Stuck in traffic? Some major transportation improvements are on the way for Fairfax County in general and Reston in particular.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a long priority list of more than 225 road, transit, trail and sidewalk projects that will receive funding from 2015-2020. The $4 billion in in the next six years, thanks to an unprecedented infusion of tax revenue dedicated to transportation.

The total estimated cost of the priority list is roughly $4 billion. The county expects to receive $1.4 billion through 2020 to get the work going.

The county said there are many additional sources of revenue to help fund the remaining projects. Among them: HB 2313 funds including Northern Virginia Transportation Authority local and regional funds ($902 million), and additional state aid ($376 million) for roadway construction and transit. Also included in this total are general obligation bonds and commercial and industrial property taxes for transportation that have not been previously allocated by the Board, the Board of Supervisors says. There is no impact to Fairfax County’s General Fund.

Good news for critics of changes to the Reston Master Plan, which will determine how density and development will happen close to Reston’s three upcoming Silver Line stations. Some studies have shown waits of up to five minutes at many traffic lights, giving the traffic a failing grade.

Several of the proposed projects will be aimed at helping alleviate that congestion.

Here are some of the planned Reston-area projects:

HIGH PRIORITY

• Dulles Toll Road /South Lakes Drive Overpass — $82 million.  Construct a four-lane overpass over Toll Road from Sunrise Valley to Sunset Hills.  Identified ed in Reston Comprehensive Plan Draft as significant way to alleviate traffic. Contingent on development
• Dulles Toll Road/Town Center Parkway Underpass — $157 million. $6.1 million already in place as part of Silver Line Phase 2 funding. Construct four-lane divided roadway under Town Center Parkway from Sunrise Valley to Sunset Hills. Identified in Comprehensive Plan amendment as significant way to alleviate traffic. Contingent on development
• Dulles Toll Road/Soapstone Overpass — $91.75 million.  Construct a four-lane roadway over toll road from Sunrise Valley to Sunset Hills. Includes pedestrian and bike access. Identified in Comprehensive Master Plan Draft as major way to alleviate traffic
• Hunter Mill/Lawyers Road — $51 million. Replace intersection with roundabout and provide shared-use pedestrian access
• Fairfax County Parkway — $396 million. Countywide corridor improvement study

LOWER PRIORITY

• Lake Fairfax Drive/Baron Cameron Avenue — $250,000. Signalized crosswalk of Lake Fairfax
• Fox Mill Road Walkway — $2.4 million. Construct walkway on north side of Fox Mill Road from Fairfax County Parkway to Reston Parkway
• Glade Drive Walkway — $200,000.  Construct walkway on north side of Glade from Middle Creek Drive to Glade Bank Way
• Glade Drive Walkway — $400,000.  Construct walkway on north side of Glade from Colts Neck to Reston Parkway
• North Shore Drive Walkway — $1.4 million. Construct walkway on north side of North Shore from North Shore Court to Sycamore Valley Court
• South Lakes Drive Walkways — $3.65 million. Complete missing links on South Lakes from Greenskeepers Court to Sunrise Valley Drive
• Sunset Hills Road Walkway — $350,000. Construct walkway on south side of Sunset Hills from Old Reston Avenue to Reston Parkway
• Reston Metrorail Access Group (RMAG) — $25 million. Improvements in sidewalks, pedestrian access, bike access trails and bike facilities near future Reston Parkway Metro station

Reston Town Center — $40,000.  Road diet to add bike lanes

PROJECTS ALREADY FUNDED

• Improvements around Wiehle- Reston East Metro, including bus bays, signage, bicycle and pedestrian improvements
• Walkways on Sunrise Valley and Soapstone Drive
• Intersection improvements along Sunrise Valley

To see the entire list of planned improvements, visit the Fairfax County website. The list begins on page 424 of the Board of Supervisors packet.

Is the ice on Reston’s lakes thick enough for skating and walking?

It doesn’t seem like it, at least according to a spirited debate on the Reston Now Facebook page this weekend. But that’s not stopping some folks from trying.

