LOCAL
HISTORY
Alexandria’s Innovative Electric Transportation BY RACHEL KESTER
Driving through Alexandria, you’ll notice an array of public and private transportation options from buses to trains, cars, bicycles and scooters. But what might surprise some is that at one point, city residents enjoyed a thriving electric streetcar system — one of the first of its kind in the country.
Originally called the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Electric Railway, it first opened for service Sept. 18, 1892, ferrying tourists to Mount Vernon and, later, workers into D.C. It instantly became a local thrill. The Washington Post covered its debut, reporting that Fairfax Street was so crowded with spectators that it was almost impossible for the streetcars to run on time. There were multiple stations along the railway’s route. Beginning at the Mount Vernon estate, the streetcars made stops along South Royal Street, South Fairfax, King Street, Commonwealth Avenue, Four Mile Run and Arlington. In 1896, the trolley line was eventually extended and connected to tracks owned by the Belt Line Street
January / February 2022 • alexandrialivingmagazine.com
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