Planning for the Town Center Parkway underpass, which would extend the parkway under the Dulles Toll Road, is officially underway.
A $1 million feasibility study complete by consulting firm Volkert has found that the project, which key to relief congestion in the area and near the Reston Town Center Metro Station, is possible.
The project is expected to cost upwards of $166.8 million, the report estimates.
“The construction of this extension is possible but there are many important steps before this can become a reality,” the report states, adding that stormwater management and coordination with Metro officials, the owners of RTC West and RTC Next, and other design constraints could make the project more challenging.
The underpass would run underneath the Dulles International Airport Access Highway and tracks laid down by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Two bridges are proposed to support eastbound and westbound traffic over the Town Center Parkway.
Two signalized intersections would also be needed at the intersections of Sunrise Valley Drive and a future road. Construction would need to be conducted in three phases.
The project extends Town Center Parkway southward from the intersection with Sunset Hills Road to the intersection with Sunrise Valley Drive. Construction of the project would take roughly three years. The study does not set forth a specific construction timeline.
“Fairfax County is pursuing funding for the Town Center Parkway Underpass project. The schedule will not be set until funding is identified and the project is initiated,” Dan Reinhard, senior project manager with VDOT told Reston Now.Â
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The project was first proposed in 2012 based on a Dulles Corridor Special Study Transportation Analysis and again in the 2018 version of the county’s comprehensive plan for Reston.
The report estimated that a minimum of 255 parking spaces would be impacted by the project — resulting in property damages amounting to roughly $3.4 million. Further evaluation is needed to determine how the project would impact businesses and parking spaces.
The complete report will available online.
Image via Google Maps
Reston Association Board Names Acting CEO — The Board of Directors named COO Larry Butler as the organization’s acting CEO last night (Thursday) in preparation for current head Hank Lynch’s resignation effective Sept. 3. Butler also served in the position when RA conducted its last CEO search in 2018. Lynch’s permanent successor will be chosen by a committee created by the board. [RA]
Pedestrian Deaths Worry Fairfax County — Route 1 has become a focal point of concerns about traffic safety in Fairfax County, which has recorded 10 pedestrian deaths in the past seven months. The police department launched a campaign this summer urging drivers in the Reston area to slow down, especially at two intersections around Reston Town Center. [NBC4]
Second Union Backs School Vaccine Mandate — The Fairfax Education Association, which represents Fairfax County Public School teachers and staff, joined the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers in supporting the idea of a vaccine requirement for FCPS employees. The union also supports universal masking and called on the school system to extend its Family Medical Leave Act paid sick leave policy through Dec. 31. [FEA]
Car Seat Inspection Event Tomorrow — “Safety matters! Our Traffic Safety Section is hosting a car seat inspection and install event on Saturday, August 21 at 1421 Wiehle Avenue in Reston from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Inspections and installations are on a first come, first serve basis.” [Fairfax County Police Department/Twitter]
Construction to replace the one-lane Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run is expected to begin in early 2021.
At the latest Hunter Mill District Transportation Advisory Council meeting, Steven Welch, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s assistant director of transportation and land use, said designs continue to progress.
VDOT expects to finalize designs in the winter with the goal of beginning construction as soon as possible in early 2021. The new bridge will have two lanes separated by a median.
A virtual public hearing is set for Wednesday, Setp. 16 to discuss the project.
The $5.1 million bridge will also include a new trail crossing south of the bridge, landscaping, and infrastructure for a new trail bridge over Colvin Run that the county will construct sometime in the future. Project plans are available on VDOT’s website.
Photo via VDOT
State crews are on the scene of the intersection of Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, traffic lights at the intersect are “on flash.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation is on the scene to investigate the issue. It is unclear when normal operations will resume.
No other road closures or traffic impacts have been reported due to rain expected today and through tomorrow.
FCPD encourages residents to periodically check its roundup of weather-related road closures online.
Route 7 drivers can expect delays and temporary closures due to construction beginning June 19.
The Virginia Department of Transporation will work on reconstructing the Delta Glen Court intersection and shift eastbound Route 7 traffic to the north.
People may experience lane shifts and temporary changes to the traffic pattern during construction between Baron Cameron Avenue and Carpers Farm Way. All residences, businesses, churches, and public facilities will still be accessible.
From June 19 at 7 p.m. until Jue 20, changes according to VDOT include:
- Â Temporarily median closure until the daytime hours on June 20
- Drivers on westbound Route 7 to Delta Glen Court will proceed to Baron Cameron Avenue and U-turn to access Delta Glen Court
- Drivers on eastbound Route 7 to Colvin Run Road will proceed to the Carpers Farm Way/Colvin Run Road intersection and turn left
- Drivers will encounter single lane closures on eastbound and westbound Route 7 near the Delta Glen Court/Colvin Run Road intersection
Other closures reroutes will take place throughout the rest of the year, the press release said.