“I live right on Lake Anne – NOT think enough for a cat to walk on much less a 50 lb. child,” Erin wrote.

Others said the lakes are strong enough to support a snowmobile right about now.

Officially, the Reston Association policy is “no skating,” said RA CEO Cate Fulkerson. But, like many parks policies, it is difficult to enforce.

Ice should be at least four-inches thick before it can support any human activity, according to a state agency that should know such things — the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. But many factors other than thickness can play a role in safety. Those factors may include the age of the ice, sun and wind. Newly-formed, clear ice is stronger and safer than white ice or “snow ice.”

“Old rule of thumb we used to use was at least four days with below freezing temps,” Virginia wrote on Facebook. “Depended on the size of the body of water though. That seldom occurs here in Virginia.”

But even that old rule of thumb may not be enough. For four inches of ice to form, the area would need more than a week of air temperatures consistently well below freezing. Around 9 a.m. Monday, the temperature in Reston was 37 degrees and had been above freezing for several hours. The air temperature also rose above freezing last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 19-21, according to weather reports from the National Weather Service.

Two weeks ago, a Gaithersburg boy died when he fell through the ice on a pond.

The Minnesota authorities have some advice for anyone who falls through ice and into water.

Place your forearms and hands on an unbroken ice surface and kick your legs to propel yourself up onto the ice. Try to keep your body weight as spread out as possible, so don’t use the palms of your hands to lift yourself out of the water like you would with a pool. When you’re out of the water, remain lying down and roll away toward safety instead of standing up and walking.

What are your thoughts on walking on ice on Reston’s lakes? Tell us in the comments. 

Photo of frozen Lake Anne courtesy of Dave King, via Facebook.

What do you want to add to your community?

With the addition of the Silver Line and future development in Reston, our community is going to change. How it changes is something most of us are considering. In addition to the negatives, there will be positives. What do you think makes Reston stand out from other neighborhoods?

I would like to see us continue our commitment to developing walkable places.

According to a recent study conducted by Active Living Research, walkable shopping areas promote active living and have a beneficial impact on nearby housing values. The report, Walkable Shopping Areas are Good for Business, based on analysis of 70 studies and articles plus an exploratory study of 15 walkable shopping areas, also notes that the availability of mass transit is an important adjunct to the success of such commercial areas. Additional transportation and livability studies are available at Active Living Research.

What features do you want to set us apart from other Northern Virginia communities as we grow?

Lucinda Shannon
Reston

Reston-area bike advocates are looking towards a bikeshare system in Reston, and now they are ready for community input on the topic.

There will be a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at Lake Anne Elementary School. Meeting topics will include an overview of the bicycle sharing program, bicycle operations, infrastructure needs, and bicycle station locations.

A bikeshare in Reston would be the first system in Fairfax County. Biking advocates — as well as Fairfax County officials — say Reston’s existing system of trails and its future as a transit-oriented development makes it an excellent place to test such a program. Arlington and Montgomery County are among other suburban areas with bikeshares.

In December, about 25 stakeholders representing Reston, Fairfax County, developers, bike advocacy groups, Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Plaza met with representatives from Alta Planning & Design, the firm that developed Capital Bikeshare.

The meeting was the beginning of a feasibility study for a Reston bikeshare program. Last spring, Fairfax County applied for and received study funds from Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Transportation/Land Use Connections (TLC) Technical Assistance Program.

Meanwhile, Bixi, the company that manufactures bikeshare bikes for more than a dozen cities, including Washington, DC, announced this week that it has filed for bankruptcy. That could lead to delays in procuring bikes in many programs.

The grant will look at creative ways bikesharing can work in Reston. In its grant application, the county said Reston would be an ideal test case for a Fairfax County bikeshare:

“Reston area has the highest concentration of active bicyclists in the County, there is an emerging bike culture forming.  Reston embraced our first two road-diet projects which included bike lanes, and there is strong corporate and residential support to initiate bike sharing in Reston. Furthermore, the findings developed from conducting this study can assist other areas of the region in making sound decisions regarding bike sharing.”

