When does the station open? What is happening at the opening day event?

Friday morning just after 5 a.m. when the system opens for the day. The first train toward Mt. Vernon Square should arrive around 5:10 a.m., according to Metro’s published schedules.

What is happening at the opening day event?

The ribbon cutting will take place just outside the north pavilion entrance for the station, 3201 University Drive.

And then there will be speeches! Lots of them. Planned speakers include politicians: Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, and Congressman Don Beyer.

Also talking will be transportation dignitaries like Metro board chair Paul Smedberg, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke, Federal Transit Administration head Nuria Fernandez,  Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation director Jennifer DeBruhl, and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority chair Phyllis Randall.

Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands will be there too.

A special train will run after the event taking guests to King Street-Old Town.

What sort of swag will Metro have for riders?

Metro has long given away pennants for opening days of new stations and they’re continuing the tradition with a black pennant, a blue and yellow line running down the middle, and “Potomac Yard Grand Opening 2023.” They also have lanyards, water bottles, and bags. About 25,000 Potomac Yard SmarTrip cards are also stocked in the station’s fare machines.

How can I get to the station?

The station is served by three entrances. Two pavilions on the west side, at 3201 University Dr. and 3001 Potomac Ave. in Alexandria, will feed into a bridge that reaches the station. The east side entrance will serve the Potomac Greens neighborhood.

Metro and Alexandria’s DASH bus service has several routes that will get you to the Potomac Yard station.

Biking to the station will also be an option — there’s a nearby Capital Bikeshare station, and it’s somewhat near the Mt. Vernon Trail. The station has a robust bike storage facility that will soon be turned into a secure bike room with space for 49 bikes. That room will be accessible by SmarTrip card access.

Don’t expect lots of vehicle access. There is no kiss-and-ride or Metro parking, though private garages are nearby.

Where can I find out more about the station and service?

First and last train times, station vicinity maps, a trip planner, and more will soon be available on Metro’s Potomac Yard station page.

It takes about 23 minutes to get to downtown D.C.

Where can I go in the neighborhood? How many people will the station serve?

Right now, there’s a lot of construction around the station as new developments are being built, so there’s not a lot immediately outside the station yet. But there are some retail options nearby. About a six-to-ten minute walk gets you to a shopping center with Target, Barnes and Noble, Michaels, Staples, Petsmart, HomeGoods, Total Wine, and more.

The new station is expected to serve 26,000 new workers and 13,000 new residents in the long term.

“The Potomac Yard station has been eagerly anticipated and is another step toward making National Landing the most connected, transit-rich district in the DMV region,” Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, President and Executive Director of the National Landing BID said in a statement. “The station will not only serve the many existing residents and businesses in the area but will also anchor transit-oriented development in National Landing’s thriving innovation corridor.”

How long is the walk from the entrances, across the bridges, and to the platform?

It’s about a two to three-minute walk from the north pavilion and about a three to four-minute walk from the south pavilion, walking at a leisurely pace.

How much did the project cost?

About $370 million. It was funded by the City of Alexandria through tax revenues, developer contributions, federal and state grants, loans, and regional funding sources. 

Why does the station look different from the others?

Metro keeps its stations fairly consistent in materials and feel to keep a cohesive look across the system. But this station is in the view of the historic George Washington Memorial Parkway, which required it to fit into the area. So the exterior has natural stone and brown steel. The platform looks like a regular Metro station.

There’s also some glass art that captures natural light and gives off patterns being installed at the pavilions. 

What will happen at Virginia Tech’s new Innovation Campus?

The Innovation Campus, a five-minute walk from the station, will serve as a graduate center for computer science and computer engineering. Virginia Tech says they anticipate many on campus will use Metro to get to classes. They say the neighborhood “will be both a place and a culture that unlocks the power of diverse people and ideas to solve the world’s most pressing problems through technology.”

The campus is slated to open in August 2024 and serve 700 Engineering Master’s students and 200 Ph.D., students.

Where can I read more about the history and features of the station?

Check out our story from when we got a sneak peek tour in April.