Potomac Yard Metro South Entrance Options Under Consideration

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Concepts for the southwest access point to the future Potomac Yard Metro station will be considered by the Potomac Yard Metrorail Implementation Work Group before City Council takes action on the recommended concept later in June.

Metro's contractor estimated the cost of three possible concepts. The first, a southwest access pavilion with a bridge to the north entrance, would cost around $75 million. A ramp from East Glebe Road with a moving walkway to the north entrance is estimated to cost $90 million. Lastly, a southwest access pavilion with a small mezzanine would cost around $100 million.

The future Metro station plans had a north and south entrance before the latter was eliminated, drawing criticism from residents and businesses. City of Alexandria officials said construction bids were higher than the budget, leading only the north entrance to be kept along with a basic south access ramp from Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road. (See renderings of the three concepts here.)

Potential for an improved south access point emerged when the state promised $50 million in funding for a southwest access point due to the Amazon headquarters and Virginia Tech innovation campus announcements.

The city would seek municipal bonds to cover the difference after the state funding. The debt service cost to the city due to bond interest would be $49 million for the first concept, $78 million for the second, or $98 million for the third. The first and second concepts would delay the project by zero to six months, but the third could delay it by eight months to a year. The current timeline calls for the station to open in late 2021 or early 2022.

In a memo to the Potomac Yard work group, City Manager Mark Jinks recommended the first concept with modifications. The southwest access pavilion with a bridge to the north entrance has an escalator, elevator and stairs, but city staff believe eliminating the escalator would provide cost savings. Additional "refinement of the design" could bring the cost closer to $50 million. City staff hope to bring the cost closer to $50 million, requiring little or no addition money to the state's funding. If the city directs Metro's contractor to use the first concept with cost savings, an updated cost estimate could come in the fall.

The memo cites the potential impact on money for other city projects. "If capital projects had to be reduced, that could negatively impact planned investments in schools, parks, transit, or other transportation improvements," states the memo. "On the operating side, for example, funding for education, public safety, human services, or parks and recreation could be negatively impacted by higher debt service costs for added Southwest Access project costs."

The Potomac Yard work group is expected to recommend a concept at its June 10 meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. City Council will consider the recommendation at a hearing on June 22 at 9:30 a.m. and take action on June 25.