Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC-133)

What's New?

On Thursday, September 16, Congressman Jim Moran will host a Community Town Hall to discuss the BRAC-133 relocation to the Mark Center, and the related transportation impacts that concern local residents. The town hall meeting will be held at Hammond Middle School from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has provided the City with the Final Transportation Management Plan (TMP) for BRAC-133 at Mark Center.
The Army has provided written responses to the comments made by the public on the BRAC-133 Draft TMP. All previously submitted comments can be viewed on the Archive page.
Letter from Chairman Sharon Bulova of Fairfax County to City Council in support of studying Alternatives F and G for the Interstate 395 and Seminary Road Interchange.
BRAC Update presentation to the City Council on May 25, 2010.
Letter from Sean T. Connaughton, Virginia's Secretary of Transportation, presenting a time line of VDOT's continued efforts to work with the City regarding the potential traffic impacts by the relocation of Washington Headquarters Service to the Mark Center.
Letter from Mayor Euille, acknowledging receipt of Secretary Connaughton's letter to the City of Alexandria.
On March 11, The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) held a community meeting where it was evident that the two proposed alternative access designs were unacceptable to the community at large. Subsequently, the City proposed another design and requested that VDOT review the design to see if it warranted further study. Read the VDOT response.

What is BRAC?

BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) is the congressionally authorized process by which the Department of Defense (DoD) periodically reorganizes its military base structure to more efficiently and effectively support the armed forces, increase operational readiness, and facilitate new ways of doing business. In 2005, the BRAC process mandated the move of many DoD offices from leased office space to secure sites that could meet DoD's high anti-terrorism security standards.

BRAC-133 is the numerical designation given to Alexandria's Mark Center, the new planned location for the Washington Headquarters Service (WHS), and a number of other DoD agencies. The facility, now owned and currently under construction by the federal government, while technically part of Fort Belvoir, is on Mark Center property located at the intersection of Seminary Road and Beauregard Street at the I-395 interchange.

How Does BRAC-133 Affect the City of Alexandria?

BRAC-133 will bring 6,400 new jobs to Alexandria when it is completed in September 2011. The new buildings will be one of the most visible landmarks on the City’s West End. However, BRAC-133 is not subject to the local land use regulation so the City does not have any authority over plans for the site. However, DoD has worked with the City and has agreed to substanial improvements in building architecture. Additionally, growth of this magnitude will bring complex transportation issues that will affect businesses, residents, and other commuters in the area. The City is aware of these challenges, and City leaders, staff, and the BRAC-133 Advisory Group have been working, and continue to work with our state and federal partners on solutions.

BRAC-133 Advisory Group

In February of 2009, City Council passed a resolution establishing the BRAC-133 Advisory Group to serve as a forum for developing ideas and recommendations related to transportation improvements and other issues associated with the BRAC relocation at the Mark Center. This group has provided the groundwork for helping to address the transportation questions related to this project. The Advisory Group meets on the third Wednesday of each month.