Transit Oriented Development to Reduce Trips by up to 47% Becomes Model for County Development

Metro West is planned as a new transit-oriented development consisting of 2,248 residential units; 300,000 S.F. of office space; and 100,000 S.F. of retail/institutional/governmental uses immediately adjacent to the Vienna/Fairfax-George Mason University Metro station.

Wells + Associates was selected by Pulte Homes to assess the transportation impacts of this new community, including pedestrian, vehicular, bicycle, and transit systems. Our traffic engineering team conducted a comprehensive traffic study of 12 intersections in Fairfax County for road improvements that would be part of Pulte Homes’ proffer package. Metro Station enhancements also were identified, evaluated, and redesigned.

A key component of the project was Pulte Homes’ commitment to reduce vehicle-trip generation. As required by the comprehensive plan, residential trips during peak hours would be reduced by 47 percent and office trips by 25 percent. Members of our team developed a state of the art Transportation Demand Management program, which has become the model for development proposals in Fairfax County.

The program includes:

• Funding and ongoing implementation mechanisms
• A parking management plan encompassing resident, visitor, employee, and retail parking management strategies
• Financial incentives and on-site design to encourage use of alternate modes
• Penalty schedules if goals are not met