City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 13, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Consideration and Approval of a Deed of Lease with Amtrak to Operate a Transit System at Alexandria Union Station
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a Deed of Lease with Amtrak to fully operate a transit system and maintain portions of the premises at the City-owned Alexandria Union Station, located at 110 Callahan Drive.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorize the lease introduced at the June 13, 2018 legislative meeting.
BACKGROUND: Alexandria Union Station opened on September 15, 1905 and served passenger trains of the C&O, Washington Southern Railway and Richmond, Frederick & Potomac (RF&P) Railroad until 1971 when ownership of the station building was assumed by Amtrak and the rails of CSX Transportation. Following an $840,000 grant funded renovation coordinated by the City of Alexandria and completed in 1997, the City Council accepted a gift of Alexandria Union Station on behalf of the City three years later in 2000 from Commonwealth Atlantic Properties (the corporation formed to serve as the real estate arm of RF&P Railroad Company).
Amtrak had been operating under a lease with the station's former owner which subsequently expired. Since the City assumed ownership of the station in 2000, Amtrak has been operating the station without a lease agreement with the City. The City has actively worked with a wide range of Amtrak staff over several years to come to terms on a lease agreement.
DISCUSSION: The draft lease agreement between the City and Amtrak includes an initial lease term of five (5) years and two (2) additional five-year terms unless the agreement is terminated by either party. This lease is beneficial to the City and the public, preserving a valuable resource and providing continued access to rail transit. This agreement will a...
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