[Archived] Alexandria’s Mayor William D. Euille Joins Ceremony To Announce New Water Taxi Service To Link Old Town Alexandria With National Harbor

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	April 10, 2007 PIO# 085-07/rdo	Steve Mason, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Alexandria’s Mayor William D. Euille Joins Ceremony To Announce
New Water Taxi Service To Link Old Town Alexandria With National Harbor

Alexandria’s Mayor William D. Euille joined representatives today (April 10) from The Peterson Companies, the Potomac Riverboat Company, and Prince George’s County for a ceremony to announce a new water taxi service that will link Old Town Alexandria with National Harbor. The ceremony took place aboard the top deck of the Cherry Blossom paddle boat at the Alexandria City Marina, located adjacent to the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Two new 99-passenger boats will initially run on the half hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., providing 50 one-way daily trips between the City Marina and the Commercial North Pier at National Harbor.

“This new service will link one of the region’s premier historic sites with one of the East Coast’s most dynamic and vibrant destinations,” Mayor Euille said. “This water taxi is our welcome mat to visitors to National Harbor. We think this nautical connection will prove to be a rising tide that, quite literally, lifts all boats.”

The crossing is expected to take 20 minutes. Round-trip tickets are anticipated to be in the $12 range.

Other participants of the ceremony included Alexandria City Manager James K. Hartmann; John Peterson, Owner and Vice President of The Peterson Companies; Willem Polak, President of the Potomac Riverboat Company; David Byrd, Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer; and Kwasi Holman, President and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation.

“The Potomac River is our doorstep,” said Milt Peterson. “And this service will provide not only a threshold for receiving visitors, but a gateway to other points of interest, including to our cross-river neighbors in Old Town. These water taxies, with the capacity to transport as many as 5,000 people per day, make a Potomac crossing convenient, speedy and fun, and they broaden the scope of activities available to visitors of both sides.”

“The Potomac River is perhaps the most under-utilized transportation artery throughout the capital region, and we are excited at the prospect of continuing to expand the breadth of our service to National Harbor,” said Willem Polak.

The Peterson Companies is developing the mixed-use project and the Potomac Riverboat Company will run the water taxi service.

The two newly commissioned boats, which are yet-to-be named, are single-deck vessels and more than 78-feet in length. The service is expected to begin when the National Harbor—the mile-and-a-quarter-long waterfront development under construction just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Prince George’s County—opens in the spring of 2008.

In addition to a new pier that will be constructed in Old Town, the maritime construction at National Harbor will be considerable and include two 700-ft. piers designed to accommodate large concerts, dinner cruises, light shows and other events, a marina, and waterside boulevards with outdoor eateries and other attractions.

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