Will the Reston of the future be a 21st Century regional center with new retail, transportation, environmental opportunities?

The Reston Master Plan Task Force's Vision Committee has completed its final report, which paints a picture of an improved Reston after the Metro Silver Line reaches Wiehle Avenue at the end of 2013.

Transportation is one of the top priorities outlined in the 38-page report titled Reston Virginia: A Complete Community Along the Metro Silver Line.

In addition to the three eventual Metro stations linking the area, the vision committee says top transportation priorities include improving three intersections: Wiehle and Sunset Hills; Reston Parkway and Sunset Hills; Monroe Street and Sunrise Valley.

The vision committee would also like to see Soapstone Drive extended to meet the Wiehle Metro area and a pedestrian pathway linking Plaza America to other points in Reston.

Other items:

• Redeveloped areas should be designed as integral parts of the larger Reston community instead of stand-alone developments.
• High standards for green neighborhood and building practices for all public and private development should be required.
• Integrate public art into development.
• Preserve natural areas and incorporate open spaces
• Concentrate development closest to transit. The Town Center should be most dense, followed by Wiehle, then Monroe station, and finally, the village center areas while incorporating transit-oriented development strategies to reduce dependence on the automobile.

 To see the entire report, click here. The Task Force's Steering Committee also has suggested changes. To see its suggestions, click here.