City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: EMILY A. BAKER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND INTERIM DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Authorization for the City Manager to take the steps necessary on behalf of the City of Alexandria with respect to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA)'s Fourth Track Project.
BODY
__________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: City Council consideration regarding the authorization of the City Manager to take the steps necessary on behalf of the City with respect to VPRA's Fourth Track Project.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorizes the City Manager to take such steps as are necessary on behalf of the City with respect to VPRA's 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 requires land acquisitions and infrastructure construction. As part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia Initiative, VPRA is overseeing the Alexandria Fourth Track Project (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 capac...
Click here for full text