reston transportation service district: informational meetings march 21 & 29, 2017

County of Fairfax, Virginia

Reston Transportation Service District

Informational MeetingsMarch 21, 2017 at Coates Elementary School

March 29, 2017 at Hughes Middle School

Tom Biesiadny, Ray Johnson, Janet NguyenFairfax County Department of Transportation

Department of Transportation 1


Outline• Background • Reston Transportation Improvements and Estimates• Coordination with the Reston Network Analysis Advisory

Group to Develop a Funding Plan for Reston Transportation Improvements

• Feedback from the Advisory Group, Community, and Stakeholders

• Reston Funding Plan• Service District Contributions• Service District Advisory Board and Sunset Provisions• Dates/ScheduleDepartment of Transportation

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BackgroundBoard of Supervisors approved the Reston Phase I Comprehensive Plan amendment on February 11, 2014. Key components include:• Addressing the three Reston Transit Station Areas (TSAs) (Wiehle-Reston East,

Reston Town Center, and Herndon). • Envisioning a mix of land uses served by a multi-modal transportation system.• Recommending a set of road transportation improvements, a grid network, and

intersection improvements to support the vision.

Follow-on motion directed staff to develop an inclusive process to prepare a funding plan for the recommended transportation improvements that includes both public and private investment.• Public revenues are those revenues allocated by the County for use on transportation

projects Countywide.• Private revenues are generated in Reston and used exclusively for Reston projects.

Example private revenue sources: road fund, proffers, in-kind construction, service district, and/or transportation tax district.



Background Continued…• The Reston TSAs are based on boundaries developed in the Reston-Herndon Suburban Center

in 1991 as part of a planning effort called ‘Planning Horizons’. The TSA boundaries were further refined as part of the Reston planning process for the 2014 Comprehensive Plan Amendment and expanded the area of the Herndon TSA.


Reston-Herndon Suburban CenterLand Units and Proposed Reston-Herndon Transit Stations, From Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan 2011 Edition


Background Continued…


Reston Transit Station AreasFairfax County Comprehensive Plan 2013 Edition, Amended through 10-20-2015


Improvements Supported by the Funding Plan

• Road transportation improvements (Bridges/Overpasses, Widenings, Extensions, Interchanges) to enhance connectivity. All roadways will be designed with pedestrian facilities. Many will also have bike facilities.

• Intersection improvements required for adequate traffic operations

• Grid improvements (a network of new multimodal streets around the Metrorail stations) to enhance pedestrian and vehicular circulation in, around, and through, station areas

* Transit Service, staff has assumed that existing transit resources in Reston and Herndon will be re-allocated to increase feeder and circulation service when Phase II of the Metrorail Silver Line opens. As a result, no additional funding in transit was included in the Reston Transportation Funding Plan.


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Public Benefits• Enhanced street network to increase connectivity

– Dulles Toll Road/Soapstone Drive Overpass (Soapstone Connector)– Dulles Toll Road/Town Center Parkway Underpass– Dulles Toll Road/South Lakes Drive Overpass

• Intersection improvements and signals to enhance safety and operations• Improved connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists to the transit stations

providing alternatives to driving.– Enhanced pedestrian amenities– New sidewalks and new bike lanes– More direct transit routes

• Grid network – more travel options, reducing demand and congestion on major roadways. Grid links included in the funding plan will be public streets for public use, not just for use by those living or working in the new developments.


No Grid Grid


Project List and EstimatesProjects included in the Reston Transportation Funding Plan were either recommended by the Reston Phase I Comprehensive Amendment or were necessary to support the plan.

All estimates are planning level estimates. The Network Analysis study will refine the road widths and will provide phasing. A draft prioritization has been developed for the larger improvements.

*Project is partially or completely located in Dranesville District. Remaining projects are located in Hunter Mill District.


RESTON FUNDING PLAN PROJECTS

Projects Estimate as of 2016

Roadway Improvements DTR Crossing at Soapstone Overpass – Sunrise Valley Drive to Sunset Hills Road $170,000,000 DTR Town Center Parkway Underpass – Sunrise Valley Drive to Sunset Hills Road $170,000,000 Fox Mill Road Widening – Reston Parkway to Monroe Street $60,000,000 Monroe Street Widening – West Ox Road to Town of Herndon* $80,000,000 Pinecrest Road Extension – South Lakes Drive to Sunrise Valley Drive $25,000,000 Reston Parkway Widening – South Lakes Drive to DTR $25,000,000 Fairfax County Parkway - DTR to West Ox Road Widening $80,000,000 Fairfax County Parkway at Sunrise Valley Drive (Interchange) $400,000,000 South Lakes Drive Overpass – Sunrise Valley Drive to Sunset Hills Road $90,000,000 West Ox Road Widening – Lawyers Road to Centreville Road $100,000,000

