A study commissioned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, the city of Alexandria and Monumental Sports and Entertainment found $135 to $215 million in transportation investments would be needed to bring the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Northern Virginia.
The study by engineering firm Kimley-Horn also found the increase in traffic and rail passengers that would be spurred by the construction of an arena would require an additional $2.5 to $7.5 million annually for operational improvements such as increased Metro service and other multimodal solutions.
To meet those costs, the Virginia Department of Transportation is proposing to allocate up to $200 million of additional funding.?
“We are very encouraged by the results of this study by a nationally renowned expert in transportation,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard “Shep” Miller III in a statement. “Because Alexandria had the foresight to plan for this kind of dense development, we will focus on peak traffic around games and events, and we believe this study gives us a clear path forward.”
But some state legislators such as Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, the chair of the House Transportation Committee, have questioned whether Virginia should be responsible for the millions in proposed transportation investments that would be needed for the private company to develop the arena.?
“The state does have a function of funding our infrastructure projects, but if we are enhancing infrastructure for a private company’s development, then I don’t believe that needs to be 100% the role of the commonwealth,” said Delaney. “Unless we’re really able to see a very soundly projected return on that investment, then that cost would, at a minimum, need to be shared.”
The December proposal by Youngkin and Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the basketball and hockey franchises, has sparked sharp controversy in Northern Virginia and Richmond, where the General Assembly has to sign off on plans related to the financing of the potential arena deal. Plans call for the creation of a $2 billion entertainment district in Alexandria that would include not only a sports arena, but also a practice facility for the Wizards, a performing arts venue, an expanded esports facility, and new retail, residential, restaurants, hotels, conference facilities and community gathering spaces.?
Among the loudest concerns about the proposal are how the already heavily trafficked Potomac Yard neighborhood where the district would be sited could handle the heavier transportation loads it would bring.?
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