Alexandria, Arlington Nearing Route 1 Streetcar Agreement

Alexandria and Arlington County are nearing an agreement for a streetcar in the Route 1 corridor, according to ARLnow.

Alexandria City Council and the Arlington County Board are both scheduled to vote on the agreement on Saturday at respective meetings.

According to the proposal, Arlington would work to complete an environmental assessment for the streetcar by late 2013. Alexandria would work toward completing environmental and alternative studies required to secure federal funding for the conversion of its segement of by early 2014. This would come after the final location of the Potomac Yard Metro station is determined or the no-build option is adopted.

In April, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes released a joint statement saying that cuts to federal and state transportation funds forced both jurisdictions to reassess transportation projects and that Alexandria would focus on the Potomac Yard Metro station while Arlington would work toward completing the streetcar in Crystal City.

Arlington will secure funding for its streetcar through state funding and the Crystal City tax increment financing area, according to the ARLnow report.

The Crystal City streetcar would begin operation in 2019, according to the proposal. The Alexandria segment in Potomac Yard could be in operation by 2021.

Arlington spokeswoman Mary Curtius told ARLnow that the county moving ahead with its portion of the streetcar first could boost Alexandria’s chances of securing federal funds for the project.