Statement: Update on TWG for Reston Task Force, May 11, 2010

Progress of RCA Reston 2020’ Transportation Work Group
In Creating a Statement of Reston Transportation Needs

May 11, 2010

Terry Maynard, Chairman
Transportation Work Group


Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the Reston Task Force. I am Terry Maynard, Chairman of the RCA Reston 2020 Transportation Work Group. With the County providing a briefing on Reston transportation conditions this evening, I thought it would be useful to give you a brief update on the progress of our work group.

First, however, I would like to thank you for your valuable time and effort in helping shape Reston’s future. It is an unbelievably important task to all Restonians—residents, businesses, developers, and others—both current and future. I appreciate the complexities you face in balancing all the important interests in planning a better Reston and wish you the wisdom and foresight to accomplish that challenging task.

As for our the Transportation Work Group, we have been meeting over the last two months to develop a reasonable statement of Reston’s transportation needs over the next three decades. We are building our work on the excellent foundation laid by the Reston Metrorail Access Group, expanding it beyond the two Metro station areas it examined to the entirety of Reston. In so doing, we have researched “best practices” in urban transportation planning elsewhere, including Arlington and Montgomery TOD efforts. We have walked the Herndon-Monroe TOD area to understand its special transportation challenges, solicited inputs from local transportation experts, and we have discussed our effort with County transportation staff.

Although our work on Reston’s transportation needs is not yet complete, the following are the key transportation planning principles that are driving it:
• We need a rich mix of transportation options to serve the TOD areas and the Reston Town Center to sustain their economic viability and livability.
• We need to expand the connectivity between north and south Reston across the Dulles Toll Road corridor to preserve our community and better serve Reston Town Center and the TOD areas.
• We must provide robust transportation alternatives for residents and workers beyond TOD areas and Reston Town Center to reduce dependence on personal vehicles given the substantial percentage of Restonians who work, shop, and play here.
• We must develop and expand programs that reduce the demand for peak period work-related driving to limit added congestion.
• We must discourage driving to and from TOD areas, especially during peak periods, to prevent gridlock on Reston’s thoroughfares.

We look forward to sharing the results of our work with you in the weeks ahead as well as discussing it with you at the June 8th public input session or another appropriate time.

Letter: Traffic study and recommendations still need work, Rob Whitfield, Fairfax Times, May 11, 2010

Fairfax County has again delayed the public hearing on the proposed Comstock Reston Station Holdings LLC project at Wiehle Avenue Metro station.

The county has so far failed to design or identify funding for local transportation improvements which will be needed adjacent to planned Dulles Rail project stations to accommodate Transit Oriented Developments. Upgrades will be needed to various intersections in Reston. Worrying about design defects and limiting vehicular access to the plaza at the proposed Comstock Wiehle development during peak periods is akin to trying to deal with fleas when a herd of elephants is crashing around the house.

The Planning Commission, in overruling county staff who recommended rejection of the Comstock Wiehle proposal, has done nothing to address the fundamental problem involved -- increased traffic. At full build-out of the proposed 1.3 million square foot mixed use Comstock project, some 1,200 to 1,800 peak hour vehicle trips will be added to the local road network.

Certain transportation improvements in the Wiehle Avenue vicinity were required by the Dulles Rail Federal Transit Administration's Record of Decision of March 2005 and are being paid for from Phase 1 Dulles Rail funds. The county is spending $4 million on building sidewalks in the local area. However, it appears that little is being proffered by Comstock for local road improvements in its project proposal.

At Comstock Wiehle, 2,300 spaces for Metro riders would be built in an underground garage plus an additional 3,000-plus spaces for the proposed 1.3 million square foot mixed use Comstock development. (The county staff report omits the total number of parking spaces). The total number of parking spaces at Comstock Wiehle will be similar to the total parking provided at Vienna and Springfield Metro stations for which exclusive access ramps to and from I-66 and I-95 are provided to limit traffic impacts on the street system.