Those who want to see detailed plans for construction can check out VDOT’s online interactive updates map.
“As a reminder, the Route 7 speed limit has been reduced to 45 miles per hour in active work zones between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive,” VDOT said.
Image courtesy VDOT
Southbound Fox Mill Road near Lawyers Road is closed due to a damaged pole.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the road is closed as crews work to repair a pole that was damaged when a car crashed into it earlier this morning.
It’s unclear when the road will reopen. Drivers should expect delays.
TRAFFIC ALERT: SB Fox Mill Rd near Lawyers Rd in Reston is closed as crews work to repair a pole that was damaged due to a single vehicle crash. Expect delays. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/JN9f1O4r5Q
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 9, 2019
Photo via Google Maps
Reston commuters may experience delays as a new construction project begins Monday (Oct. 7).
Construction will take place between Jarrett Valley Drive and Delta Glen Court on Route 7. Drivers should expect delays and possible lane closures during the night and off-hours, according to the Virginia Department of Transporation.
There will also be work between Delta Glen Court and Reston Avenue beginning later in the fall, according to a VDOT press release. The work is apart of VDOT’s “Connect Route 7” project.
Community members who use the routes at night can expect delays from Sunday-Thursday from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Fridays from 1o p.m. until 9 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m.
Drivers should note a reduced speed limit will be in effect between Reston Avenue and Delta Glen Court, which has been lowered to 45 miles per hour due to construction crews in the area.
Map courtesy VDOT
Sunrise Valley Drive was closed yesterday (Tuesday) near the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride garage, causing major back-ups in both directions.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says a construction excavator hit a gas line and caused major back-ups in the area. The incident happened yesterday afternoon.
Crews worked last night to install a temporary fix to reopen the eastbound lanes. The accident also caused delays on the Fairfax Connector.
All service has resumed to normal.
The first of several planned improvements to the Route 7 Corridor is officially complete.
A third left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue opened to traffic on Monday (August 19) — the first of several traffic flow improvements planned between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive.
The project includes other improvements like a third lane in each direction, shared-use paths on both sides, the replacement of a bridge over Difficult Run and a pedestrian underpass to access Colvin Run Mill Park.
The complete list of planned improvements is below:
Widening the road from four lanes to six lanes
Building continuous shared-use paths along eastbound and westbound Route 7
Raising the Difficult Run bridge above flood elevation
Shared-use trail under the Difficult Run bridge with minimum height clearance of twelve feet
Adding a pedestrian underpass at Colvin Run Mill Park for enhanced park access
Shifting Route 7 lanes away from Colvin Run Mill; enlarging culvert under Carpers Farm Way
Adding noise walls with architectural treatment (where reasonable/feasible per final analysis)
Adding stormwater ponds
Replacing/relocating the existing Lewinsville Road intersection with McLean Bible Church’s eastern entrance with a new displaced-left with two coordinated signals
At Towlston Road, shifting Route 7 away from Andrey Chapel Cemetery; adding right- and left-turn lanes on southbound Towlston Road
Widening Forestville Road to add southbound left- and right-turn lanes
Adding a third left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to southbound Baron Cameron Avenue, as well as a free-flow ramp from northbound Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7
Improving the approach angle from Utterback Store Road to Route 7
Lengthening left- and right-turn lanes from Route 7 to many side streets along the corridor; eliminating some median crossings for safety
Building new ADA-compliant sidewalk rampsÂ
Officials estimate the project will be complete by 2024.
Until then, the speed limit along Route 7 has been reduced to 45 miles per house in active work zones between Reston Avenue and Delta Glen Court.
Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation
Lane Closures This Week — Work on phase two of the Silver Line will prompt several lane and ramp closures this week, including Herndon Parkway, Edmund Halley Drive, Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]
If Farsi Is Your Tongue — Fairfax County is seeking volunteers who speak Farsi to help older adults in the community with their groceries. Volunteers are needed in Reston twice a month on weekends or weekdays. [Fairfax County Government]
Feedback on I-95 Corridor Study Sought — “The Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, under the leadership of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), are developing a plan to study Virginia’s 179 miles of the Interstate 95 corridor between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria, Virginia and the North Carolina border.” [Virginia Department of Transportation]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Drivers who hold a cellphone while passing through a Virginia road work zone could face a $250 fine.
The law — which bars drivers from holding cellphones in work zones — goes into effect today (Monday).
Gov. Ralph Northam signed the bill in April as part of a broad attempt to tackle distracted driving in the state. Currently, texting while driving is banned.
Northam is also cracking down on drivers who fail to slow down or move to the side of a road when police or firefighters pass by with flashing lights.
Additionally, children up to age eight must be secured in a child safety restraint that meets standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Children must remain in a rear-facing carseat until the age of two or until they reach the minimum weight requirement for a forward-facing child safety seat.
Failure to follow the new law, which also went into effect today, will be considered reckless driving.
