Notes on the Reston Task Force Meeting, April 24, 2012

                                      R. Rogers

                                      25 April 2012

Highlights: 24 April 2012 Reston Master Planning Task Force Meeting

Summary and Comment:  The meeting provided an overview of the scope of the county transportation study on potential development in the Reston area.  It focused almost entirely on streets and vehicular movement with little on buses, bicycles, and pedestrians.  It previewed some of the issues that will come up when the results of the study are presented on 12 June.

Tysons/Urban Streets

     The initial part of the session was devoted to an overview of design standard issues related to creating urban “complete streets," that is, opportunities for motorists, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  This somewhat academic presentation will presumably be on the FC website.  One issue is the degree to which the suburban and rural mentality in VDOT will be a barrier to a more urban street network near the stations.

Reston Study

     Mike Garcia, a young FC Department of Transportation analyst, gave an overview of how the county is proceeding on the Reston transportation study.  Much of this had been presented earlier by FC DOT.

     Grid of streets. The study is incorporating some of the TF sub-com and Vision Com ideas about a grid of streets.  For example, the idea of a Reston Station Blvd between Wiehle and Plaza America is in the study (and apparently COMSTOCK has been getting property owner buy in). But other grid ideas were either altered or deleted as impractical (the deletions are apparently marked by dotted red lines on FC DOT maps—whether these will be clearer on the website remains to be seen).

     Bus service and TOD management were said to be in the study but little was really said about this. For example, the presenter said it would be “premature” to build bus lanes into any scenarios.  Joe Stowers put in a plug for work done by FC on bus connectors to Wiehle.

     Some proposed intersection improvements were shown on diagrams. There were differing TF opinions on their suitability in some cases (Wiehle area in particular).

     Pedestrian and biking issues were said to be part of the study.  Again little was said about what this entails.  There was no mention about ped/bike overpasses or underpasses at key locations.  Many of the intersection proposals seemed to involve major impediments to pedestrian movement, including the example of a free wheeling (no stop required) right-turn from westbound Sunrise Valley to northbound Wiehle.  It was also pointed out that this raised accident risks with traffic turning left on to Wiehle from Sunrise Valley and trying to shift quickly to right lanes for use of the Dulles Toll Road. 

     New construction: The major item mentioned was a grade separated crossing of Sunrise Valley and FC Parkway (one of the most congested intersections in Reston).

     Dulles Crossings: The study is also incorporating Soapstone and Town Center Parkway crossings. (There may be an impediment to Soapstone created by Metro power construction in the area—advance planning that will require re-routing.  Also, the Town Center Parkway will not link up to Edmund Halley, but go to the west side of the office building on the south side of the corridor and through to Sunrise Valley.)

     Priorities: Two scenarios re transportation will be assessed:

• Partial build out, including Soapstone and intersection improvements.
• Full build out assuming FC PKwy/Sunrise Valley grade separation and a Town Center crossing.

      In response to a question from Gerry Volloy, it was acknowledged that the proposed improvements, including much of the earlier RMAG recommendations on the Wiehle station, were not funded and most of it, including the Soapstone Crossing, is not in the county formal plan.

 

     Evaluation measures that will be used to assess performance were briefly mentioned.  These included level of service, particularly at congested intersections, drive time comparisons, system wide congestion, and peak levels of congestion. (Comment: Overall the study appears to focus on automobile traffic rather than walkability and public transportation.)

     Other issues: Assurances were given that the study will take into account the possibility of diversions from the DTR due to substantial toll increases.

     In response to a question from Kohann Williams about better road access to Lake Fairfax Park from the Wiehle Ave area, FCDOT said it was not included and Heidi Merkel said the Parks Department was opposed to it because of potential damage to protected areas. (Comment: The idea that 35,000 new residents will not have good access to the most significant county park adjacent to the Reston TOD areas seems strange to this observer. Many TF participants, however, are strongly opposed to it.)

Next

     The 22 May meeting will focus on public security and utilities.