
Potomac Yard is a neighborhood in
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several County (United States), counties and independent city (United States), independent cities in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. ...
that straddles southeastern
Arlington County and northeastern
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...
, located principally in the area between
U.S. Route 1 and the
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ...
Blue Line /
Yellow Line tracks, or the
George Washington Memorial Parkway
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, colloquially the G.W. Parkway, is a limited-access road, limited-access parkway that runs along the south bank of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon, Virginia, northwest to McLean, Virginia, and is maint ...
, depending on the definition used. The area was home to (and takes its name from) what was once one of the busiest
rail yard
A rail yard, railway yard, railroad yard (US) or simply yard, is a series of Track (rail transport), tracks in a rail network for storing, sorting, or loading and unloading rail vehicles and locomotives. Yards have many tracks in parallel for k ...
s on the
Eastern Seaboard of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. The "Potomac Yard" name is also used to refer to several developments in the area, especially the Potomac Yard Center
power center and a
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ...
station
Station may refer to:
Agriculture
* Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production
* Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle
** Cattle statio ...
.
In 2018,
Amazon.com, Inc. announced plans to locate part of its "
HQ2" second headquarters project in Northern Virginia, specifically in the newly re-branded cross-jurisdictional neighborhood of
National Landing, which local and state officials said would include Potomac Yard as well as nearby parts of southern Arlington, including the
Crystal City neighborhood that will be the hub of the HQ2 development.
Amazon initially planned to split HQ2 between National Landing and
Long Island City, New York
Long Island City (LIC) is a neighborhood within the New York City borough of Queens. It is bordered by Astoria to the north; the East River to the west; Sunnyside to the east; and Newtown Creek, which separates Queens from Greenpoint, Brookl ...
, but opposition from New York officials led Amazon to cancel that portion of the project, leaving National Landing as the only HQ2 site.
Prior to Amazon's selection of National Landing,
Virginia Tech
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...
had stated it would establish an "Innovation Campus" in the Alexandria portion of the neighborhood.
History
English settlers built several plantations on the site in the 18th century.
[Bromberg, Francine W. (2010)]
"The History of Potomac Yard: A Transportation Corridor through Time."
Appendix III of ''North Potomac Yard Small Area Plan.'' City of Alexandria, VA. The land, much owned by the Swann and Daingerfield families, became part of
Alexandria County, D.C. with the creation of the
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
in 1791, and retroceded to
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
in 1846.
Its role as a transportation hub began when
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
chartered the
Alexandria Canal Company in 1830. The canal, which opened on December 2, 1843, would connect the port of Alexandria with the end of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal and occasionally called the Grand Old Ditch, operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Maryland. It replaced the Patowmack Canal ...
(completed 1850) in
Georgetown via the
Potomac Aqueduct Bridge. It would operate until abandoned in 1886.
Railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
development in the area began in the 1850s, though stymied by political concerns and by the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. The
Alexandria and Washington Railroad began service on a new rail line between
Long Bridge
Long may refer to:
Measurement
* Long, characteristic of something of great duration
* Long, characteristic of something of great length
* Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate
* Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...
and Alexandria in 1857.
Order to the region's mishmash of active and abandoned rail lines and stations did not come until the
City Beautiful movement
The City Beautiful movement was a reform philosophy of North American architecture and urban planning that flourished during the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of introducing beautification and monumental grandeur in cities. It was a part of th ...
of the late 19th century. The
1901 Plan for Washington, D.C., the report of the
McMillan Commission
The McMillan Plan (formally titled The Report of the Senate Park Commission. The Improvement of the Park System of the District of Columbia) is a comprehensive planning document for the development of the monumental core and the park system of Was ...
, proposed consolidating the region's rail operations, including a new
Washington Union Station
Washington Union Station, known locally as Union Station, is a major train station, transportation hub, and leisure destination in Washington, D.C. Designed by Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907, it is Amtrak's second-busiest station and North ...
, which was approved in 1903 and completed 1908, and a
New Long Railroad Bridge (completed 1904).
[Cohen, Robert (2003)]
"History of the Long Railroad Bridge Crossing Across the Potomac River."
National Railway Historical Society, Washington, D.C. Chapter.
In accordance with the plan, the
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...
(PRR),
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the oldest railroads in North America, oldest railroad in the United States and the first steam engine, steam-operated common carrier. Construction of the line began in 1828, and it operated as B&O from 1830 ...
,
Southern Railway,
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis Potter Huntington, it reached from Virginia's capital city of Rich ...
,
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967, it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast ...
, and
Seaboard Air Line Railway
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , known colloquially as the Seaboard Railroad during its time, was an American railroad that existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime ri ...
formed the
Richmond-Washington Company to manage traffic. This holding company controlled the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. The track is now the RF&P Subdivision of the CSX Transportation system; the original corporation is no longer a railroad co ...
(RF&P), the new
Alexandria Union Station, which opened in 1905, and the new switching yard—Potomac Yard—which opened on October 15, 1906.
[National Railway Historical Society, Washington, D.C. Chapter]
"Timeline of Washington, D.C. Railroad History."
Accessed 2012-11-14.
The booming "Pot Yard" attracted thousands of workers, who largely settled in the areas of Del Ray and St. Elmo. These subdivisions incorporated as the town of
Potomac in 1908, but were annexed by the City of Alexandria in 1930.
Potomac Yard in its heyday was one of the busiest railyards in the Eastern United States, processing thousands of cars daily. The PRR extended its
railway electrification
Railway electrification is the use of electric power for the propulsion of rail transport. Electric railways use either electric locomotives (hauling passengers or Rail freight transport, freight in separate cars), electric multiple units (Passen ...
program to Potomac Yard in 1935, marking its southernmost point.
