News and notes from Reston (tm).

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Will 'Reston West - Herndon, Not Herndon' Become the '54-40 or Fight' of Western Fairfax County? No, Probably Not

Station 7.jpg

Now that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has agreed to fund Phase 2 of the Metro Silver Line, it's time to focus on what's really important: the names of several stations that may never be built once Loudoun County decides to take its ball and bounce it against its own particleboard walls go home.

In a fancy press release, the RA has taken objection to the county's recommendations for the proposed Silver Line station names, which somewhat oddly strip "Tysons" from the name of three of the four stations in "Fairfax County's downtown." Almost like they're embarrassed of that fabulous model of urban planning or something? Closer to home, the county has recommended calling the station that's kind of near Herndon, and no one seems to want in Herndon, "Herndon." Them's fightin' words!

The RA -- or at least one member of its board -- has asked the county to reconsider suggesting the station name "Reston West - Herndon" (we still like the idea of calling it the Polo Fields station). Could this dispute become the "54-40 or Fight" of western Fairfax County? Probably not.

The RA also suggested changes to the other two Reston station names. flipping Wiehle - Reston East to Reston East - Wiehle and changing Reston Town Center to Reston Central. According to the press release:

“The Reston Association believes the names should let riders know they are in Reston,” [RA President Kathleen] Driscoll McKee said.

She added that using Reston as the primary name rather than the street or shopping area appearing first would “clearly identify the location to passengers and station staff.”
Wait a minute -- did the RA president just call Reston Town Center a shopping area? While we agree with the county that Reston Town Center's probably the best name for that station, that means that people can't fault us for calling it a Fake Downtown anymore.

Of course, all of this could be moot, since the Metro board ultimately chooses the names -- and by the time these stations are open, it'll be so broke it'll have to sell the naming rights off to commercial sponsors, just like our state's right-thinking highway system. We can't wait to alight at the Gold Bond Medicated Powder station on the newly renamed We Buy Gold Line to head to Tysons Corner Greensboro Park. (Seriously, WTF?)

Meanwhile, our BFFs at Reston2020 sent Fairfax County supervisors a report with this fancy graph to show what will happen to tolls on the Toll Road:

Toll Road increases.jpg

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.

6 comments:

  1. Actually RA wanted to name the new line the Reston Line with the following station names:

    Reston-McLean
    Reston Tyson's Corner
    Reston Far East
    Reston Crystal Koons Plaza
    Reston Wheile
    Reston Town Center
    Reston (is better than) Herndon
    Reston 28
    Reston International Airport and Tennis Facility

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  2. I think the Wiehle station should be called McTacoHut.

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  3. I've always felt that stations named after nearby centers of higher learning (GMU, GW, etc.) were very impressive. Due to the lack of a college or university in Reston (who would have tought?) I would suggest the following alternatives:

    Reston-KinderCare
    Reston-MinnieLand Academy
    Reston-ChildTime

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  4. Peasant From Less Sought After South RestonApril 11, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    It would seem our equivalent of '54-40 or Fight' would be

    '38.952935 x -77.388897 or Fight', at least according to Google Maps' reckoning of this Metro station's latitude and longitude.

    Or, given the past hoopla about removing the day laborer site in our neighbor to the west, how about calling the station (drumroll, please)

    "Juan for the Road"

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  5. How about something simple like: "Reston East" and "Reston West"...better hurry before the zealots jump on it and name it "Reagan Reston" or "FedEx Town Center"...

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  6. And RA wonders why so many of us think it is just the horse's ass?....

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