Bruce Wright, Reston resident and chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Biking, says he envisions a bikeshare working here with stations at the Metro Silver Line stations at Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway, at Reston Town Center and the village centers. Also necessary, to get major employers such as Oracle, United States Geological Survey and others on board to incentive employees using bikeshare in Reston, he said.

The involvement of developers as Reston expands commercially and residentially is also key. Wright said Republic Land Development, which has been awarded the redevelopment of Crescent Apartments and the Lake Anne area, has offered recreational proffers for two bikeshare stations, which would cost $50,000-$70,000 each. Each bike station would house about 20 bikes, said Wright.

“[Bikeshare] is a crucial element in making Reston more transit-oriented and more urban,” says Wright. “If people decided to do it, pretty well situated in Reston to putting in bikeshare and making it easier for everyone.  I think it is key going to be be huge in changing people’s minds about biking.”

Snow plow crews will continue to work on Northern Virginia streets on Wednesday, but the Virginia Department of Transportation says residents should be patient as conditions are challenging.

Tuesday’s storm dumped about six inches of snow in the area. And while the sun is shining and no snow is falling today, temperatures are in the single digits for now, making ice melter less effective.

VDOT said at the start of the snow season this year it is more prepared than ever to tackle snow removal. Among its new features: high-tech tools to view plowed streets. VDOT said Monday that more than 4,000 pieces of equipment were ready to work on Tuesday’s storm.

To see the status of VDOT plows near you, check VDOTPlows.

VDOT News to know for Wednesday snow removal

I-95/395 reversible HOV lanes will close northbound at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. to allow crews extra time treat ramps and open gates southbound in time for the afternoon rush hour.
Drifting snow and below-freezing temperatures will make even roads that have already been plowed and treated slick. Drivers should use extreme caution, be aware of changing road conditions and use appropriate speeds.

Chemicals used to treat roads become less effective under 20 degrees. Crews continue to plow, treat ice with a mixture of salt and liquid magnesium chloride on interstates, and use a treated sand mix on primary and local roads.

In neighborhoods, park on the odd-numbered side of the street where possible to leave room for the plow to pass.

After a plow has passed, roads will be passable, but will not be bare pavement and may remain snow-packed.
Report road problems to 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623) or [email protected].

Be aware that VDOT is not responsible for many Reston roads. Neither is Reston Association. VDOT plows will hit main roads such as Sunrise Valley Drive and Reston Parkway, as well as some side residential roads.

However, the majority of Reston clusters are contracted with private plow companies. If you live in a private cluster and need information, contact your cluster president or private plowing company.

Obviously, Reston Now has not traveled every road around town. If you see a trouble spot, help out your neighbors and post in the comments below.

The snow has stopped falling. Now: the cold.

About six inches of the white stuff fell in Reston on Tuesday. However, residents who did not dig out yesterday better bundle up today as morning temperatures are in the single digits — even below zero with the wind chill.

Here is what to know today:

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed.

Fairfax County Government offices are open, however employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.

The Federal Government is open but under two-hour delayed arrival. Employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.

More county agencies:

Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers

• If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
• For Department of Neighborhood and Community Servicesprograms and events visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs or call703-324-4600, TTY 711.
• All programs at Reston Community Center are canceled today. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com.

Transportation

• Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.
• For information about FASTRAN, call 703-222-9764, press 8; TTY 711, or online at  www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/fastran.htm.

 Libraries

• Library hours may be affected; call your local branch before visiting. For branch phone numbers, call 703-324-3100 or go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.

View the public meetings calendar at for any potential cancellations of public meetings of Fairfax County government Boards, Authorities or Commissions.

Snow Plow Info

Visit http://www.vdotplows.org to see the status of plowing in Northern Virginia.