The
Penn Central
The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American class I railroad that operated from 1968 to 1976. Penn Central combined three traditional corporate rivals, the Pennsylvania, New York Central and the ...
segment of the famous
Tropicana Juice Train operated from here. The site reached capacity in 1937.
After the corporate mergers of the former separate railroad companies that used the yard to interchange freight cars, the need for Potomac Yard greatly diminished. It was determined by the RF&P that the land was worth more than the need for yard switching. The PRR's old
catenary
In physics and geometry, a catenary ( , ) is the curve that an idealized hanging chain or wire rope, cable assumes under its own weight when supported only at its ends in a uniform gravitational field.
The catenary curve has a U-like shape, ...
was dismantled in the 1980s. The facility was identified as a toxic waste site in 1987. The RF&P finally decommissioned it in 1989. Plans for rehabilitation and redevelopment of the land have been a source of intense debate since then.
Redevelopment
At decommissioning, decades of industrial use had left the site contaminated with heavy metals and hydrocarbons, including
diesel fuel
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil (historically) or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine, a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition takes place without a spark as a re ...
. It was immediately declared a
Superfund
Superfund is a United States federal environmental remediation program established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The program is administered by the United States Environmental Pro ...
site. In 1995 the
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency may refer to the following government organizations:
* Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland), Australia
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana)
* Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
* Environmenta ...
(EPA) approved RF&P's study and cleanup plan, and cleanup was declared completed by 1998.
Various commercial and community interest groups came into conflict over the future of the
brownfield land
Brownfield is previously-developed land that has been abandoned or underused, and which may carry pollution, or a risk of pollution, from industrial use. The specific definition of brownfield land varies and is decided by policy makers and l ...
. The City of Alexandria rejected the original mixed-use plan in 1992.
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke (October 25, 1912 – April 6, 1997) was a Canadian American businessman in broadcasting and professional sports. Starting in sales, Cooke was very successful, eventually becoming a partner in a network of radio stations and new ...
, owner of the then
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
, unsuccessfully pushed for the construction of a new
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
stadium
A stadium (: stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage completely or partially surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit ...
on the site. Seventy of the 400 acres (1.6 km
2) of the site were approved for retail use in 1995; the Potomac Yard Center, a strip mall anchored by
big box store
A big-box store, a hyperstore, a supercenter, a superstore, or a megastore is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain of stores. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store. The ...
s, was completed in 1997. Other sections of Potomac Yard have since been slated for development as residential units, office space, parkland, and retail use. The Potomac Yard Complex by Crescent Resources is already under construction. One and Two Potomac Center was completed in November 2005 and houses several EPA offices. The southernmost portion of the Alexandria section is under construction as of August 2006. It includes two plans, one for Arlington and one for Alexandria. The Alexandria portion of the site is highlighted by a new Town Center. The plan also includes of office space; a 625-room hotel; of neighborhood retail space; and approximately 1,900 residential units. The plan for the Arlington site includes of office space; a 625-room hotel; of neighborhood retail space; and approximately 1000 residential units. The plan also calls for a park, which will be owned by Arlington County. In December 2023 it was announced that the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
and
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...
would move to a new arena to be built at Potomac Yard. The site would include training facilities, team offices, and a performing arts venue.
Potomac Yard Park
Construction for Potomac Yard Park began in 2009, and it opened on December 14, 2013. The park contains a water fountain, playgrounds, and sports fields within 24 acres. Located south of the main shopping district, it borders train tracks carrying freight and
Virginia Railway Express
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter rail service that connects outlying small cities of Northern Virginia to Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C. It operates two lines which run during weekday rush hour only: the Fredericksbur ...
commuter rail.
The City of Alexandria has erected a series of seven signs in Potomac Yard Park that sequentially describe and illustrate the history of the area. These include:
Point 1: Virginia's First Highways
Point 2: The Alexanders & Agriculture
Point 3: Building Potomac Yard
Point 4: The People of Potomac Yard
Point 5: Crossroads of Transportation
Point 6: The Rail Yard Hump
Point 7: Potomac Yard In Transition
Transportation
Bus rapid transit from
Crystal City to Potomac Yard opened in August 2014. Branded as
Metroway, it travels in dedicated lanes along
U.S. Route 1.
A
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ...
infill
station
Station may refer to:
Agriculture
* Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production
* Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle
** Cattle statio ...
opened on May 19, 2023, after a previously scheduled opening date of April 2022 was pushed back due to a safety issue with the
automatic train control
Automatic train control (ATC) is a general class of train protection systems for railways that involves a speed control mechanism in response to external inputs. For example, a system could effect an emergency brake application if the driver do ...
systems.
A streetcar system in Northern Virginia was proposed to open in 2020, with trains traveling between Potomac Yard, Crystal City,
Pentagon City, and
Bailey's Crossroads. In late November 2014 the Arlington County Board cancelled the streetcar plan.
References
External links
* City of Alexandria
Potomac Yard/Potomac Greens Small Area Plan(PDF), Adopted 1992 Master Plan.
* City of Alexandria, VA
"Potomac Yard Development."* McCaffery Interests
Potomac Yard Civic AssociationRichmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Historical Society*
* Hammer, Ben.
, ''Washington Business Journal'', May 21, 2004.
{{coord, 38.8296006, -77.049618, format=dms, region:US_type:railwaystation, display=title
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
History of Washington, D.C.
Pennsylvania Railroad
Rail infrastructure in Virginia
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Transportation in Alexandria, Virginia
Transportation in Arlington County, Virginia
Power centers (retail) in the United States
Shopping malls in the Washington metropolitan area
Neighborhoods of Alexandria, Virginia