Potomac Yard Metro Opening Date Set In Growing Area Of Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The long-awaited Potomac Yard Metro station in Alexandria has a confirmed opening date: Friday, May 19.

Metro and City of Alexandria officials announced the upcoming station opening Wednesday. The new station is on the Blue and Yellow Line in Alexandria between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations. It will be Metro's 98th station and second infill station between existing stations.

Officials toured the Potomac Yard site, where construction is wrapping up before the opening. Blue Line trains have been traveling through but not stopping at the Potomac Yard station.

"Our team is working hard to put the finishing touches on the station, and we look forward to welcoming customers on May 19th," said Randy Clarke, Metro's general manager and CEO. "This station opens a multitude of possibilities for those who live and work in Alexandria by providing a gateway to the region and all the city has to offer.

Plans to add a station have contributed to the growth of the Potomac Yard neighborhood, including the construction of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus. The City of Alexandria initiated the plans for the station and funded it through tax revenues and developer contributions from new development in Potomac Yard.

"Bringing Metro to Potomac Yard has been Alexandria's most significant economic development, transportation and climate initiative," said Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson in a statement. "While not always easy, the opening of this station is a monumental achievement for the City, WMATA, and its contractors. But more importantly, this station is the legacy of a legion of Alexandrians who never gave up the dream."

On the city's vision for the Metro station, Clarke added, "We appreciate the hard work and vision of the city to turn an idea more than 40-years in the making into reality, and we look forward to welcoming customers to our newest station."

The opening announcement comes after Metro had previously announced the station would not open in 2022 as expected. Alexandria's mayor has previously been critical of the delays the project has experienced.

Work to tie in the station with existing Metrorail tracks was completed from early September to early November 2022, temporarily closing six Blue and Yellow Line stations around Alexandria.

After the stations reopened in early November, Yellow Line service continued to be suspended due to work on the Yellow Line bridge and tunnels between L'Enfant Plaza and Pentagon. Supplemental Blue Line service has been serving stations usually served by the Yellow Line. Yellow Line service is expected to resume on May 7.