Currently, a total of 5,840 parking spaces exist at Vienna Metro. Tax records indicate that Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority owns approximately 30 acres there. By contrast, the county owned site at Wiehle Avenue contains only 9 acres which, together with 3.5 acres owned by the applicant nearby, total 12.5 acres for development. However, no direct ingress or egress to the Dulles Toll Road will be provided.

Citing budget constraints, the Reston Master Plan update "Task Force" leadership and county staff have stated that they do not intend to study traffic problems in Reston or the far worse conditions that will be created by additional traffic generated by developments around proposed Metro stations and the Town Center area.

It is complete lunacy to not evaluate comprehensively the potential parking and road improvements required to accommodate new traffic demand to be generated by future developments of Comstock, JBG, Boston Properties, Vornado Realty Trust and other landowners whose property abuts the Dulles Toll Road at or near Wiehle Avenue. The same is true for other stations proposed on the Dulles Corridor in Herndon and Reston.

Already severe peak period traffic congestion (Level F) exists in eastern Reston at intersections between Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue, Sunrise Valley Drive and Hunter Mill Road, Sunset Hills Road and Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road and Hunter Mill Road. Little has been proposed in the Comstock plan to ameliorate traffic congestion and the county's proposed penalties for not complying with a trip reduction plan are totally inadequate.

As a pre-condition of approving Comstock Wiehle Avenue development and any other Reston transit station project, we should require Fairfax County to create a "Road Club" (preferably to be called a "Public Improvements Club"), as has occurred in similar situations in Tysons Corner and elsewhere in Northern Virginia.

Now is the time for residents and businesses in Reston to insist that the county evaluate and plan for potential traffic congestion resulting from rail and the Master Plan update for station areas and around Town Center on a comprehensive basis. Bob Simon planned Reston as a place where people could live, work and play, and not as a focal point for thousands of commuter vehicles.

Rob Whitfield, Dulles Corridor Users Group

BRAC shift heightens traffic concerns in southern Fairfax, Fairfax Times, May 11, 2010

A possible cautionary tale for Reston, although our growth is not being driven by outside forces.

Only one road to be completed before defense workers are relocated

by Kali Schumitz | Staff Writer

When thousands of Department of Defense workers are relocated to Fort Belvoir next year, only one new road in southern Fairfax County will be ready to accommodate them.

The final section of the Fairfax County Parkway, which provides access to the former Engineer Proving Ground, now known as Fort Belvoir North, will be completed on schedule. That area is set to house about 8,500 employees from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in a new office complex.

But there is no relief in sight for the already congested Route 1 corridor in the Alexandria section of the county. . . .

Click here for the rest of this article.

Column: Transportation: Creating an Incentive for Slow Growth at Tysons, Robert Jackson, President, MCA, Fairfax Times, May 4, 2010

Transportation and financial realities create strong incentives for Fairfax County to keep growth at Tysons Corner in the slow lane for years to come. Despite the Board of Supervisors' charge to the contrary, transportation planning was an afterthought to the supporters of rapid and intense growth at Tysons. For example, the Tysons Land Use Task Force's "vision" report merely touches upon road improvement needs over a few pages of text. Big landowners and their agents were focused on pushing density as high as possible, instead of trying to size future density to transportation realities.

Fortunately for the rest of us, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation picked up the slack. Indeed, the county prepared what is likely the most complex "527 Traffic Impact Analysis" ever submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation. But even after superlative work by county engineers, VDOT identified a number of problems with the study. Much more planning and analysis are required. In short, the transportation needs of an urban Tysons are multifaceted and very expensive.

On April 19, Fairfax County released its latest road and transit cost estimates for the next 20 years (which are in addition to the $5.3 billion price tag for bringing the Silver Line just to Wiehle Avenue). The current projection of $1.762 billion, stated in 2010 dollars, is broken into five-year increments. For example, by 2015, the county needs $162 million for two road projects and capital investment in more buses. In addition, the annual operating costs for these new bus routes are estimated to be $18 million.

