Potomac Yard station

Potomac Yard station
Company type	Washington Metro station
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	May 19, 2023; 3 years ago
Headquarters	Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Owner	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Potomac Yard station is a Washington Metro facility located in Alexandria, Virginia, managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Serving both the Blue and Yellow Lines, it commenced operations on May 19, 2023. Positioned within Alexandria’s Potomac Yard mixed-use district, the station lies between Richmond Highway (U.S. Route 1) and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. This station represents the second infill station introduced into the Washington Metro network since 2004 and occupies the former location of the Potomac Yard rail freight yard.

Background

From 1906 until its closure in 1982, Potomac Yard functioned as a significant rail yard on the East Coast, processing thousands of railcars daily. Following its shutdown, redevelopment initiatives began to take shape throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

The late 1990s marked the start of redevelopment efforts at Potomac Yard, including construction of the Potomac Yard Shopping Center and plans for a Metro station situated between the existing Blue and Yellow Line stops at and . The original Metrorail design incorporated provisions for a future station at this location.

In June 2008, Alexandria’s Planning Commission approved plans for increased development density near the proposed station site. The initial public forum concerning the station occurred in February 2009, involving city officials and members of the Metrorail Station Feasibility Work Group.

On June 12, 2010, the Alexandria City Council rezoned a portion of North Potomac Yard to redevelop the existing large-scale retail center into a mixed-use complex focused around the forthcoming Metro station.

Estimated costs and financing

Initial projected expenses for constructing Potomac Yard station escalated from $150 million in early 2009 to $240 million by late 2010. Funding sources comprised contributions from nearby property owners—most notably CPYR, owner of Potomac Yard Shopping Center, which pledged $81 million—and approximately $275 million raised through bonds issued by Alexandria.

Operating costs were estimated at $500,000 annually (in 2010 dollars). To cover both construction and debt service totaling approximately $496.6 million, Alexandria proposed establishing two special tax districts to complement developer funding and tax increment financing.

On December 18, 2010, Alexandria City Council unanimously authorized its inaugural special tax district aimed at financing much of the station’s construction and operational expenses. This district imposed a tax rate of twenty cents per $100 of assessed property value within Potomac Yard, expected to generate roughly $500,000 annually starting January 2011. The revenue supports bond repayment over a 30-year term.

A second special tax district planned for the Potomac Greens neighborhood was withdrawn in May 2011 following opposition from local residents; it had been projected to raise about $185,000 per year.

In January 2015, Virginia extended a $50 million loan to Alexandria toward covering part of the station’s estimated $209–264 million cost range. Subsequently, in July 2016, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority approved an additional $66 million contribution. Upon completion and opening, total construction expenditures were confirmed to be approximately $370 million.

Station location

The City of Alexandria assessed four possible locations for the station:

Alternative A: Ground-level side platforms situated between the CSX Transportation tracks and the Potomac Greens neighborhood. Estimated cost: $209 million.
Alternative B: Ground-level side platforms positioned between the George Washington Memorial Parkway and CSX tracks, located north of Potomac Greens and east of the Potomac Yard Retail Center. Estimated cost: $268 million.
Alternative B-CSX: Located at the site of the Regal Cinemas Potomac Yard theater. Estimated cost: $351 million.
Alternative D: An elevated center platform placed west of the CSX right-of-way near the Potomac Yard retail area. Estimated cost: $493 million.

In April 2015, the city endorsed Alternative B due to its support for higher-density development. This recommendation received City Council approval in May. The project entails acquiring 0.16 acres from the National Park Service along the Parkway, transferring 13.56 acres of municipal parkland to federal jurisdiction, and allocating $12 million toward enhancements for local trails and Daingerfield Island. The station design incorporates two pedestrian bridges spanning the CSX tracks to provide access to future developments, along with one bridge connecting to Potomac Greens and Old Town Greens. Funding sources comprise a local tax district, revenue from new developments, $69 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and $50 million contributed by a developer.

Finalized designs

By 2011, project planners had completed scoping and evaluated alternatives, aiming to release a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) by 2013; however, delays pushed the final environmental impact statement (EIS) publication to June 2016. Initially slated for a 2016 opening, the station's launch was postponed to 2018 as of January 2015, then further deferred to 2021 by August 2017, with potential extension into 2022 by April 2018 due to budgetary challenges.

In November 2016, federal authorities issued a Record of Decision authorizing construction. The WMATA board officially incorporated the station into its network in December 2015 with an anticipated opening in 2020.

