Northern Virginia Projects Counting on Transit

How could a new sports arena impact transportation in Northern Virginia? With plans to potentially move the Washington Capitals and Wizards teams, residents want to know.

According to a Washington Post article by Teo Armus, “The $2 billion project, which was formally announced by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Monumental Sports & Entertainment owner Ted Leonsis on Wednesday, would relocate both pro sports teams to a $2 billion, 12-acre mixed-use complex just steps away from a new Metro station in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.”

The project is intended to revitalize an underdeveloped area and create jobs. However, the proposal “has raised worries about how sports fans across the region could get to games, particularly given that the Metro system is facing significant financial trouble.” Last week, Metro outlined its financial troubles and warned of potential service cuts, such as ending service at 10pm.

Senator Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) said, “The only reason this project is going where it is, is because it’s sitting next to a Metro station, and I hope that reality opens the governor’s mind to the supercharging that Metro provides to the Northern Virginia economy.” For Surovell, failing to support the region’s transit system is “a great way to poison the goose that lays the golden egg for the entire commonwealth.”