Just six months before 6,400 defense workers move into the Mark Center in Alexandria, the city is hoping to get $20 million from Congress for road projects needed to prevent an already congested area from falling into complete gridlock once the workers arrive. Under the proposal, which needs the approval of House Appropriations Committee, federal officials would take the $20 million from the Defense Department budget, according to Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., who told the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday he’s confident the committee will approve the plan. If the funds are secured, Alexandria will begin to make short-term road improvements around the Mark Center, including a $1 million project to improve traffic signals at Seminary Road and Interstate 395. Alexandria also asked for $200,000 to redesign the Van Dorn Street Kiss and Ride to accommodate more buses, which would be needed to carry Mark Center employees to their offices.
However, none of the projects will be complete before defense workers begin to arrive in September.
Alexandria has tried repeatedly to secure federal money for the road projects before the new office building opens. But city officials’ requests were stripped out of the appropriations legislation to which they were added.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has agreed to build a high-occupancy vehicle ramp from I-395 directly to Seminary Road, but any additional state funding for Mark Center-related traffic issues is unlikely, said Kerry Donley, vice chairman of the Alexandria City Council.
“Quite frankly, we don’t have another avenue to which to turn,” Donley said. “We’re not going to get any more money from the state. … The only avenue we’re going to have is to look to ourselves.”
Officials are still waiting for Defense Department lawyers to approve a contract to provide DASH bus service between King Street Metro and Mark Center.
Moran assured the council that the Defense Department will eventually approve the contract.
