Beyond MoCo: Metro and City of Alexandria Announce Potomac Yard Station Opening Date

The opening day for Metro’s newest station, Potomac Yard, is set for Friday, May 19, 2023. Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke joined Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson to make the announcement while touring the Potomac Yard site.

“Our team is working hard to put the finishing touches on the station, and we look forward to welcoming customers on May 19th,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “This station opens a multitude of possibilities for those who live and work in Alexandria by providing a gateway to the region and all the city has to offer. “We appreciate the hard work and vision of the city to turn an idea more than 40-years in the making into reality, and we look forward to welcoming customers to our newest station.”

The station, located in the fastest growing area of Alexandria, is between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations serving the Blue and Yellow lines. Potomac Yard will be Metro’s 98th station and is Metro’s second infill station, built between existing stations.

The station was initiated by the City of Alexandria and funded by tax revenues and developer contributions generated by planned new development in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, as well as state grants, loans, and regional sources. The addition of the station enhances connectivity to and from Alexandria, which has seen substantial population growth and new development in the last few decades.

“It’s not cliché to say, in this instance, ‘dreams really do come true,'” said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. “Bringing Metro to Potomac Yard has been Alexandria’s most significant economic development, transportation and climate initiative. While not always easy, the opening of this station is a monumental achievement for the City, WMATA, and its contractors. But more importantly, this station is the legacy of a legion of Alexandrians who never gave up the dream.”

The station provides a wide range of benefits for Alexandria and the surrounding communities, including walkable access to regional transportation systems for residents in the city’s northeast area. 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.

Work to tie-in the station and new tracks with the rest of the Metrorail system concluded in November 2022, and trains have passed through the station without stopping as the remaining work continues. Metro and its safety partners will complete critical safety reviews and provide staff training before opening for passenger service on May 19, 2023.

Alexandria and Metro have worked together to bring this station to life. During the next month, Metro will continue coordinating with its partners to ensure the station is ready to welcome customers. Potomac Yard will be one of the first rail stations in North America to receive Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Courtesy of WMATA