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VRE on track to raise fares through 2014

Jan 19, 2008 12:00 AM (321 days ago) by Dan Genz, The Examiner
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Related Topics: Washington DC
Those planning to ride VRE trains in and out of Washington, D.C. can expect to pay higher fares over the next few years.
(Examiner file photo)
Those planning to ride VRE trains in and out of Washington, D.C. can expect to pay higher fares over the next few years.
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.

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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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Comments from Examiner Readers

12:27 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007 re: "VRE ridership up; commuters likely to ask for later trains"

Examiner Reader said:
I think that we need more funding of rail. The big cost to the state is more roads. Rail is a cheaper and greener alternative and a relaxing way to travel.

244 agree | 234 disagree
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3:56 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007 re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"

Examiner Reader said:
Japan? JAPAN? WHAT?, Americans can`t figure out how to keep a wheelchair from rolling? I guess it`s our great public school educational system! VRE IS NUTS! CORRUPTION! SOMEBODY HAS TO BE STEALING! JAPAN???

239 agree | 232 disagree
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3:49 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007 re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"

Examiner Reader said:
$350,000 for seat belts and a door lock? Where are buying this stuff; form the same people who charged U.S. DOD $1,000,000 for TWO LOCK WASHERS? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?

264 agree | 241 disagree
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3:40 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007 re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"

Examiner Reader said:
"cost-cutting measures"!?! What COST-CUTTING MEASURES? WHO'S RUNNING THE ZOO? ARE YOU GUYS INSANE? Usually when you CUT COSTS things COST "LESS" NOT "MORE"!!!! GOOD GRIEF!

243 agree | 245 disagree
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5:12 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 15, 2007 re: "VRE ridership up; commuters likely to ask for later trains"

Examiner Reader said:
I used VRE, and I have stopped, by the time it got to the Rippon or Woodbridge station , they was no seats and I refused to stand, when people asked for longer trains the answer was the platform was not long enough, wrong answer!! many times I have had to walk back from the quiet car to exit the train so that no problem. the problem is it grew to fast too quick and they were not ready for the growth. So now I ride the bus I allways get a seat.

263 agree | 268 disagree
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6:06 AM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007 re: "Fairfax would save $1.2M under VRE restructuring"

Examiner Reader said:
Local Governments need to immediately initiate construction of high-density housing within walking distance of the VRE Stations. More vehicles would be taken off of the road and old commercial structures and outdated housing could be torn down and upgraded. It is time to bring Route One out of the 50's.

273 agree | 388 disagree
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