RTF Wiehle TOD Committee Summary , July 8, 2010

Process: Bill Penniman hoped to get in a 45 minute discussion of issues but the presentations took up most of the morning. He hopes next meeting will be devoted to TF discussions on various land bays. However, they are still trying to get in contact with various "stakeholders" including Fannie Mae, NOVA, and the Lawrence family, owners of Isaac Newton.

Substance
Rick Stevens presented a summary of the RMAG report on Wiehle station. Limited funding means that only essentials will get done. They are prioritizing these outward from the station area. Soapstone was put in the maybe in 2020-2o30 time frame.
The surprise to many (including some TF members and me) was that there are no plans to have buses from south Reston drop people off on the Southside. South Reston and other Southside buses will have to cross the Wiehle bridge and left turn into the station.
The planned southside bus bays are on MWAA land off the DTR. They will be for buses from Loudoun and shuttles from HM parking. The reason for this, Stevens said, is that the land adjacent to the station platform drop down on the south side is privately owned. One TF member suggested that this will make a perfect proffer from Vornado, which would profit from commercial retail in connection with a Southside bus drop off.
Other presentations included a review of the immediate COMSTOCK traffic plans. This included the results of a traffic study that showed that Comstock and metro parking alone will "only" increase traffic by 20%. Apparently no one has broader traffic projections for all the Wiehle TOD being discussed.
Doug Pew delivered an effective review "observations from McDonald's" about traffic issues. This included among other things the need for sidewalks along Sunrise Valley, the need to move McDonalds and other fast food restaurants out of their current location, which bogs down traffic along Wiehle and the lack of access to Lake Fairfax Park created by private holdings.
The committee also heard from Bernstein, which holds 10 acres in F-3. No firm plans but they are thinking 50% residential.