1. Potomac Yards
05/04/15 4:16pm
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
Endorses Potomac Yard Metrorail Station
Recommendations
by RedBrickTown.com
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As we have mentioned previously on this blog, the City of Alexandria, Virginia has undertaken a long, arduous
planning process concerning the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station and City Staff has made their
recommendation as to where they believe the new Metrorail station should go. As we told you Thursday,
the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce fully endorsed the recommendations.
Here is and email from the Chamber Board Chairman and President::
Dear Red Brick Town,

2. As part of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Legislative Agenda, the Chamber Board of Directors
identified the building of the Potomac Yard Metro as the primary focus item for this legislative term. The
Chamber of Commerce is extremely committed to bringing metro to Potomac Yard and has been pleased with
the progress the City of Alexandria has made to date. Given the Chamber’s previous support, we formally
endorse the City of Alexandria’s professional staff recommended position of locating the new Potomac Yard
Metro at Alternative B as soon as possible.
Alexandria must maximize the potential for commercial development in this area in order to meet its projected
revenue numbers. Robust commercial development of Potomac Yard is critical in order to responsibly meet the
obligations the City of Alexandria will incur as a result of building the station. Recent reports have indicated
that a staggering 86% of new commercial development in the Washington, DC region is occurring within ¼
mile of a Metro station. If Alexandria is to make itself regionally and nationally competitive for significant
future commercial real estate opportunities, building the Potomac Yard Metro and selecting Alternative B is
the most logical course of action.
The Chamber would like to also endorse the current financing plan that has been proposed by the City of
Alexandria. We encourage the City to continue to apply this financing strategy to future transportation
projects around Alexandria and feel the common-sense financing strategy that has been developed for the
Potomac Yard Metro should be the model for these types of revenue-generating infrastructure investments in
the future.
In closing, we would like to congratulate the City of Alexandria for its efforts to date to bring the Potomac
Yard Metro to reality. This Metro station, which is an historic investment for Alexandria, will play a vital role
in keeping Alexandria competitive for major commercial activity for years to come. We urge the City of
Alexandria to choose the City staff recommended site of Alternative B as soon as possible and maintain the
current financing strategy to pay for the station.
Sincerely,
Walter C. Clarke John T Long III
2015 Chamber Board Chairman President & CEO
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Alexandria Chamber of Commerce