While these cost totals are daunting in and of themselves, it is critical to note that, even after spending all of this money -- plus the full cost for constructing a rail to Dulles Airport and beyond -- and after taking other actions, such as eliminating free parking throughout most of Tysons, traffic engineers have concluded the transportation network, including the Beltway, the Dulles Toll Road and Routes 7 and 123, would hit the failure stage once Tysons reaches 84 million square feet (going from today's approximately 45 million square feet). This means that, at some point in the future, the more than $1 billion invested in road improvements will no longer perform acceptably.

When will this happen? It depends, of course, on how fast Tysons is permitted to grow. Experts from George Mason University made three growth estimates for Tysons Corner. The "fast growth" estimate projects Tysons will reach more than 82 million square feet by 2030. In other words, by the time all of road improvements needed to grow Tysons to 84 million square feet are finally completed, the entire transportation network will be close to fatal gridlock. More important, since many of these improvements would be funded through bonds, they wouldn't be paid for by the time they reach the point of failure, if Tysons is allowed to grow rapidly. It will be similar to being required to keep making monthly payments for an uninsured car that has been totaled in a wreck.

On the other hand, if the county decides to slow down significantly the pace of growth at Tysons, GMU estimated Tysons would not reach 84 million square feet until close to 2050. Slowing the approval of development at Tysons permits the county to extend the functional life of more than $1 billion of road improvements for almost 20 more years. That is a very strong incentive for Fairfax County to take a very measured pace in Tysons for years to come, despite the likely pleas to the contrary from landowners. The public interest easily trumps private gain in this instance.

The letter writer is an attorney and serves as president of the McLean Citizens Association.

Agenda: TWG Meeting, April 12, 2010

We are meeting at the Maynard residence at 7PM, Monday, April 12, for about two hours.

We have a busy evening of discussion ahead for Monday evening although the topics are few:

1. Introductions--New member, Polo Fields guest, any others (10 mins.)

2. Readout and discussion of our walk on transportation needs around the Herndon-Monroe Metro station area (John Mossgrove). John will bring together our observations on transportation needs from a two-hour walk through the entirety of the H-M area on Saturday afternoon. Three members of TWG (Terry, Dave, and John) and three residents of the adjoining Polo Fields Assn. conducted the tour. I have invited Polo Fields to send a representative to participate in this discussion. (20 minutes)

3. Laying out a specific work plan, including individual work assignments, for the development of a workable preliminary report on transportation needs in the TODs and RTC areas by Memorial Day (late May) so we can make a presentation at the June 8 public presentation meeting of the Reston TF. I have attached a draft work plan of very demanding set of topics we need to address in the next month and a half. I propose we have 1-3 person teams tackle each topic area. I have also attached a couple of related documents for background purposes in that effort. We also need to identify specific people we should interview within the next two-three weeks for insight on the issues we're addressing. (90 minutes)

I see us needing to meet the following schedule to achieve our end:

Not later than Friday, April 23 (12 days): Each lead shares a first set of analytical observations and proposed recommendations addressing the attached draft work plan and the Transportation Analysis for TODs and RTC topics to be circulated by e-mail among TWG members. This need not be finished prose, just complete and coherent enough that we can discuss it at the next TWG meeting.

Monday, April 26, TWG Meeting: Discuss ideas provided by each topic lead. Each topic team/person takes these ideas aboard and fleshes out their analysis and recommendations.

Not later than Friday, May 7: Each topic lead shares a more complete set of analytical observations and proposed recommendations. Again, not looking for a finished product--just ALL the proposed substance of one.

Monday, May 10, TWG Meeting: Review the various inputs and reach something approach consensus on the analysis and recommendations.

Not later than Wednesday, May 19: Terry integrates the agreed upon substance into a first draft report and/or presentation product (TBD) and shares with TWG via e-mail.

