IS ALEXANDRIA FOURTH TRACK PART OF A LARGER PLAN OF WORK?   

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA’s) projects extend across Virginia. These initiatives are collectively known as Transforming Rail in Virginia. Partnering with Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and the Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX freight railroads, VPRA is working to expand passenger rail service throughout the Commonwealth, making it more convenient, reliable, and affordable. You can learn more about Transforming Rail in Virginia here: https://vapassengerrailauthority.org/transformingrail/. Alexandria Fourth Track is one of VPRA’s many ongoing projects.  

WHAT IS THE ALEXANDRIA FOURTH TRACK PROJECT?   

The Alexandria Fourth Track project will design and construct 6.0 miles of railroad track and related infrastructure in Arlington and Alexandria, VA. The project extends between the southern end of the Long Bridge Project, adjacent to the Long Bridge Aquatic Center, to just west of Alexandria Union Station and will add one additional track to the existing three-track segment.  

The project will construct approximately 0.7 miles of one additional main line track west of the existing tracks (from Long Bridge to Crystal City) and approximately 5.3 miles of one additional main line track east of the existing tracks (from Crystal City to Alexandria), generally staying within the existing railroad right-of-way. 

WHAT IS THE KING AND COMMONWEALTH RAILROAD BRIDGES PROJECT? 

The King and Commonwealth Railroad Bridges project is a separate project from the Alexandria Fourth Track project, located along the Fourth Track rail corridor. The railroad bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue in Alexandria will be replaced to reduce maintenance needs and meet current railroad design guidelines. These bridge replacements will not impact the adjacent Metrorail bridges.  

More information about the King and Commonwealth Bridges Replacement project can be found at: https://vapassengerrailauthority.org/kingandcommonwealth/.  

WILL VPRA IMPROVE THE STREETS UNDERNEATH THE KING AND COMMONWEALTH RAILROAD BRIDGES?   

VPRA will replace the bridges, which will lead to additional width underneath the bridges. Decisions about the use of that additional space and potential streetscape and roadway improvements will be handled by the City of Alexandria.  

HOW WILL THE ALEXANDRIA FOURTH TRACK PROJECT BENEFIT ME AND MY COMMUNITY? 

The Alexandria Fourth Track project will improve the efficiency and reliability of rail operations to support the planned growth of freight, passenger, and commuter rail traffic in Northern Virginia and the southeastern United States. Improvements to the rail infrastructure in Northern Virginia will increase state-supported Amtrak service between Washington, DC, and Richmond, resulting in near-hourly service along this corridor. 

Alexandria Fourth Track will increase rail capacity by addressing the existing bottleneck. Currently, on the southern end of the project area, west of Alexandria station, three tracks from the VRE Fredericksburg Line and two tracks from the VRE Manassas Line converge into three tracks, causing a bottleneck and delays for passenger and freight trains traveling north. The existing tracks will be shifted, and a new fourth track will be added, all generally within the existing right-of-way. The results of this project will be added capacity and efficiency for passenger and freight trains traveling north into Arlington and Washington, DC. 

 The design also accommodates station and platform improvements planned by VRE for the Alexandria and Crystal City passenger stations as well as a new platform planned by Amtrak in Crystal City. 

As part of Transforming Rail in Virginia, Alexandria Fourth Track will improve passenger rail service’s connectivity (capacity, efficiency, and reliability) within Virginia, into DC, and, ultimately, all along the Eastern Seaboard.  

WILL THE ALEXANDRIA FOURTH TRACK PROJECT IMPACT VRE AND AMTRAK SERVICE DURING CONSTRUCTION? 

VRE, Amtrak, and CSX freight service will continue throughout construction; however, there may be adjustments to schedules. An update on construction impacts will be provided as information becomes available.  

WILL STREETS BE IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES?   

Construction work is planned to be performed mainly within the existing rail corridor right-of-way; however, construction traffic and some staging activities will impact the community’s travel patterns. A Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Plan will be created to support continued auto, transit, and bike/pedestrian transportation throughout the construction period. The MOT Plan will be created prior to the start of construction and those logistics will be shared with the public by fall 2024.  

WHEN IS CONSTRUCTION ANTICIPATED TO START AND END? 

Construction activities for the Fourth Track are anticipated to begin in summer 2025 and conclude in 2027. Construction activities will begin on the north end of the corridor in Arlington County before moving south toward Alexandria. 

The construction timeline for the King and Commonwealth Bridge replacements is still being determined. Coordination is ongoing between VPRA, CSX, VRE, and the City of Alexandria.  

WHAT APPROVALS HAS VPRA RECEIVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT? 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 4(f). As part of that process, extensive federal, state, and local agency coordination was conducted for the project. 

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) issued a permit, and a permit from the United States Army Core of Engineers (USACE) is anticipated in addition to a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Construction General Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ).  

All required local building permits will be obtained by the contractors.