VDOT Presents Plan for Reconfigured Soapstone Drive

Soapstone Drive's regularly scheduled repaving could mean a traffic and safety facelift for the Reston road beginning this summer.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said at a community meeting at on Monday that "this is an opportunity to take advantage of the repaving schedule of VDOT."

Hudgins and that Fairfax County was unsure of how to pay for the project. By having VDOT make the changes as part of the scheduled repaving, that cost would be covered. The county will later pay for the $1.5 million sidewalk improvements, said Hudgins.

VDOT traffic engineer Randy Dittberner presented a plan at Monday's meeting that covers four sections of Soapstone with a

1. South of Lawyers Road - Repaving only, no lane changes.

2.Lawyers Road to Glade Drive - Currently one lane in each direction; road is 36 feet wide with two 18-foot lanes. New proposal calls for 12-foot lanes and a 6-foot bike lane on each side.

3. Glade Drive to South Lakes Drive - This is the section with the most foot traffic and will likely get the sidewalks. Currently, the road is 48 feet wide with two 12-foot lanes in each direction and a gravel parking shoulder.

The new plan calls for adding two feet to the width to fit in paved parking. There will be one lane in each direction, a bike lane in each direction and a center turning lane.

4. South Lakes to Sunrise Valley Drive - Currently, there are two lanes in each direction and the road is 45 feet wide. The VDOT proposal calls for one 11.5-foot lane in each direction, one 12-foot turning lane and a five-foot bike lane in each direction.

Dittberner said a road diet for Soapstone will improve safety for motorists and safety and mobility for pedestrians and cyclists, drop speeds in fastest spots, reduce crashes up to 30 percent. He also added that even with fewer lanes, the amount of time spent getting through an intersection would remain almost the same.

"We can also do this at a low cost," he said. "We are just changing the paint." 

And if changes aren't made, there will be much bigger problems as Reston's traffic and population grow, he said.

"Reston is changing," said Dittberner. "We've got a lot of things going on, not  the least of which is the rail to Dulles project [that will open in Reston in 2013]. We want to make sure the proposed configuration is able to handle traffic in 203.  Our forecast shows 40-percent increase on Soapstone in 2030. If  we keep the existing markings, the South Lakes intersection delays will go up as much as  5 to 10  seconds per vehicle."

The plan was met with differing opinions. Biking advocates approve of the idea.

"It looks like a really good plan," said Bruce Wright, Reston resident and chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB). "They are finally accommodating all modes of transportation, just like many other communities."

Some drivers are concerned going to fewer lanes will mean more traffic tie-ups at peak hours. John Farrell, a resident of Underoak, a street off of Soapstone, pointed out morning traffic on Soapstone near South Lakes already backs up for several blocks during peak school transportation hours (6:30 to 7:30 a.m.)

"The queue today goes back to Ivy Bush [Court]," he said. "If you take it down to one lane, I can see it going back to If they change the [high school] start times to 8:30-9 a.m., the queue will get very brutal."

 Other citizen concerns: If Soapstone at Ridge Heights near Terraset goes down to two lanes, will there still be a crossing guard stationed there to aid students? What about accommodation for wheelchair access at bus pads? Will bike lanes be on the same street cleaning schedule as the roads? Could the bike lanes in section three be for pedestrians until the sidewalks are built?

For a more detailed look at VDOT's plan, click the PDF attached to this story. Citizens are welcome to send comments and concerns to Randy.Dittberner@VDOT.Virginia.gov.