Not later than Sunday, May 23: TWG members respond to all TWG by e-mail with proposed substantial changes. We're not word picking, but we need to get key areas of concern on the table before our next meeting.

Monday, May 24, TWG Meeting: Review draft, resolve key substantial issues, decide on final format.

Not later than May 27: Terry produces final draft product and shares with TWG members by e-mail.

Week of May 31 (Memorial Day), TWG meeting (Tuesday-Wednesday, date TBD): Review and finalize report/presentation.

Friday, June 4: Product finalized, shared with Reston 2020 and RCA Board--and that's cutting it very close.

Tuesday, June 8: Present TWG's Preliminary Reston Citizens Assessment and Recommendations on Future Reston Transportation to the Reston Task Force.

Please come prepared to discuss how you can help contribute to achieving this ambitious agenda and what resources beyond yourself you may be able to bring to help.

RMAG Analysis of Traffic Near Reston's Metro Stations, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, April 15, 2008

This document is the second chapter of the consultant's report for the Reston Metrorail Access Group, a group focused on developing safe and rapid access to Reston's new Metrorail stations. As reflected in this analysis, traffic congestion will be much worse in 2030 even if "robust" road improvements are made.

RMAG Consultant Traffic Analysis (Ch.2)

Letter: TWG Letter to Chairman Bulova and Supervisor Hudgins re Reston Bus Service Cuts, April 2, 2010

TWG Reston Bus Service Cuts Letter

To sign the petition to "Save Our Buses," please click here.

News: Fairfax riders say they feel stranded by plan to cut bus lines, Washington Post, March 29, 2010

By Nicole Norfleet
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 29, 2010

One February night, a woman boarded Deloris Bailey's 553 Fairfax Connector and said, "They're going to cut our bus!"

Bailey and some fellow passengers were shocked: Bus service had already been reduced last year by almost 40 percent.

To get to work in the District, Reston commuters can ride the bus to the West Falls Church Metro station; join the tens of thousands of drivers on the road; or jockey for a spot at one of four park-and-ride lots, three of which are filled to capacity, and then take a bus to a Metro station.

For Bailey, 48, who has lived in Reston for more than a decade, the bus is the best option. She learned last month, however, that Fairfax County is planning to cut not only her bus line but also six other routes in June....

For the rest of this article, click here.

Agenda: Transportation WG Meeting, March 29

Agenda
Transportation Work Group
March 29, 2010, 7PM
Maynard residence


1. Opening, member remarks (5-10 mins.)

2. Reston bus budget cuts: What, if anything, should we do regarding the Reston bus budget cuts? (See Dave Edwards’ paper.) (10-15 mins.)

3. The Reston TF’s schedule re TOD, and meeting their timeline. (Terry—5 mins)

4. What specific transportation issues do we think we should tackle and how? (For those of us who had research assignments, please use any results you have in this discussion.)
• Some issues to consider first (10-15 mins.):
o Should we stick to land use issues almost exclusively (since they can be captured in the new Comp Plan) or cover the full range of trans. issues and implied changes to statute/ordinance/policy/programs?
o How far do we want to go down the implementation path knowing (a) a separate WG is addressing and (b) the RTF is not dealing with implementation issues so far?
o What do we envision as our final product(s)—briefing/viewgraph presentation, written report, Comp Plan & other official language….?
o Others?

• Apply RMAG approach to south side of Herndon-Monroe (tour the site; draw up specific RMAG-like recommendations for the area—without costing) (5-10 mins.)

• Generate specific topics we want to include in a report for the RTF on TOD areas and RTC. (Note: This is a combination of looking at perceived needs and ideas we should vet in further research and interviews.) (30-45 mins.)
o Transportation infrastructure needs (intersections/interchanges, bridges, road widening, satellite commuter parking, etc.)
o Traffic demand management (constraining vehicle demand through raising costs/time/access/etc. and encouraging alternatives--means, subsidies, etc.)
o Bus transit needs (station/TOD access, circulators, etc.—see RMAG)
o Pedestrian and bike improvements (RMAG & beyond)
o Others?

