How Arlington's major Long Bridge project will improve travel to D.C.
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The project will add a two-track bridge reserved for passenger trains (right) next to the existing one (left). Rendering courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
Work is kicking off on a long-awaited project that will improve rail travel and transform commutes between Arlington and the District.
Why it matters: The Long Bridge project aims to fix what's become one of the biggest railway bottlenecking moments on the East Coast.
Driving the news: U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Virginia and local officials in Arlington on Tuesday to break ground on the $2 billion project, which will create more rail bridges connecting D.C. and Virginia and update the Long Bridge.
- It'll be partly funded by the $729 million given to Virginia last year as part of Congress' $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed in 2021.
The big picture: The 120-year-old Long Bridge, which stretches over the Potomac River, is the only way for trains to cross from D.C. into Virginia. Passenger and freight trains have to share it, leading to congestion and delays.
- Almost 6 million Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express passengers cross the bridge each year.
- The improvements come after Amtrak Virginia saw its highest recorded ridership last year.
State of play: The project will add a two-track bridge reserved for passenger trains next to the existing one, doubling capacity over the Potomac and speeding up traffic.
- It'll stretch from Arlington's Long Bridge Park to D.C.'s East Potomac Park.
Also included: A new bridge for foot traffic and bikers stretching over the Potomac and George Washington Parkway to connect Long Bridge Park and the Mount Vernon Trail with East and West Potomac Parks.
- Plus: Renovations to the existing Long Bridge.
The project is scheduled to be finished by 2030.
Zoom out: The Long Bridge revamp is one of several transportation projects planned for Crystal City amid the development of the greater National Landing neighborhood.
- A planned pedestrian bridge leading to DCA just got the green light from the National Park Service and could be ready by 2030.
- Plus: Crystal City could see a new VRE station that might also serve as an Amtrak stop, and another entrance to the Crystal City Metro stop is in the works.
What we're watching: How the construction may impact local traffic — roadway and lane closures could affect nearby Interstate 395 and the George Washington Parkway, per the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.