National Landing’s multimodal transport plans include eight major projects with a combined estimated cost of $US 4bn, which are currently in development and scheduled for execution in phases over the next decade. 

The strategy report outlines four key pillars: 

  • strengthening transport capacity through improvements to the area’s existing network 
  • expanding regional access by increasing and integrating service from Amtrak, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (Marc) and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) 
  • prioritising walking, biking and scooting, and 
  • eliminating barriers that bisect the downtown area and limit connections. 

Key projects in the programme include: 

  • doubling existing VRE services, including day, weekend and late-night services 
  • the introduction of a new Amtrak service to National Landing and National Airport to connect 20 destinations in Virginia, and provide access to the Northeast Corridor 
  • an expansion of commuter rail services to provide a one hour commuting time to National Landing for an additional 765,000 people, while expanding the number of homes in that radius to 100,000 
  • a new pedestrian connection between National Landing and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport  
  • 6.4km of new protected bike lanes across National Landing, and  
  • the transformation of an existing, elevated highway into an urban boulevard. 

Bid is a public-private partnership established to develop economic development in the National Landing region, which encompasses the neighbourhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard-Arlington in northern Virginia, directly south of Washington, DC. 

The development of the region’s new transport strategy follows the state of Virginia’s 2018 agreement with Amazon, enabling the corporation to construct a new headquarters in National Landing in exchange for commitments to fund projects to improve the region’s transport connectivity. 

“Far from being an urban planner’s pipe dream or some unattainable transportation wish list, each of the projects outlined in National Landing’s Mobility Next benefits from large-scale public-private support and the identification of dedicated funding streams,” said Ms Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, president and executive director of Bid. “Just as importantly, the projects are intended to complement one another in ways that vastly enhance mobility for everyone travelling to, from, or within National Landing.”