http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0209/595627.html (http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0209/595627.html)
In my opinion, I think it's a good idea...the Airport-Braddock Rd stretch is pretty long, and Potomac Yard is a continuously growing area...I bet this will attract more customers around that area to ride the Metro more often.
btw this story isn't on WMATA's site yet
Wow, they resurrected that old idea. That station was planned in the days when there was a chance that area could get a stadium. I go back and forth on it. The more stops you have, the more it just slows things down. That connection could easily be made by having frequent shuttles to the stations on either side of it that way you can keep the speed up and make the overall trip times faster. But I guess if the development is moving down that way eventually it could come in handy.
Quote from: Perry on February 19, 2009, 10:04:47 AM
Wow, they resurrected that old idea. That station was planned in the days when there was a chance that area could get a stadium. I go back and forth on it. The more stops you have, the more it just slows things down. That connection could easily be made by having frequent shuttles to the stations on either side of it that way you can keep the speed up and make the overall trip times faster. But I guess if the development is moving down that way eventually it could come in handy.
People are attracted to trains more than shuttle buses though and the ROW is there, along with the necessary control station and other infrastructure. It should be an easier build than NY Ave was if they ever go through with it.
From a historical perspective it would be wonderful to have rail service return to the Potomac Yards area as a testament to the areas original purpose when it was owned by the RF&P RR and functioned as the largest freight yard on the east coast. It was also the southernmost end of electric catenary as the Pennsylvania RR ran GG1 locomotives there with freight trains that were handed over to the RF&P RR. I would be happy to decorate any new MetroRail station for them with appropriate rail photography (lol).
City of Alexandria, Virginia - Potomac Yard Plan (http://alexandriava.gov/planning/info/default.aspx?id=16440)
See page 13 in the link "Workshop Presentation" (15.7 MB PDF file) under the PYPAG Meeting Materials for the January 31, 2009 Community Workshop for the general location of the proposed Potomac Yard station.
See page 14 in the link "Handout" (6.37 MB PDF file) ) under the PYPAG Meeting Materials for the November 8, 2008 Site Tour for the "Schema D" twin platform cross section.
The proposed center of the station will be roughly along the center line of Swan Street. The north end of the station will be roughly 100' south of the C11 traction power substation / train control building.
Location of the Potomac Yard station at Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=38.832437,-77.048278&spn=0.012386,0.021372&t=h&z=16&msid=117978763379814510517.0004636fc8f9fb98a0fdb).