WMATA says the new goal is to open the Potomac Yard Metro station in May 2023, more than a full year after the station was originally scheduled to open.
The announcement comes after a delay this fall set the station’s opening for a nebulous “2023” date. While the station has been plagued by delays, there are promising signs of belated progress — including trains traveling through the station.
“While delayed longer than expected, it is exciting to start the countdown to opening Potomac Yard Station for our customers,” said Metro Board Chairman (and former Alexandria City Council member) Paul Smedberg in a release from WMATA. “By adding this infill station to the Blue and Yellow lines, we are anchoring Potomac Yard as a hub for employment, education, housing, and recreation.”
The release said tie-in work connecting the station to the rest of the Metro system was concluded early in November.
“Metro continues working collaboratively with the City of Alexandria and the contractor to complete station construction,” the release said. “In addition, Metro and its safety partners will complete critical safety reviews and provide staff training prior to opening for passenger service.”
The station is the centerpiece of a new cluster of development at Potomac Yard, including the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.
“We are excited to have an opening in sight for Potomac Yard Station,” Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said in the release. “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.”
For the first time, we have a date for the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station.
This has been a long-time coming, with far more delay than we would like, but it is exciting that Metrorail will be arriving in Potomac Yard in the Spring!https://t.co/rASAOMAV4L
— Justin Wilson (@justindotnet) December 13, 2022
Image via WMATA/Twitter
