Politics & Government

Governor's Contribution Will Aid Reston

Grant will aid transportation improvements, including the study for a Soapstone crossing over Dulles Toll Road.

Fairfax County will get an $1.5 million grant from the commonwealth to be used towards transportation upgrades as Metro's Wiehle Avenue station prepares to open in Reston in 2013.

The Governor's Opportunity Fund (GOF) is offering the grant to the county as part of the incentives to get Bechtel Corporation to move from Frederick, MD to Reston. Bechtel, one of the nation's largest engineering and construction management firms, it would move its global headquarters here. The company will lease about 200,000 square feet of office space near Reston Town Center.

"This will enhance opportunities for Bechtel and for the overall community," said Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins. "This is a very good thing."

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One important feature of the grant is $300,000 to $350,000 to be used for a design and feasibility study for multi-modal connections on Soapstone Drive to Sunset Hills, Reston Parkway to Wiehle Avenue and between Reston-Wiehle Avenue Metro Stations. 

This gets the ball rolling on the extension of Soapstone, a long talked-about method of getting people across the Dulles Toll Road (by bike, foot or car) and to the Metro and easing pressure on existing roadways. 

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The breakdown of other projects to be funded by the GOF grants:

* $150,000 for Reston Transit Center Trail.

* $250 for Wiehle Avenue Walkway/North Shore Drive (North) to Baron Cameron Avenue.

* $480,000 for Wiehle Avenue/Chestnut Grove Square to North Shore Drive (South).

 


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