The arena plan would require $135 million to $215 million in transportation investments, according to the study.

A study commissioned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, the city of Alexandria, and Monumental Sports and Entertainment estimates it would cost between $135 million and $215 million to attract the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Northern Virginia. It turned out that investment was needed.

A study by engineering firm Kimley Horn found that the increased traffic and rail ridership resulting from the arena’s construction would require an additional $2.5 million to $7.5 million annually in operational improvements such as increased subway service and other intermodal transportation solutions. It turned out to be.

To address these costs, the Virginia Department of Transportation is proposing to allocate up to $200 million in additional funding.

“We are very encouraged by the results of this study by nationally recognized transportation experts,” Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Shep “Shep” Miller III said in a statement. “Alexandria had the foresight to plan this type of dense development, so we focused on peak traffic around games and events, and this study gave us a clear path forward. I believe you will.”

But some state legislators, like Rep. Carrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, are raising concerns about the proposed multimillion-dollar transportation investment that would be needed for a private company to develop the arena. This raises questions about whether Virginia should be held responsible.

“The state has the ability to fund infrastructure projects, but I don’t think it needs to be 100% the federal role if we’re strengthening infrastructure for the development of private enterprise,” Delaney said. Stated. “Unless there is a very reliable return on that investment, the cost should at least be shared.”

A December proposal by Youngkin and Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the basketball and hockey franchises, is hotly contested in Northern Virginia and Richmond, where plans related to financing for a potential arena deal must be approved by the General Assembly. caused controversy. Plans call for a $2 billion entertainment district in Alexandria that would include not only a sports arena, but also a Wizards practice facility, performing arts venues, expanded esports facilities, and new retail and housing. , restaurants and hotels are also included. , conference facilities, and community gathering spaces.

One of the biggest concerns about this proposal is how the already busy Potomac Yard area, where the district would be located, would be able to handle the greater transportation load it would bring.

Kimley Horn said existing service at Metrorail’s Potomac Yard station could not accommodate the ridership the arena is expected to bring, leading to “extreme congestion” lasting an hour to an hour and a half after sporting events. I discovered that there is a sex. To accommodate higher loads, the study found, the state could expand access to Metro stations to improve service and improve Metroway bus service and use of existing bus-only transit lanes. Stated.

Currently, bus and train services are available in the area, but there are limited bus stops and limited capacity at the train station. The area also lacks access to the George Washington Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail.

The study explores short-term options, including expanding access to the Potomac Yard subway station to improve service, leveraging nearby subway station parking, and creating new bicycle and pedestrian connections. A solution is suggested.

In the future, the study calls for converting the Virginia Railroad Express into two-way service and building bicycle and pedestrian connections to the George Washington Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail as a way to further alleviate congestion. It is proposed to do so.

Based on Kimley Horn’s research, the Virginia Department of Transportation is proposing a variety of investments and goals.

Goals include maximizing capacity and efficiency on Route 1, which averages more than 50,000 vehicles per day, and minimizing traffic on local roads.

To that end, VDOT proposes creating rideshare-only zones, expanding the bus rapid transit network, and investing in “complete streets,” or street development plans that consider the needs of drivers as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. are doing.

The agency also proposes connecting a bike lane to the site, building a new 2,500-space garage and utilizing a nearby office garage that is not used at night to prevent the flow of bicycles into residential areas. There is.

But Andrew MacDonald, a local resident and former Alexandria deputy mayor who helped organize the Coalition to Stop Potomac Yard Arena, said the plan fails to protect the surrounding area.

McDonald said Alexandria lacks the multiple subway stations, road access points and parking that serve Washington, D.C., the team’s current home base.

“The sports arena was never part of the Potomac Yards plan, which envisioned a residential community with a park and perhaps a school, combined with other commercial development,” MacDonald said in an email to the Mercury. “There is,” he said.

He added: “Alexandria and the Commonwealth will not listen to residents’ concerns and convince the General Assembly to pass the sports authority bill before the public has had a chance to consider the plan and study all the implications. We are focusing on that,” he added. In a comprehensive and transparent manner. ”

Many lawmakers said Friday morning they were still considering the investigation. The General Assembly is currently considering budget amendments and legislation related to the arena plan. Among them are new authority Issue $2 billion in bonds to develop the entertainment district.

A key element of Congress’ consideration is how much money Virginia should provide to Metro.

Metro, which is co-funded by Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., faces a serious funding shortfall. The Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that oversees Metro, says it will have to consider job and service cuts if neighboring jurisdictions do not receive notice of additional funding by mid-March. Says.

Virginia law limits increases in the state’s subway contributions to 3% per year. If the state’s payments exceed that cap, state law directs the Federal Transportation Commission to withhold 35% of funds for capital and operating support.

Youngkin’s budget proposal includes no additional funding beyond what the state provides to Metro, but Virginia could exceed that cap if Metro submits a corrective action plan by Nov. 30. It becomes possible. At a minimum, the plan should include measures to reduce the budget. Reports on the total cost and overhead of the system, the number of employees required for transportation services and the distance they travel, and a schedule for when various parts of the system will be automated.

Jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax and Arlington counties, also contribute funds to Metro’s operations.

Lawmakers have introduced two budget requests in the House and Senate that would give WMATA an additional $130 million over two years.

Rep. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax; House amendment billalso proposed a suspension of the 3% cap.