Fix Needed For Pedestrian Access At Reston Town Center: Alcorn

RESTON, VA — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn Tuesday to bring together a group of interested parties in order to identify a near-term solution to a pedestrian visibility and access problem near the site of the future Reston Town Center Metrorail Station.

Alcorn's motion came after the board unanimously approved Boston Properties' proposal to shift planned office space at the Reston Town Center site to a portion of the property previously designated for a future parking garage.

In his motion, Alcorn noted that the success of the Reston Town Center development depends on safe access to the site by pedestrians, a number that will increase with the arrival of Metro's Silver Line in early 2022.

Under the plan the board had just approved, Boston Properties was directing pedestrians accessing the site in a north-south direction to cross Sunset Hills Road at the Metrorail Station entrance.

"Currently, the speed of vehicles along Sunset Hills Road near the Metrorail Station intersection makes crossing the one, 10-foot-wide crosswalk across Sunset Hills Road challenging," Alcorn said, in his motion. "In addition, the current design of the crosswalk places pedestrians in a refuge island in the middle of the driveway before they can reach the Metrorail Station. This configuration creates the potential for conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles exiting the kiss-and-ride and bus loop. While a pedestrian overpass across Sunset Hills Road is planned in the future, this improvement is still several years away."

Alcorn's motion directed staff to coordinate with Boston Properties, Virginia Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and WMATA to come up with near-term adjustments in order to improve pedestrian visibility and access for individuals crossing Sunset Hills Road at the Reston Center Metrorail Station. He also asked the board to direct staff to identify long-term solutions for improving pedestrian access to Sunset Hills Road at Reston Town Center Metrorail Station intersection.

The board voted unanimously to approve Alcorn's motion.