The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) has a series of capital projects in the region on the horizon could benefit rail service in the area but have some additional impacts for Alexandria specifically.
In a memo (page 9) from Hillary Orr to the Transportation Commission ahead of a meeting yesterday, Orr said the VPRA is working on installing a fourth track along the rail corridor between Witter Field in Alexandria and the Arlington Aquatic Center.
“As part of this project, there will be impacts to Alexandria infrastructure which provides opportunities for new pedestrian and bicycle routes,” Orr wrote.
Orr said the tunnel under the Telegraph Road Bridge connecting the Eisenhower East Area with Witter Field will be impacted during the work.
The tunnel’s small size and relative disrepair — one nickname from the comments section is “the Tetanus Tunnel” — belies its significance for many pedestrians and cyclists in the area as one of the few links between the east end of Eisenhower Avenue and Duke Street.
“VPRA staff will present an overview of the assessment conducted at this location and the short- and long-term recommendations for maintaining and improving bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in this area,” Orr wrote.
The new work will also bring the long-awaited replacement of the King Street and Commonwealth Avenue Rail Bridges — famously prone to being struck by trucks that are too large to pass beneath it.