• Prioritize the work we propose for ourselves, assign follow-up, and set a schedule. (15-20 mins.)

5. Set schedule for next several TWG meetings. (5 mins.)

6. Adjourn.

News: Traffic Main Concern for Future Wiehle Station, Reston Observer, March 25, 2010

Written by Leslie Perales • Observer Editor Thursday, 25 March 2010 14:10

More than 75 people attended the last community workshop for the Reston Master Plan Special Study, which focused on land surrounding the future Wiehle Metro station.

Prior to the meeting members of Save OUR Buses, a group working to petition the county to keep a number of area buses slated for cuts, handed out flyers and collected signatures outside.

The workshop began with an overview of the area. Fairfax County Senior Planner Heidi Merkel said the county wants to ensure that existing neighborhoods close to the future Wiehle Metro station are preserved.

Merkel said the county’s vision for the area includes high-density use on the north side of the Dulles Toll Road and medium density on the south side of the DTR to help protect close neighborhoods.

She said the county is looking to build on information collected from previous planning events, such as a charette that was done in 2002, which concluded that mixed-use development would best serve the area.

The majority of those in attendance said they were most concerned about what kind of traffic the new Metro station will bring to the Reston area. For three years the station will be the end of the Silver Line, which could cause commuters to flock to it until more stations are built.

For the rest of the article, click here.

Meeting Summary: Transportation Working Group, March 11, 2010

The Reston 2020 Transportation Work Group met Thursday evening, March 11, in its initial organizational meeting at 7:30 PM. Those present included Terry Maynard (chair), Dave Edwards, and John Mossgrove. Dan McGuire, Rob Whitfield, and Denver Lovett had other commitments.

After introductions, Terry Maynard briefly discussed his telecon with Kathryn Martin, Chair of the RA TAC, in which he described what the WG was setting out to do and she suggested that they work together while avoiding duplicative efforts, keep WG recommendations realistic, stay in touch personally, and make sure a rep attends the other group's meetings, among other topics. (Terry will attend the next TAC meeting--first Thursday in April.)

A brief discussion ensued on the specifics of the WG's tasking, which is both broad and very time constrained. As with the other groups, we are supposed to have a draft report ready for the TF by its April meeting under the original January Citizens WG proposal, a target we don't believe is realistic at this time.

Our discussion focused on how to come quickly up to speed on Reston transportation planning issues. We generally agreed the RMAG report provided an important foundation for further work, but we needed to expand its geographic coverage, add more "soft" policy aspects to it (eg--non-infrastructure inducements to limit vehicle traffic, like Arlington has done), and keep it mind the totality of Reston as we focused initially on the Dulles Corridor/Reston Center area. We believe we can not address the financial dimensions so well covered in the RMAG report, a topic that may be important to the Implementation and Phasing WG.

We agreed to research the following and share preliminary results before our next meeting (Monday, March 29):
* Dave Edwards--Identify people with expertise on transportation issues in government and industry who could contribute to our understanding of the issues, possibly participate in the WG, and serve as informal consultants off whom we could bounce ideas, drafts, etc.
* John Mossgrove--Review and share information on Tysons Corner and Reston transportation planning, including recent specific development proposals.
* Terry Maynard--Review Arlington and Montgomery County transportation analyses, plans, and policies for their appropriateness to the Reston transportation issue. Also, explore USDOT and SmartGrowth sources for usable information pertaining to Reston transportation planning.

The meeting adjourned at 9PM.

The next meeting of the Transportation WG will be at 7PM, Monday, March 29, at Terry Maynard's residence. The core agenda item will be reviewing what we've learned and organizing to move ahead.

Terry Maynard
Chair, Transportation Work Group
Reston 2020 Committee

Reston Transportation Planning Ideas, Dave Edwards, February 12, 2010

Reston Transportation Planning Ideas, Dave Edwards, February 12, 2010