Capital Bikeshare is coming to Reston!

Reston is getting its first Capital Bikeshare stations, including spots at both the Wiehle and the coming Reston Town Center Metro stops. The network will make it a lot easier to get between the area’s transportation hubs and its employment, retail, and community spaces.

Bikeshare facilities are a staple transportation option in parts of DC and other areas of the region, but there aren’t any in Reston right now. Fairfax County’s transportation department plans is contracting with CaBit to install thirteen stations at locations that include Plaza America, the Bluemont Transit Center, the Reston Regional Library and Reston Hospital. Between all the stations, 130 bikes will be available to rent.

The system will connect residents and visitors to employment, transportation, and shopping districts. In the specific case of getting between Wiehle and Reston Metro stations, which are a mile apart, bikeshare will provide an easy link.

At a recent community meeting, Fairfax Transportation Department Bicycle Program Coordinator Adam Lind said the hope is to have the stations in place by late 2016 or early 2017. That’s contingent, though, on the Fairfax County DOT tapping its Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds for all the capital construction.

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides federal funding to projects other than traditional highway construction. Eligible projects include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, complete streets and safe routes to schools. The funding is typically split 80 percent Federal and 20 percent State or local match from the sponsoring organization. Related to CaBi in Reston, TAP funds would help with building the concrete station pads and purchase the bicycles.

If FCDOT uses a combination of local and federal funds, the stations might arrive sooner. Splitting funding would allow the county to start building the concrete pads with local funds, which typically has a faster approval. The TAP funds would be used to purchase the equipment. Also, some of the sites will require coordination and approval from private landowners, like the proposed station at Reston Hospital.

There is already a potential built-in user base. It was surprising to learn that there are currently around 1300 Capital Bikeshare members in Fairfax County. The county is also considering expanding to the Herndon Metro station. And the system has the potential to grow through systems in Tysons, Merrifield and even Falls Church.

I asked if there was any concern about placing at a site currently under redevelopment, like Reston Town Center North, only to have it soon removed. Lind explained that the concrete pads that are the foundation of the stations can be relocated as needed depending on construction or usage patterns. A fun fact: the pads are 41 feet in length (You’ll thank me on trivia night.)

One person at the meeting commented about the current state of the trail infrastructure, which ranges from good to fair. He asked it there would be any improvements. Lind mentioned that they are working to get money from funds already set aside for area Metro improvements.

The next steps include ridership and financial analyses along with the final bike site designations. Updates will be posted to the bikeshare website. You can also submit questions or concerns to Lind at Adam.Lind@fairfaxcounty.gov.