Interested in homes sales nearby? Here are some Reston sales that closed in the last week:

11793 Indian Ridge Road, 3BR, 3.5BA TH. List price: $453,000. Sold price: $427,600

2299 Hitchcock Drive, 4BR, 3.5BA SFH. List price: $614,990. Sold price: $609,000

2220 Springwood Drive #H, 2BR, 2BA Condo. List price: $265,000. Sold price: $265,000

1506 Park Glen Court, 4BR, 3.5BA TH. List price: $449,900. Sold price: $442,000

1675 Poplar Grove Drive, 2BR, 1.5BA TH. List price: $319,900. Sold price:  $315,000

11702 Indian Ridge Road, 4B$, 2.5BA TH. List price: $455,000. Sold price: $445,000

11236 Chestnut Grove Square #34, 2BR, 1.5BA TH. List price: $245,000. Sold price: $240,000

11184 Saffold Way, 3BR,2FB, 2HB TH. List price: $428,000. Sold price: $426,000

12004 Walnut Branch Road, 5BR, 4BA SFH. List price: $769,900. Sold price: $769,000

See more real estate information in Reston Now’s Real Estate section.

Update, 5:30 p.m. Monday: The National Weather Service has now upgraded the forecast for Tuesday to a Winter Storm Warning. Conditions are likely for a significant storm with four to six inches of snow.

Original Story — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the area from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. Reston Now will keep you updated with any changes and school closings.

Here is the advisory, which predicts as much as five inches of snow for Northern Virginia:

WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW

* ACCUMULATIONS… POTENTIAL FOR FIVE INCHES OR MORE.

* TIMING… TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE LATE TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES… DROPPING INTO THE TEENS.

* WINDS… BECOMING NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 25 MPH TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO BELOW ONE-HALF MILE AT TIMES. TRAVELLING MAY BE DANGEROUS TUESDAY. THE MORNING AND EVENING COMMUTE MAY BE IMPACTED BY THE SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

This is a sponsored article from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. She writes twice weekly on Reston Now.

There were 15 new properties that came on the market this week, and you can expect more to follow. The market is moving quickly with well-priced property seeing multiple offers and even the occasional escalation clause.

11268 Center Harbor Rd., 5BR, 3.5 BA SFH. $949,900

2200 Jester Ct., 4BR, 2.5 BA SFH. $609,900

12202 Quorn Lane, 4BR, 2BA SFH. $599,000

12001 Market St. #310, 3BR, 2BA Condo. $549,900

1455 Park Garden Lane, 3BR, 3.5 BA TH. $535,000

1860 Stratford Park Place #308, 2BR, 2BA Condo, $499,900

2037 Chadds Ford Lane, 4BR, 3.5 BA TH. $475,000

To see more listings, visit All Reston Real Estate.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials said on Wednesday that a software problem has been resolved and that they will begin testing it on the Silver Line by the end of the month.

MWAA officials have previously said that once the rail is turned over for testing, it will take about 90 days — barring any glitches uncovered — before the Silver Line sees its first passengers.

Phase 1 of the $5.6 billion Silver Line will run from East Falls Church to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, on which construction should begin soon, will open in about five years. Phase 2 will run from Wiehle to an additional Reston stop at Reston Parkway, then to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.

MWAA said in late November that it had found an issue with the automatic train control system software. That issue caused a delay  in the timetable — the rail line’s second announced one in six months. Some local officials such as Sen. Mark Warner questioned the setbacks and pointed out the fiscal impact of delays on the Commonwealth and on Metro.

MWAA CEO Jack Potter told The Washington Post on Wednesday that officials will conduct a “simulated service” exercise in which Silver Line trains will run at the same time weekend Metro service is being run. The test will likely be run the weekend of Jan. 25.

MWAA had never set an official opening date, but the original testing period was to have begun in August (for a potential December opening). In June, that was amended to November. In November, of course, the software issue was discovered. If there are no issues found in testing, the Silver Line opening now would be in April.

Pat Nowakowski, project executive director for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project , has repeatedly said safety is the top priority.

“Our guiding principle throughout this process has been ‘safety first’ and we remain committed to that principal,” he aid in November. “We will not do anything that might compromise safety or create unsafe conditions for the traveling public.”

A bookstore. A locally owned restaurant. A really good bakery.

Those are some of the suggestions from Reston Now readers about what should go in the space formerly occupied by Champps at Plaza America.

How do you feel about chicken wings and waitresses in orange short-shorts?