Total Roadway Improvements $1,200,000,000 Intersection Improvements

Centreville Road at Sunrise Valley Drive* $10,000,000 Centreville Road/DTR EB on/off Ramps* $1,500,000 Hunter Mill Road/Sunset Hills Road $3,500,000 Reston Parkway/Bluemont Way $4,000,000 Reston Parkway/DTR WB on/off Ramps $5,000,000 Reston Parkway/New Dominion Parkway $5,000,000 Reston Parkway/Sunrise Valley Drive $15,000,000 Wiehle Avenue/DTR EB on/off Ramps $600,000

Total Intersection Projects $44,600,000 Grid Network $1,021,000,000 Total $2,265,600,000


PrioritiesA draft prioritization has been developed for the larger Reston transportation improvements by the Network Analysis Study:

Priority 11. Soapstone Overpass (environmental work is underway)2. Town Center Underpass (initial work is being undertaken with the Silver Line project)3. Reston Parkway widening4. Fairfax County Parkway widening/HOV

Priority 25. Sunrise Valley Drive/Fairfax County Parkway Interchange6. South Lakes Overpass7. Fox Mill Widening

Priority 38. West Ox Road Widening9. Monroe Street Widening10. Pinecrest extension



Coordination with the Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group

• Staff worked in coordination with the Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group (Advisory Group) to develop the funding plan.

• Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group– Mission Statement: Following the adoption of the Reston Master Plan Phase 1

update, the Reston Network Advisory Group was created by the Hunter Mill District Supervisor to establish a forum for the Fairfax County Transportation staff to receive input and feedback from residents and property owners/developers on the Reston Network Analysis and associated plans…..*

– Advisory Group members include landowners, residents, community representatives, and members of the business community.

– Advisory Group meetings are open to the public, and the public was given an opportunity to participate.

– The group reviewed potential strategies for cost allocation, use of funding mechanisms, and revenue generation.

– Provided feedback to staff on potential funding plan scenarios.


*Full mission statement and additional information can be found at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/restonnetworkanalysis/advisorygroup.htm


Reston Funding Plan Allocation FrameworkWorking with the Advisory Group, staff developed a framework to determine how costs would be allocated between public and private revenues.

Public and private revenues will share costs.

Reston Roadway projects would be paid for with public revenues.

Intersections and the Grid would be paid for with private revenues.


Reston Funding Plan Allocation Framework

Project Estimate Allocation ($) Reston Roadways $1,200,000,000 Public Share 100% $1,200,000,000Private Share 0% $0 Reston Intersections $44,600,000 Public Share 0% $0Private Share 100% $45,000,000 Grid $1,021,000,000 Public Share 0% $0Private Share 100% $1,021,000,000 Total $2,265,600,000 Public Share 53% $1,200,000,000Private Share 47% $1,065,600,000

*The public private split for the Tysons Transportation Funding plan is 56/44.


Public Share of Funding Plan


• It is anticipated that public funds will pay for approximately $1.2B of the necessary improvements.

• Individual totals by funding source may change over the life of the funding plan, but the County will remain committed to funding the public share of the Board approved Reston Funding Plan.

PUBLIC REVENUE SOURCESRevenue Source AmountFederal

Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) $155,000,000Federal Discretionary Grant Programs (TBD) $0

Total Federal Revenues $155,000,000 State

Smart Scale (HB2) (Construction District Program and State High Priority Program) $174,500,000

Total State Revenues $174,500,000 Regional

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) 70% Regional Funds $580,550,000

Total Regional Revenues $580,550,000 Local

Commercial & Industrial Tax (C&I) $79,750,000General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds $194,000,000NVTA 30% Local Funds $16,200,000

Total Local Revenues $289,950,000

Total Public Revenues $1,200,000,000



The funding plan applies to areas within the Reston TSAs (brown line).


Private Share of Funding Plan


Grid estimate $1,021,000,000Less: Expected developer in-kind contributions to the Grid $716,000,000Net funding need from private share for Grid $305,000,000Add: Intersections $45,000,000Contributions Needed Towards Private Share From Other Funding Mechanism(s) $350,000,000

Total Private Share (Total Grid + Intersection Improvements) $1,066,000,000

A significant portion of the total private share is expected to be paid for through developer constructed improvements or services (in-kind contributions) to the grid from developers as redevelopment occurs. The balance of the private share is expected to be paid for through contributions to other funding mechanisms.

