The following are issues that affect nearly everyone in Reston, and most particularly those nearest the South Reston Park and Ride lot. However, the specifics of the development are not available to the public. What we know is that the proposal is tighly coupled with the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (the PPEA), and it is not clear how the public can participate in this process. As a result, we may need to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to information that needs to be in the public domain.

Over-Crowding In Schools – High density housing will surely bring an increase to the neighborhood schools. We want to ensure that this development does not negively impact the education of our children. As we have already seen, our local schools are already overcrowded, despite recent remodeling at Hunter Woods Elementary School. We remain concerned about higher densities in schools, stretched resources, and higher teacher-student ratios. For example, Hunter Woods students are already learning in trailers. Taken together these forces could seriously affect our school's ability to deliver quality education to our children.

Higher Traffice Volumes – New housing will mean an increase in the number of automobiles traveling on the existing roadways. In rush hour, traffic regularly backs up on Fox Mill Road, Lawyers Road, and Reston Parkway. it is almost always at a dead stop from the Toll Road to Fox Mill Road along Reston Parkway. It is not uncommon for people wait at the corner of Colts Neck and Reston Parkway for more than 5 minutes to make a right turn. They wait much onger to make a left turn.

Reduced Public Safety – Increased traffic will have a direct and negative effect on public safety. Increased congestion along the major thoroughfares (Reston Parkway, Fox Mill Road, and Lawyers Road) will create an environment in which Fire and Rescue personnel will be unable to respond in a timely manner. Steady or stationary traffic along the major roads will prevent fire and rescue vehicles from safely and quickly moving along any of the roads contiguous to the station as they try to respond to any partiular emergency.

Damaging the Environment – Our environment is already at risk in the Glade Stream Valley – a new, denser development is not what is needed. The Reston Association has and is continuing to spend millions of dollars to protect the Reston watershed. New and increased development negatively impacts wild life in Reston, and high density development utilizing public utilities foreshadows future attempts by developers to extend sewer into immediately adjacent areas to the south along West Ox, Fox Mill and Vales Roads. These are areas that were previously “protected” by the County from higher density development because of existing environmental concerns.