A press release from SunCal; March 15, 2018:
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The final design of a new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) train station at the Potomac Shores master-planned community in Prince William County, Va., will soon be moving forward. The recently executed, final contract amendment between the Virginia Department of Rail Public Transportation (DRPT) and CSX Transportation (CSX) defined what portion of the third-track corridor improvements will be completed in the immediate future.
This new VRE station will be a key component of Potomac Shores’ emerging town center. Situated on the banks of the Potomac River 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., the 1,920-acre community is being developed by SunCal, one of the largest real estate development companies in the U.S. that specializes in large-scale, mixed-use master-planned communities. The construction for the Potomac Shores station is being sponsored by SunCal.
Potomac Shores is a waterfront destination being designed as a transit-oriented development due to its convenient access to the on-site VRE station. Located in the community’s town center, the station will sit along a bluff-top promenade overlooking the Potomac River.
As part of the Arkendale to Powells Creek Third Track project, funded by grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Virginia DRPT, CSX has been constructing a third set of tracks from the Arkendale station northward to Powells Creek, just north of Potomac Shores, to serve alongside the existing CSX tracks. The design and timing of the construction of the Potomac Shores station has been in coordination with this rail improvement project, itself a significant component of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s long-term investment strategy to increase rail capacity, including DC2RVA, Atlantic Gateway and Long Bridge.
“The signing of the agreement to identify improvements to be completed in the near future, and the interim condition for the corridor until additional funding becomes available, will allow the Potomac Shores station to move forward; we’re very elated,” said Andrew Wagner, Project Manager, Potomac Shores. “This new station will be a huge convenience for residents, allowing them to commute to jobs in Washington and elsewhere, and the station will be easily accessed from our future town center.”
The train station’s planning, engineering and construction is a public-private project requiring the involvement, review and approval of state and federal agencies, and other entities. Potomac Shores has been working with VRE, CSX, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Prince William County and the U.S. Department of Transportation to coordinate the design and construction of the station.
Potomac Shores is contributing nearly $20 million toward the train station in partnership with the various agencies, and it anticipates construction of the station’s head house will move forward later this year. The 16,000 square-foot head house will offer scenic views of the Potomac River, and will serve as the entrance to the boarding platforms at the track level below. A two-story design, the head house is planned to offer restaurants, a coffee shop, office space, dry cleaners, outdoor patios and other uses. Current estimates are that the station would be ready for passengers sometime in 2020. It is being designed by CORE architecture + design of Washington, D.C.
In the Potomac Shores town center, much of the site has been cleared and graded in preparation for development. The first commercial pads are complete and accessible from Dunnington Place, and a large portion of the main parkway into the town center will be complete later this year. Final site plans for each development phase will be custom designed for the ultimate end-users.
About Potomac Shores
Potomac Shores covers 1,920 acres and features nearly two miles of shoreline, 1,000 acres of preserved hardwood forests and streams, traditional Virginia Tidewater architectural designs and the area’s only public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. This transit-oriented development is planned for a mixed-use town center, a new VRE train station, a waterfront village and a corporate campus. Its master plan also includes two public schools, multiple sports fields, 10 miles of trails and over 3,800 residences. The community offers the 13,000 square-foot Shores Club, a private recreation and fitness complex, and has sold over 600 new homes. For more information, visit www.potomacshores.com.
About SunCal
SunCal acquires, entitles and develops major residential properties and commercial developments. The company creates distinctive master-planned and mixed-use communities that emphasize quality of life, environmental sensitivity and recreational opportunities. SunCal is one of the largest real estate development companies in the U.S. that specializes in large-scale, mixed-use master-planned communities, and has offices in Irvine, Calif.; Northern California; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.suncal.com.