three weeks until Virginia's next legislative session, Senator Ebbin says Metro's current financial woes won't be the only issue the General Assembly will have to decide.
"I'll be weighing the community's concerns against the potential economic benefits of this proposed deal," he said.
Virginia officials have not made public the amount they are considering to offer Metro ahead of their legislative session.
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