VRE on track to raise fares through 2014

Washington DC (Map, News) - Virginia Railway Express riders would face fare increases every year for the next six years under plans proposed by the railway's board Friday in Woodbridge.

Fares would increase about 3 percent annually or 6 percent every two years for its approximately 15,000 daily commuters under a plan to tie the fares to an inflation gauge that tracks transportation costs.

The board is preparing to raise rates 3 percent in July and will ask riders for input on the broader plan to regularly increase prices each year at hearings already set up to discuss the current rate increase.

Higher fuel and insurance costs, combined with the expense of operating four more trains, will push up operating expenses about 3.6 percent each year, Chief Executive Dale Zehner said.

Announcing that riders should expect increases of about 3 percent will help them budget and reduce the potential for aggravating surprises, Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova said.

The proposal would gradually increase the average fare of $5.87 by about 20 cents each year to more than $7 in 2014, though how the increase would be administered has not been decided.

The fares were kept steady in 2008, but climbed at least 4 percent the previous four years.

Most riders would be willing to stomach small increases, but want assurances the increase would not be set in stone if the railway's financial conditions improved or use surged, said Dick Peacock, a Manassas-area representative of the Virginia Association of Railway Patrons.

"The problem with increasing fares is you're going to lose some riders," Peacock said. "It seems reasonable if the increases are going to be 3 percent or less."

The budget assumes an increase of 100,000 passenger trips each year from 3.7 million to 4.2 million by 2014.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com

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