The Reston rumor mill is abuzz with word that Hooters, the chain of sports bars with more than 400 locations in 28 countries, has checked out the space that has been empty since Champps abruptly closed in November. Hooters has locations nearby in Fairfax and Chantilly.

It’s not farfetched. The Plaza America space is large, expensive (read: chain friendly) and already laid out for a restaurant. There are thousands of office workers in walking or short-driving distance, who likely both appreciate watching SportsCenter at lunchtime as well as being waited on by Hooters Girls.

Here is what Hooters says are the best qualities about its servers:

Hooters Girls are the very essence of Hooters. Trained to excel in customer service, they provide the energy, charisma and engaging conversation that keep guests coming back. Much more than just a pretty face, Hooters girls have game. They’re intelligent and attentive – using their energy, experience and personalities to serve guests everywhere to live in the moment and take a break from the outside world.

Meanwhile, a Hooters spokesman tells Reston Now no lease has been signed — yet.

“We have no plans in Reston,” he said. “But we are definitely interested in opportunities in the area.”

Wondering the sales price on that house nearby? Here are the home sales that closed in Reston in the last week:

1608 North Village Drive, 3 BR, 2.5 BA SFH. List price: $998,900. Sold price: $970,000

2291 White Cornus Lane, 4 BR, 1.5 BA TH. List price: $319,900. Sold price: $315,000

12011 Whip Drive, 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. List price: $615,000. Sold price: $615,000

1855 Stratford Park Place, 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List price: $435,000. Sold price: $432,500

See complete real estate information and home listings in Reston Now’s Real Estate section.

Photo of 1608 North Village Drive courtesy MRIS

U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and retiring U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va. 10th) were in Reston on Friday to talk about the future.

Particularly, the future of the United States if there continues to be budget standoffs. The legislators were speakers at a Town Hall sponsored by the Northern Virginia Technology Council at Sprint headquarters here.

Warner said while he appreciates the recent budget deal that was signed last month, it is just a stopgap measure until a real deal can be agreed upon down the road — one that will ensure a more stable fiscal future for the country.

“I find a bit of a benefit in this deal in that it was this is the last of the small deals,” said Warner. “We have cleaned out the cupboard and the cookie jar. … there was good work and we have given predictability for two years. But this is the last of those kind of deals.”

The recent budget deal set federal government spending levels for two years. It ended three years of bipartisan tension over spending, taxes and the Affordable Healthcare Act that twice brought the nation to nearly defaulting on its debt. The plan raises Federal spending limits by $63 billion for the next two years, ensuring there won’t be more sequestration during that time.

Warner said getting a longterm budget agreement will go a long way in job creation and protecting the economy in the future.

“I still believe the single biggest job creation action we can take is to get our fiscal house in order,” he said. “[We need to] put in place longer deal that would give longterm visibility and that would allow us to say the promise around our entitlement programs will be there and will be sustainable over next 25 years. The tax code that would be pro growth and would not have us lurching from crisis to crisis the we have been today.”

Wolf, who recently announced he will retire from the Hill after 32 years, said he agreed with everything Warner said — and framed his look into the future both personally and monetarily. He said the fiscal situation in America reminded him of the lyrics to the old Simon and Garfunkel song “The Boxer.”

“The song says ‘man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest’,” said Wolf. “The nation is pretty much disregarding where we are. I have five kids and 16 grandkids. I look at the future and I am not completely optimistic.

“We are facing decline, and I think we will go into decline if we do not do what Sen. Warner was talking about if we do not have a grand bargain,” he added. “We can have a renaissance in America if we deal with it.”

Wolf pointed out that if the country continues on the current path, most of the money in the future will go towards debt repayment and not transportation, education or research.

“In 2030, every penny that comes into the treasury will either go for interest on debt or entitlements,” Wolf said. “A great nation cannot survive with those numbers. Social Security fund will be exhausted in 2033. “

Wolf says he is confident that Congress will pass the budget in the next two weeks. Then it is time to start work on the next one.

“The bipartisan budget deal was a good thing,” he added. “It showed we can come together in bipartisan way, but it does not solve it in long run.”