Lawmakers also approved a move that would free up the ability to increase local housing stock.
The quick fix changes how jurisdictions in the state bargain with developers for proffers or development conditions.
File photo
Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors to Hold Annual Public Hearing Tonight — Attendees will learn more about RCC’s plans for the future, including a status report on the renovation of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center and the center’s annual report and strategic plan. The hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods. [Reston Community Center]
Flash Flood Watch In Effect Today — A flash flood watch is in effect from 2 p.m. through this evening. Widespread thunderstorms and showers are expected. [National Weather Service]
Route 7 Widening Project to Provide Traffic Relief Soon — “The $313.9Â million project is designed to ease congestion on a section of Route 7 that links northern and western Fairfax County and includes the busy Tysons area, which is undergoing a massive transformation of its own. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority provided $10Â million in funding. Other money for the project comes from Fairfax County and the state.” [The Washington Post]
Overnight Closures of Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Airport Access Road Ramps Planned This Week — “The ramps from the eastbound Dulles Toll Road and the eastbound Dulles Airport Access Road to the southbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) general purpose lanes will be closed nightly Monday night, June 17 through Friday night, June 21 for bridge work as part of the Jones Branch Connector project, ” [Virginia Department of Transportation]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Connect Route 7 Public Meeting Tonight — State transportation officials are looking for feedback on their plans to widen seven miles of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive from four to six lanes. A meeting is set for tonight at 7 p.m. at Forestville Elementary School in Great Falls. [Connect Route 7]
Local Investor’s Ties to Beyond Meat — “Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat Inc. had one of the most impressive initial public offerings in nearly two decades — but it was the company’s dedication to the science behind making a non-meat burger or sausage taste good that first drew in John Backus, co-founder and managing partner of Reston-based Proof.VC. [Washington Business Journal]
Deadline Extended for Fairfax County Parkway Survey — If you haven’t yet given feedback on planned improvements on the parkway, you still have a chance to do so online. State and county transportation officials have extended the deadline of an online survey to May 20. [Fairfax County Government]
Create Giant Paper Flowers Today — Scrawl Books is hosting a Reston Community Workshop on making giant paper flowers with cardstock tonight at 6 p.m. Registration is $40 for residents and $60 for all others. [Scrawl Books]
Photo by Tom J.
Snow plows are working to clear roadways this morning after a snowstorm began earlier this morning.
A traffic camera facing westbound at the snow-covered intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunset Hills Road shows more trucks with snow plows than cars this morning.
Still, drivers can expect some slow-moving traffic on the Dulles Toll Road and major roads in Reston and Herndon with spots of congestion near intersections.
Fairfax County wants locals to stay off the roads, especially with low visibility near the Reston Parkway.
https://twitter.com/fairfaxcounty/status/1098213296472240130
The National Weather Service’s Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 7 p.m.
The warning says that “travel will be very difficult, especially during the morning commute. The hazardous conditions could also impact the evening commute.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation wants locals to stay off of the roads. “Pockets of heavier snow may limit visibility and stick to the pavement, and a mix of freezing rain may quickly make roads slick,” VDOT said in an update at 6 a.m.
https://twitter.com/VaDOTNOVA/status/1098210597328556032
Images via Virginia 511, Google Maps
Updated at 4:55 p.m. —Â NWS canceled the Wind Advisory that was set to last until 6 p.m.
Earlier: After last night’s heavy congestion during rush hour, commuters are finding little to no traffic on major Reston roads this morning (Jan. 30).
Traffic on the Dulles Toll Road is flowing freely, according to Google Maps. However, drivers should still give themselves extra travel time for possibly icy local roads.
“Your commute will take longer today,” Fairfax County tweeted this morning, adding that crews worked overnight to treat roads and will continue treatment today if needed. Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speeds, use headlights and not brake quickly.
https://twitter.com/ffxfirerescue/status/1090580681976094720
Anybody stepping outside today should also bundle up. The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory until 6 p.m. tonight and a Wind Chill Advisory between 9 p.m. tonight and 10 a.m. tomorrow (Jan. 31).
More from the National Weather Service:
WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENINGÂ TO 10 AM EST THURSDAY…
* WHAT…Very cold wind chills of 5 to 10 degrees below zero.
* WHERE…Portions of central Maryland and northern Virginia including Washington DC and Baltimore MD.
* WHEN…From 9 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Thursday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Dress in layers, and wear a hat and gloves.
Fairfax County Government offices are open today, however, employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Fairfax County public schools are closed today. Reston Association offices will open three hours late.
A meeting seeking public input on the Fairfax Connector has been canceled for tonight and will be rescheduled.
Locals have been busy snapping photos of the snow around Reston, including the following.
Reston morning @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/gSAy5EdAD3
— Darren O'Connor (@mellowdrifter) January 30, 2019
Images via Google Maps, Marjorie Copson and  Virginia Department of Transportation