Contributions Needed Towards Private Share from Other Funding Mechanism(s)


Private Funding OptionsStaff and the Advisory Group discussed funding mechanisms available to meet the remaining funding needs for the private share of the funding plan:

• Road Fund pooled cash proffers for use on specific transportation improvements in the Reston TSAs. Applies only to new development; contributions on per residential dwelling unit or per commercial square foot basis.

• Tax District is established by voluntary petition of landowners in a defined area and is approved by the Board of Supervisors to fund transportation improvements within the defined area. A tax district applies only to commercial and industrial properties. Example: Dulles Rail Phase I and Dulles Rail Phase II Tax Districts. This option was not recommended for the funding plan after discussions with the Advisory Group and Stakeholders.

• Service District is approved and established by the Board of Supervisors to fund transportation improvements located within a defined geographic area. Applies to all properties within boundaries.

• Other – staff and the Advisory Group did not pursue mechanisms or strategies that require additional authorizing legislation from the General Assembly.



Private Funding Options• Initially, staff developed seven funding scenarios to

discuss how to fund the private share of the funding plan.

• These alternatives used different proportions of road fund, tax district, and service district contributions; some were modifications of the Tysons Transportation Funding Plan.

• Additional funding scenarios were developed with feedback and suggestions from the Advisory Group.



Feedback from Advisory Group on Funding Options

The Advisory Group provided its initial high level feedback on the proposed Reston Transportation Funding Plan on September 26, 2016.

• Agreement on public/private allocation framework.

– Roadway Improvements to be paid by public funding.

– Intersection Improvements to be paid by private funding.

– Grid Network to be paid by private funding.

• The tax district option is unrealistic due to the need for 51% or more of the landowners to qualify and could be removed from further consideration for the funding plan.

• The Advisory Group is most interested in funding options that include both proffer (road fund) and service district revenue streams.



Feedback from Advisory Group Cont.

• The Advisory Group team recognized that transportation is but one of many important development objectives under the comprehensive plan update that must be funded.

• There is agreement that there should be a sunset provision that terminates the Road Fund and service tax district when all the projects for which they were intended have been funded and related debts have been paid.

• The Advisory Group directed staff to pursue all further analysis on options 8, 10, and 11 (options that included a Road Fund and Service District component).



Feedback from the Community and Stakeholders

Staff held several community and stakeholder meetings to discuss the development of the funding plan and to receive feedback.

Community Meetings • Open to all • Meetings were held in governmental offices or schools.

Stakeholder Meetings• Open to all but primarily comprised of property owners and

developers in the Transit Station Areas, and their representatives. • Meetings held at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.



Summary of Feedback from Community Meetings

• Developers should pay for all transportation costs associated with development. The revenues from homeowners should not be used to pay for streets that benefit developers.– Rezoning applications are required to submit a traffic impact analysis (TIA).

Each development must mitigate the transportation impacts of their development.

– Developers will also be asked to contribute towards the Road Fund in conjunction with any development of property within the Reston TSAs such as change in use, zoning district, or increases in site development density.

– Still, there will be necessary improvements in the TSAs that are not attributable to a single development and the cost of such improvements will be shared. The benefits of these improvements apply to all who live in, work in, or visit the Reston area. These benefits include enhanced road connectivity, new sidewalks and bike lanes, and increased access to the Metrorail stations.



Summary of Feedback from Community Meetings (Cont.)

• Developments that create more traffic impact should pay for more of the improvements.– Rezoning applications are required to submit a traffic impact analysis

(TIA). Each development must mitigate the transportation impacts of their development.

– Additionally, a Road Fund would address the scale of a development by having developers contribute on a per dwelling unit or per square foot basis. The magnitude of the impact will be reflected in the contributions toward the road fund. The more dwelling units or square footage being built, the more the developer contributes.




• There was concern about developers building the expected in-kind contributions for less than the estimated total and whether corners would be cut for cost savings.– The total cost of the in-kind contributions to the Grid Network, is

calculated using VDOT unit costs and is a planning level estimate.

– If a developer can construct a section of the Grid Network at a lower cost, it has no negative impact on the funding plan.

– A privately constructed Grid Network segment would be inspected by County and VDOT inspectors and must meet required County and VDOT standards and design guidelines to ultimately be dedicated as a public street.



Summary of Feedback from Community Meetings (Cont.)• Which projects are already funded in Reston?

– There are projects within Reston that have already been funded or partially funded outside of the proposed Reston Transportation Funding Plan.

