In 1974, Kent R. Morgan and John W. Dickey published an in-depth study of the travel
characteristics of new town development ("The Characteristics of New Town Travel: A
Case Study of Reston, Virginia"). Using Reston as a case study (and Vienna, Virginia, as
a "control" post WWII suburb), the objective of the Morgan-Dickey research was "to
determine if the transportation element of this satellite new community has, in fact, altered
the travel patterns of its residents relative to the patterns exhibited in a more traditional
suburban development." The intent of the present analysis is to determine if Reston has
achieved the travel patterns anticipated by Morgan-Dickey, as well as by several
proponents of new town development. A review of the literature and analysis of recent
travel data suggests that while Reston has exhibited significantly lower automobile
availability rates than Vienna, other measures of travel behavior ---- e.g. "internal" trips
and trip generation rates --- are less conclusive, with Reston exhibiting only slightly more
favorable (in terms of reduced travel) patterns than Vienna. In fact, the data indicates that
Reston residents are less likely to carpool, take transit, bicycle, or walk to work than
Vienna workers. The research suggests that Reston may not be the most appropriate
model for evaluating new towns in general. The research further suggests that
development external to Reston likely has a significant impact on the travel behavior of its
residents.
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