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Notes: Metro GM says Potomac Yard Metro can’t handle arena crowds

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunshine and a high temperature near 56 during the day, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. The night will be mostly clear with the temperature dropping to around 34, and a west wind at a slightly lower speed of 3 to 5 mph.

🚨 You need to know

The Potomac Yard Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

While Mayor Justin Wilson said WMATA was aware of the Potomac Yard arena discussion, ABC7 reported that Metro GM Randy Clarke said no one called him before the announcement.

Like Wilson, Clarke acknowledged that the current station is wholly inadequate to handle the kind of crowds expected for a Potomac Yard arena with the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards. The current station has only one escalator and staircase on each platform.

“There’s no way the current station can accommodate this use as is,” Wilson told the Del Ray Citizens Association. “A significant chunk of transportation investments will require improvements to the station.”

Whether the station even remains open is currently open for discussion, as Potomac Yard is currently on a list of ten stations that could close if Metro is unable to close its $750 million budget gap.

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