City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 26, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: MICHAEL MOON, P.E., INTERIM DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Authorization for the City Manager to execute the conveyance of temporary construction easements for the purpose of constructing the Alexandria Fourth Track Project between the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) or its designee, and the City of Alexandria. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: The City Manager seeks authorization to execute the conveyance of temporary construction easements to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) for the purpose of constructing the Alexandria Fourth Track Project and associated improvements.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute and convey, pending City acceptance of a performance bond, a temporary construction easement Deed (Attachment 1; subject to finalization by the City Attorney’s Office) on behalf of the City, to accommodate a request from the VPRA to facilitate the construction of the Alexandria Fourth Track Project.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. Pursuant to its enabling act, VPRA’s purpose is to “increase passenger rail capacity, improve passenger rail services, ameliorate current and future traffic congestion on Virginia highways, and promote the industrial and economic development of the Commonwealth.” To achieve these goals, VPRA is administering several rail corridor capital expansion projects, which require land acquisitions and infrastructure construction. As part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia Initiative, VPRA is overseeing the Alexandria Fourth Track Project to design and construct almost six (6) miles of railroad track and related infrastructure in the City of Alexandria. The project will install a fourth track parallel to the existing three-track segments, primarily using the existing rail corridor but also incorporating slivers of property necessary for the project. This project will increase passenger capacity in Alexandria and throughout the region and will enable more efficient coordination of freight and passenger rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is also financially assisting the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) with its improvements to Alexandria Union Station and the railroad bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. VPRA also provides additional funding to VRE for other capital projects and provides over $25 million annually in VRE track access and maintenance fees to Amtrak and freight railroads. VPRA fully funds all eight Amtrak state-supported roundtrip trains in Virginia.
During the final project design, VPRA identified a series of temporary construction easements throughout the City of Alexandria which are needed to support proposed construction activities related to the Project. The vast majority of these temporary construction easements are located on various open space parcels adjacent to the existing railbed but also include several portions of the Union Station parcel at 110 Callahan Drive (Attachments 2 & 3). Construction of the project within City limits is slated to begin at the end of 2025 and conclude in 2027.
In April 2025, VPRA informed City staff that NEPA reevaluation approval had been obtained, allowing the acquisition of property interests for the Alexandria Fourth Track Project to begin. VPRA also shared information about the proposed temporary construction easements and requested temporary rights to use City-owned property.
DISCUSSION: The Alexandria Fourth Track Project offers many benefits to the City and the region, both in the form of increased efficiency in travel and commerce as well as upgraded infrastructure and facilities. The City has approached this project with a desire to help achieve these benefits while simultaneously preserving City assets and mitigating the impacts to the community both during and after construction.
VPRA and the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) have worked together to draft a Temporary Construction Easement (TCE) Deed (Attachment 1) that would grant VPRA temporary access to the areas shown in Attachment 2, under mutually agreed upon terms. A key priority identified by staff is ensuring appropriate mitigation measures are in place during construction and after the project is completed. The specific locations covered by the TCE are detailed in Attachment 2, which City staff from multiple departments reviewed to ensure the Deed meets both City and community needs. The mitigation measures-focused on minimizing disruption to the community and City operations during construction and restoring the impacted areas to their original condition-are included in Exhibit B of the Deed and referenced as Attachment 4.
In addition, access to the TCE locations will be extended to VPRA’s contractors- primarily CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and their subcontractors. To ensure both VPRA and their contractors’ compliance with the terms of the TCE Deed and the mitigation aims outlined therein and in Attachment 4, a bond will be required of the contractor that is tied to their satisfactory performance of the work outlined in both the Deed and Attachment 4. Additionally, the Deed requires indemnification of the City by CSXT and the contractors, as well as the satisfactory resolution of replacement parking for City Staff displaced by the work at Union Station parcel/ 110 Callahan Drive, all as a pre-condition to the TCE becoming effective. The City also retains the ability to suspend or terminate access to the TCE areas should the parties fail to comply with the terms of the Deed or Attachment 4, which will be recorded with the Deed.
While staff and the CAO will continue to work with VPRA on the project as they look to identify further property acquisitions, this TCE will provide necessary access to VPRA and its contractors to begin work toward the completion of these beneficial upgrades. Upon reviewing state and local law, neither Planning Commission review or Public Hearing are required for the disposition of this Temporary Construction Easement. A copy of the draft Temporary Construction Easement is included in Attachment 1 and will be finalized by the CAO and VPRA staff while adhering to initial principles identified in the document.
FISCAL IMPACT: This temporary construction easement request has no fiscal impact. Per the temporary easement terms, VPRA’s contractor will secure a construction bond equal to the estimated replacement value of potential construction impacts. The City will not grant access to the temporary construction easement sites until the bond is reviewed and accepted, and a primary goal of the mitigation requirements will be to minimize impact during construction and return impacted areas to their prior status after construction completion.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Draft Copy of Temporary Construction Easement Deed Between the City of Alexandria and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for the Alexandria Fourth Track Project.
Attachment 2: Copy of Easement Exhibit Provided by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to the City of Alexandria Indicating Desired Locations for Easements Along the Rail Corridor.
Attachment 3: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Easement Requests Overlayed City Aerial Images
Attachment 4: City of Alexandria Requested Mitigation Efforts, by Easement Location, During and After Construction
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, P.E., Deputy City Manager
Christina Zechman Brown, Deputy City Attorney
Bryan MacAvoy, Assistant City Attorney
Michael Moon, P.E., Interim Director, T&ES
Hashim Taylor, Director, RPCA
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Jack Browand, Deputy Director RPCA
Alfred Coleman, Deputy Director of Administration, General Services
Nathan Orr, Chief of Surveys, T&ES
Sara Brandt-Vorel, Principal Planner, T&ES