Reston Association Asks for 'Reston West-Herndon' for Herndon-Monroe Station

Reston Association president Kathleen Driscoll McKee sent a letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday with preferred names for the Reston-area stops along the Silver Line.

Driscoll McKee says RA would like the station that will drop off passengers in the Town of Herndon to the north and at the Herndon-Monroe Park-and-Ride to the south to be named Reston West-Herndon. Other RA-recommended names for Reston-area stations include Reston East-Wiehle at Wiehle Avenue and Reston Central for Reston Town Center.

Meanwhile, two RA board members say the board was not consulted and did not discuss or approve the letter to the BOS, which would be standard policy when presenting an official position of the Board of Directors.

"This position seems to be a staff and one board member decision," said a board member, who asked not to be named.  "This is less about what the names are and more about the process. I hold the process important. Having a letter that does not represent the process is more a violation of governance."

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has been seeking input for the station names since February. In a survey taken by more than 16,000 area residents the name that was most popular for the Herndon-area station was Herndon.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has been seeking input as well, and voted on its preferred names to present to WMATA on Tuesday. The board recommended the name Herndon for the station. The final decision will be made by WMATA. (*Paragraph updated 4/10 @ 8:30 p.m.) 

Driscoll McKee, whose term ended Tuesday, said RA’s choice of station names identify the locations by geographical area.

“The Reston Association believes the names should let riders know they are in Reston,” Driscoll McKee said.

She said using Reston as the primary name rather than the street or shopping area appearing first would “clearly identify the location to passengers and station staff.”

When it comes to the Herndon-area Metro station, the letter argues, “At the Reston West-Herndon stop, the south side lies in Polo Fields, part of the Reston Association. The north side is part of the Town of Herndon.”

WMATA’s station naming policy asks that station names be limited to 19 characters, use geographical features to identify them and they should be distinctive and evocative. The policy also asks that station names be limited to two words, or preferably one.