Now open, Metro celebrates first day of service at Potomac Yard-VT Station

There's a new stop on Metro's Blue and Yellow lines. The Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station is now open. Metro greeted customers early this morning welcoming them with commemorative pennants and memorabilia. Potomac Yard-VT, Metro's 98th station, connects the burgeoning Alexandria community to the region. The area is also home to the future Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, part of the fast-growing development surrounding the station.

Metro celebrated the start of service with Metro General Manager Randy Clarke, Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and other federal state and local officials during a grand opening event and ribbon cutting today.

The first Yellow Line train made its inaugural stop at 5:08 a.m. bringing to reality a vision first proposed more than 40 years ago. The infill station, located between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations, was initiated by the City of Alexandria and funded through tax revenue, developer contributions, federal and state grants, loans and regional sources.

The grand opening, attended by nearly 600 people, included remarks from Mayor Wilson, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA 8th), Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Director Jennifer DeBruhl, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Chair Phyllis Randall, and Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands.

The Virginia Tech HokieBird mascot joined in the fun, greeting guests and hopping on board with participants for a commemorative ride from the Potomac Yard-VT Station to King St-Old TownStation that closed out the celebration.

The Potomac Yard-VT Station, served by the Blue and Yellow lines, is less than 15 minutes from the nation's capital and offers connections to other regional transportation systems.

For additional information about the new Potomac Yard-VT Station go to wmata.com/PotomacYard.

More from federal, state and local leaders on today’s grand opening of the Potomac Yard-VT Station:

"Today, we witnessed the culmination of decades of hard work," City of Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said. "This station will be the legacy of every tradesperson, project manager, and the legion of residents who never gave up hope. The Potomac Yard-VT Metro Station will drive transformational economic growth in our city for generations to come. This station will better connect our residents and visitors to education, careers, commerce, and opportunity."

"After decades of planning and coordination, it’s an honor to help inaugurate the Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station, which will bring Metro riders to Alexandria’s doorstep," said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). "The opening of this station signifies a concerted effort by federal, state, and local partners to connect communities across the DMV to the kind of 21st century economic opportunities that are emblematic of Northern Virginia. I look forward to seeing the continued growth and development spurred by this investment."

"I’m thrilled to be celebrating today's grand opening of the Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station, which will boost economic development, improve quality of life along the Route 1 corridor, and help ease congestion on the GW Parkway," said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). "I’m proud to have helped support this project over the years, and will continue to do all that I can to strengthen our public transit options so Virginians can quickly and conveniently get from Point A to Point B."

"The completion of the Potomac Yard Metro Station is great news for the fastest growing area of Alexandria and will provide substantial benefits to Northern Virginia. It took a determined effort to get here, and I’m very pleased this day has come. I commend the construction team, the involvement of residents, and the local, state and federal leaders who made this a reality." - U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA 8th)

"The Potomac Yard Station is going to be an economic driver for Alexandria’s future, spurring billions of dollars in private sector investment over the long term and supporting new jobs, making Virginia a better place to work and live," said Jennifer DeBruhl, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. "The new Metro station was a key component in attracting Amazon’s second headquarters and locating the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus to the area."

"As Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, I am thrilled to see projects reach completion that provide equitable, safe and sustainable transportation solutions to residents across the region. The Potomac Yard Metro Station is a remarkable example of NVTA's commitment to investing in multimodal projects that reduce congestion and improve the quality of life for Northern Virginians as well as spur economic development for decades to come." - Phyllis J. Randall, Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

"The opening of this Metro station represents innovation: connecting people across communities, making education and employment opportunities more accessible; and creating a greener tomorrow," said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. "We are honored to have our name as part of this station, just yards away from the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, reflecting our commitment to serve this community and the commonwealth for many years to come."

"The opening of the new Potomac Yard Station is an exciting Metro milestone that's been 40 years in the making so congratulations to all who made this a reality," said Metro Board Chair Paul C. Smedberg. "The station, located in the fastest growing area of Alexandria, enhances connectivity to and from the city, which has seen substantial population growth and new development in the last few decades. As a proud Alexandrian, I know firsthand the Potomac Yard Station will provide numerous benefits for Alexandria and surrounding communities, including walkable access to regional transportation systems. The station is expected to generate billions of dollars in new private sector investment over the long term and eventually support more than 26,000 new jobs and 13,000 new residents."