The Alexandria City Council unanimously endorsed seven transportation improvements near the Mark Center, a new Defense Department office building along I-395 in Alexandria, even though officials have no money to fund the work. The improvements include widening nearby roads, adding traffic lanes and building turn lanes to ease traffic into and out of the Mark Center site. Also, a pedestrian bridge would be built across Seminary Road. The improvements, needed to accommodate additional traffic that thousands of defense workers are likely to generate around the site, could be built in two phases by the end of 2013.
It was left to City Manager James Hartmann to find the $17 million to $20 million needed to complete the projects.
The council is hoping the Defense Department would fund the road improvements, but the Pentagon has so far balked.
“I hope that the more specific we are, the better we’re able to approach the Department of Defense for funding,” said Councilman Kerry Donley. “The most important thing is that we endorse options and try to advance them to the federal government for funding.”
The city may also seek money from adjacent property owners who would benefit from the development, including the Mark Center’s manager, Duke Realty. The company, however, refused, saying there is “no basis to impose any additional costs and/or development conditions on Duke Realty.”
Councilman Rob Krupicka said the city should expand its search for funds beyond the Army and local business, including using city funds to get the road projects started.
“I just want to make sure we’re having conversations with everyone who could possibly help us find funding for this,” Krupicka said. “Certainly DoD is target No. 1, we all get that, and I agree. I just don’t want to leave anything on the table.”
Four of the state’s federal lawmakers — Reps. Jim Moran and Gerry Connolly and Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb, all Democrats — also urged Gov. Bob McDonnell to use state funds for some of the projects.
