[Archived] City of Alexandria Announces Public Comment Period for Potomac Yard Metrorail Station Draft Water Protection Permit

­­For Immediate Release: June 13, 2019

The City of Alexandria invites residents to participate in a public comment period for a water protection permit required to construct the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station. The public comment period, from June 14 to July 31, includes a public information session on Tuesday, July 16, at 6 p.m., followed by a public hearing at 7 p.m. Both events will be held at the Oswald Durant Arts Center (1605 Cameron St.).

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) issued a draft Water Protection Permit for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station project, in response to the City’s Joint Permit Application to VDEQ and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. VDEQ is required to hold a public comment period of at least 30 days for the draft permit. In addition, the City requested that VDEQ host a public hearing to provide additional opportunities for resident engagement and public comments. VDEQ will extend the public comment period for an additional 15 days after the public hearing. Instructions for submitting comments to VDEQ staff are included in the public notice issued by VDEQ.

The City is formally advertising the VDEQ-issued public notice in local newspapers and on the City’s Potomac Yard Metrorail station project website. The draft permit can be requested directly from VDEQ or viewed on the City’s website.

For all document requests or to submit comments, contact:

Wynn Prusaczyk, VDEQ Northern Regional Office
13901 Crown Court
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193
Phone: 703.583.3871
Fax: 703.583.3821
Email: Wynn.Prusaczyk@deq.virginia.gov

The deadline for public comment is July 31, 2019.

The new Potomac Yard Metro Station, to be built on Metrorail's Yellow and Blue Lines between the existing Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations, will provide an extensive range of benefits for Alexandria and the surrounding community, including walkable access to regional transportation systems for neighborhoods in the northeast area of the city. The station is also expected to generate billions of dollars in new private sector investment over the long term and eventually support 26,000 new jobs and 13,000 new residents. The Potomac Yard area represents the most significant redevelopment and tax base growth opportunity for Alexandria, with the potential to achieve the vision for an urban mix of uses near transit.

The station will be funded through a variety of sources – including new tax revenue gained primarily from development in Potomac Yard over the next 40 years, grants from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and developer contributions.

To learn how to submit document requests or comments, or for more information, visit alexandriava.gov/PotomacYardMetro.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

To request a reasonable disability accommodation, contact geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.