WMATA Sets Date for Potomac Yard Opening

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced a new timeline for opening the Potomac Yard Station in May 2023. The much-anticipated infill station is located in Alexandria, Va., between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations on the Blue and Yellow lines.

“We are excited to have an opening in sight for Potomac Yard Station,” said WMATA GM/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.”

Work to tie-in the station and new tracks with the rest of the Metrorail system concluded on Nov. 5, and trains are now passing through the station without stopping. WMATA continues working collaboratively with the City of Alexandria and the contractor to complete station construction. In addition, the agency and its safety partners will complete critical safety reviews and provide staff training prior to opening for passenger service.

The project was initiated by the City of Alexandria and is 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 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.