Cost increases totaling $52 million, driven by rising labor and material expenses, led to abandoning plans for a southern entrance at Glebe Road. Following Amazon HQ2’s announcement in November 2018, this entrance was reinstated with an additional $50 million investment and a revised completion goal set for 2026.

Construction

The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on December 19, 2019, with initial completion targeted for April 2022. By February 2022, construction progress had reached approximately 70%, aiming for an autumn opening. Southern Yellow Line service was suspended starting September 10, 2022, to facilitate linking Potomac Yard with the central rail network; this closure was extended from October 22 until November 5 due to complications with soil conditions, resulting in postponing the station’s opening until early 2023. In December 2022, with construction at about 90% completion, WMATA announced a May 2023 opening date. In March 2023, WMATA revealed artwork for the station created by Rob Ley.

On April 19, 2023, both WMATA and Alexandria confirmed that the station would commence operations on May 19, 2023. The official opening occurred at 5 a.m., followed by a ceremonial event at 10:30 a.m., attended by officials from regional, state, and federal levels. Potomac Yard became the second infill station added to the Washington Metro system after NoMa–Gallaudet U station.

Station configuration

Positioned to the east of the RF&P Subdivision and westward of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the station faces the Potomac Yard neighborhood across the railway lines. It does not provide dedicated parking or kiss and ride zones, although private parking options are available nearby.

Access points

Because it lies across a heavily trafficked freight and passenger rail corridor from Potomac Yard, two out of the station’s three western entrances are designed as pavilion structures. Each pavilion links to an elevated footbridge that converges at a central location directly opposite the station, where a single footbridge leads into the station’s mezzanine before reaching the faregates.

Southern pavilion

Situated at the junction of Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road, the southern pavilion features one staircase and two elevators. Bicycle parking facilities are currently under development, while a Capital Bikeshare station was established in October 2023.

Northern pavilion

The northern pavilion is positioned east of Potomac Avenue, across from the Potomac Yard Center power center. It includes bicycle parking, two bus bays serving DASH buses, a staircase, escalators for both directions, and two elevators. Additionally, a secure bicycle storage area with 49 spaces accessible via SmarTrip is planned but remains under construction.

Potomac Greens entrance

A third entry point on the eastern side connects to Potomac Greens through two elevators leading from a shared-use path into Alexandria’s Potomac Greens residential community before reaching the faregates.

Interior layout

Just beyond the faregates in the mezzanine area, elevators on both sides descend to the station’s two side platforms. The mezzanine also contains restrooms and drinking fountains located on its left side. Each platform is equipped with a staircase and an escalator ascending back to the mezzanine level.

Track arrangement

The station operates on a double-track system with two side platforms serving trains traveling in opposite directions.

M	Mezzanine	Entrances/exits, fare control, ticket vending machines, restrooms, station manager
T Platform level	Side platform
	Southbound	← Template:WMATA icon toward Template:Wmata ← Template:WMATA icon toward Template:Wmata
	Northbound	Template:WMATA icon toward Template:Wmata → Template:WMATA icon toward Template:Wmata →
	Side platform

Naming

The station derives its name from Potomac Yard, a former railroad yard that has since been transformed into a mixed-use development, along with Virginia Tech. The term "Potomac" originates from an Algonquian word meaning "trading place," while "Yard" acknowledges the site's history as a rail yard from 1906 to 1982. Virginia Tech successfully petitioned to include its acronym in the station name to emphasize its nearby Innovation Campus, which is under construction and expected to open in 2024. This name addition received unanimous approval from the Alexandria City Council on September 22, 2020. Following a public consultation conducted by WMATA in November 2020, the board officially ratified the updated station name on December 10, 2020.

Design and artwork

Reflecting its proximity to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the station's architectural design draws inspiration from the Thorncrown Chapel located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Its exterior combines natural stone with brown steel elements, creating harmony with the surrounding environment. Notably, it stands among the first rail stations in the United States to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, underscoring its commitment to sustainable architecture.

Artistic contributions by Rob Ley enhance each entrance pavilion: the south pavilion mezzanine features A Subtle Trip, 2023, composed of painted aluminum forms inspired by Virginia bluebells, while Fieldwalking, 2023, which incorporates cherry blossom designs, embellishes the north pavilion elevator tower. These artworks are financed by the city of Alexandria, Virginia and are part of the Art in Transit initiative.

External links