• Reston Area Metrorail Station Access Projects (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/silverline/restonimp.htm),

– Result of work undertaken by Reston Metrorail Access Group: (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/sam_study.htm)

– Improve pedestrian, vehicle, and bicycle connections to and from the new Silver Line Metro stations.

– The majority of these projects are being constructed as part of the Silver Line project or with FCDOT funding to improve Metro station access.

• Board of Supervisors Transportation Project Priorities Program (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/projects/approved.htm), includes projects such as Sunrise Valley Drive Walkway and Sunset Hills Road Walkway, Hunter Mill Road at Lawyers Road spot improvements and others.


http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/silverline/restonimp.htm


http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/sam_study.htm

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/projects/approved.htm




Reston Area Metrorail Station Access Projects




Summary of Feedback from Community Meetings (Cont.)• Which projects are already funded in Reston? (Continued)

– Hunter Mill Road Study (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/huntermillstudy.htm)• Separate effort to study and address congestion on Hunter Mill Road from

Sunrise Valley Drive to the Colvin Run Bridge during the morning and evening peak hours.

• Study looks at intersections and segments within the study area and examines alternatives to mitigate existing and future conditions to ensure efficient movement of traffic.

• These projects are currently unfunded and will be funded separately from the Reston Transportation Funding Plan.


http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/huntermillstudy.htm

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/huntermillstudy.htm



• Will there be periodic reviews of the estimates?– Yes, project estimates will be reviewed annually.

• Will the projects be prioritized? – Yes, staff is developing project priorities from the

results of the Network Analysis. These priorities will take into account the cost-benefit of all improvements as well as funding availability.



Summary of Feedback from Stakeholder Meetings

• Those who develop early in the funding plan should not have to contribute more to the funding plan than later developments.– The County, expects development to occur throughout the life of the

funding plan. – With the creation of a service district, all landowners will begin to

contribute to the funding plan immediately.– A landowner that develops in the later years of the funding plan would

have been contributing via the service district from the day the service district was implemented or the day they purchased the land (the latter of the two dates). Such a landowner would also share the benefits of the transportation improvements.



Summary of Feedback from Stakeholder Meetings (Cont.)

• More emphasis should be placed on a service district rather than road funds. Service districts are bondable and more reliable.– There are trade-offs between the use of a road fund and a service district. – A road fund places the funding burden on new development. – A service district spreads the funding burden over all development; both existing

and future development has to pay into a service district. The higher the service district rate, the higher the relative funding burden on residential property.

• The road fund contribution for commercial property proposed in several of the scenarios is too high, and will make it difficult to develop commercial property in the Reston TSAs.

– Every development is different and staff understands that different developments absorb different costs.



Summary of Feedback from Stakeholder Meetings (Cont.)

• Are all of the improvements in the Reston Transportation Funding Plan needed?

– Transportation improvements included in the funding plan were recommended by the Reston Phase I Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which was the result of the Reston Master Plan Special Study.

– These improvements are meant to support the plan’s vision for mixed land uses in the Reston TSAs supported by a multi-modal transportation system.

– The Reston Network Analysis Study also verified the need for the improvements in the Reston TSAs. The Purpose of the network analysis, as directed by the Board of Supervisors, is to evaluate the conceptual grids of streets and road elements at gateways to the Reston Transit Station Areas (TSAs), which would result in traffic flowing at acceptable conditions while maintaining a walkable grid of streets.

– At the beginning of the Network Analysis, each grid link was assumed to be two lanes, so that the roads would not be overbuilt. The study has shown that none of the links need to be widened to four lanes.



Advisory Group Meeting, November 21, 2016

• The Advisory Group did not reach a consensus on a final rate scenario.

• Various members of the Advisory Group voiced that each scenario had aspects that were preferable and that each scenario also had aspects that were not preferable.

• There was differing opinion on the appropriate level of specificity of any recommendation.



Private Funding Options• Ultimately, staff and the group recommended the use of

a Service District and a Road Fund to generate revenues to meet the remaining needs of the funding plan.

