Statement to Reston Master Planning Task Force
Re: Phasing of
Metro Silver Line Construction
Tammi Petrine
January 29, 2013
As we have been informed by the County transportation staff
numerous times, the arrival of the Silver Line in less than a year will result
in unavoidable, dismal gridlock around the Wiehle Metro Station.
And to further add to our woes, we are learning that Reston will be doomed to suffer with this unacceptable
situation for many more years than was previously promised. The line is tentatively scheduled for
completion in 2018. This will negatively
affect our residential and commercial communities alike.
What I am proposing here tonight is an effort to reduce the
forecast of gridlock and misery for residents and development delays for
commercial landowners.
I am proposing the building of the Silver Line from Wiehle
be phased so that each Reston station can be
opened sequentially.
If the building of Phase 2 could begin at Wiehle and proceed to west of the Herndon-Monroe station, the next two
stations, Reston Town Center
and Herndon/Monroe could be built and
opened earlier than now forecast. RTC is
the town nexus and has the ability to easily provide kiss ‘n ride drop offs as
well as bus, bike and pedestrian traffic for the central parts of Reston.
Herndon/Monroe has a completed parking garage as well as kiss ‘n ride
and multi-model access from both western Reston and Herndon, north and south.
Spreading the entire load of commuters who would be forced
to use only the desperately compromised Wiehle station to three stations sooner
would spread the traffic burden. In
addition, this plan offers developers the opportunity to begin earlier
development of all three areas, not just Wiehle alone.
We would still have to contend with commuters fleeing the
toll way but the more commuters can use Metro to get to their destinations are
sure to try it, hopefully reducing some of the load on local roads.
I would ask the task force to consider sending a letter to
MWAA proposing the idea of phased construction of the Silver Line from Wiehle
to Herndon/Monroe and the amount of track west of it necessary to store and
re-route the trains similar to what is now completed at Wiehle. The letter should note both the difficulties
the current plan places on entirely Reston as
well as the opportunities it offers for early transit-oriented development
around the new stations.
Although the scope of Phase 2 contracts would remain the
same for the five firms bidding on it, the phasing of the work would
dramatically improve conditions for both local traffic and for local
development and should be put into planning stages immediately. This plan would seem to be a win/win for all
in Reston.
Madam chair, could we have a show of hands of those that
might be interested in this proposal?
Because the bids on Phase 2 of the Silver Line are due to be let soon,
time is of the essence.
Thank you!
Tammi Petrine
Co-Chair
RCA Reston 2020
January 29, 2013
UPDATE: Restonian has its own take on Ms. Petrine's idea: "That's so crazy, it just might work." Click here to read the comments in full.
UPDATE: Restonian has its own take on Ms. Petrine's idea: "That's so crazy, it just might work." Click here to read the comments in full.
Interesting idea- the whole Silver Line is a disaster, but this sounds like a way to reduce some of the damage for the Reston folks for a while. Way to think outside the box, Tammi!
ReplyDeleteWMATA has the final say, even if it is possible to sequence the Phase 2 station openings without added construction/testing costs.
ReplyDelete