• Staff developed a consensus recommendation: – Road Fund: $2,090 per new residential dwelling unit;

$9.56 per new commercial square foot– Service District: $0.021 per $100 of assessed value



Reston Transportation Funding Plan• Approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 28, 2017• Approximately $2.27B needed over 40 years to support

transportation recommendations in the Reston Phase I Comprehensive Plan Amendment

• Public share – Roadway improvements

• Revenue Sources: Federal, State, Regional, and Local funds • ~$1.2B or ~53% of plan

• Private share – Intersection improvements and Grid of Streets Network

• Revenue Sources: Service District and Road Fund• ~$1.07B or ~47% of plan



Reston Transportation Funding Plan


67%7%12%

9% 4%

Percent ContributionsPercent Contribution to Total Private Share ($1.066B):

Developers and Commercial Property Owners

Residential Property Owners

Rates for Private Contributions towards Reston ImprovementsService District All Properties: $0.021 per $100 of assessed value

Road Fund New Residential: $2,090 per dwelling unit (paid by developers)

New Commercial: $9.56 per square foot (paid by developers)


Reston Transportation Funding Plan

• Only properties within the Reston TSAs will be affected.• Service District collections from current homeowners in the Reston TSAs would not

exceed the current cost estimates for Intersection Improvements ($44,600,000). This means, the Grid Network is completely paid for by commercial/industrial properties and new residential owned properties built after the establishment of the funding plan.

• The funding plan assumes that the Service District will remain flat at $0.021 for the life of the district. However, this rate could be adjusted to ensure that the estimated funding levels are coordinated to ensure that the pace of transportation improvements and pace of residential and non-residential development are proceeding in tandem.


Rates for Private Contributions towards Reston ImprovementsService District All Properties: $0.021 per $100 of assessed value

Road Fund New Residential: $2,090 per dwelling unit (paid by developers)

New Commercial: $9.56 per square foot (paid by developers)


Financial Impact of the Proposed Service District


ResidentialAssessed Value $260,000 $500,000 $750,000Service

District Rate Annual 40 Year Total* Annual 40 Year

Total* Annual 40 Year Total*

$0.021 $54.60 $2,184 $105.00 $4,200 $157.50 $6,300

CommercialAssessedValue $1,000,000 $15,000,000 $50,000,000

Service District Rate Annual 40 Year

Total* Annual 40 Year Total* Annual 40 Year

Total*$0.021 $210 $8,400 $3,150 $126,000 $10,500 $420,000

*Individual property owners who pay into the service district may change over the 40 years. For example, 40 year totals for a single property could be paid by multiple distinct owners.


Reston Transportation Service District Advisory Board

• Based on recommendation from the Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group, staff will recommend that the Board of Supervisors create a Reston Transportation Service District Advisory Board (Advisory Board).

• The new Advisory Board will work with Fairfax County staff to help provide input to the Board of Supervisors on the following:– the annual tax rate for the Reston Transportation Service District;– transportation project priorities funded all or in part by the Service

District;– issues related to the Reston Road Fund such as the annual adjustment

of road fund rates, which generate revenues for the grid of streets network.



Sunset Provisions• The Advisory Group requested that both the Service District and the Road Fund include sunset

provisions to terminate each funding mechanism when all the projects for which they were intended have been funded. Accordingly, the proposed ordinance specifies the purpose of the district:

– Section 2. Purpose of the District. The District is created to provide revenue for new roads and improvements to existing roads, including intersection improvements and the grid of streets (Grid Network) identified in the Reston Master Plan Special Study (Phase I) Plan Amendment Item ST09-III-UP1(A) approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 11, 2014, and the Reston Transportation Funding Plan approved by the Board on February 28, 2017, and for the payment of any debt incurred to finance such construction and the satisfaction of any other obligations incurred by the District.

• To explicitly address the Advisory Group’s request for termination provisions, the proposed ordinance adds a directive (shown in brackets) requiring FCDOT to notify the Board and recommend repeal of the ordinance when the funding requirements have been met. The Road Fund Guidelines also include appropriate termination language.

– [3. The Director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, or any successor department, shall notify the Board and recommend repeal of this ordinance when the proceeds collected from the annual tax are sufficient to fulfill the purposes described in Section 2.]



Dates/Tentative Schedule


Date Event

February 14, 2017 • The County Executive released FY 2018 Advertised Budget Plan, includes a $0.021 rate for the proposed Service District.

April 4, 2017 at 2 p.m. • Public hearing on specific Service District proposal over only the Reston TSAs.

• Creation of the Reston Transportation Service District Advisory Board.

May 2, 2017 • Board adopts the FY2018 Budget.


Public Hearing• Public hearings are held at the Fairfax County Government Center

located at 12000 Government Center Parkway, in the Board Auditorium

• To speak at a public hearing before the Board, you are encouraged to register in advance with the Office of the Clerk to the board online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speaker_bos.htm or call 703-324-3151, TTY 703-324-3903.

• Written comments can be sent to [email protected] or Office to the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 533, Fairfax, VA 22035-0072

• More information available here: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/public.htm


https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speaker_bos.htm

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/public.htm


Questions?


reston transportation service district: informational meetings march 21 & 29, 2017

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