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VRE fares to rise by 7%
VRE fares to rise 7 percent in January
Date published: 10/18/2008
By KELLY HANNON WOODBRIDGE --The choice was to either increase ticket prices or reduce train service.The Virginia Railway Express Operations Board decided to keep a full schedule of trains, and ask riders to pay more per trip. The board yesterday approved a 7 percent fare increase. It is the highest percentage change in VRE's history. Previously, fares had been raised no more than 6 percent at a time. Higher ticket prices will take effect in January. Board members followed the recommendation of VRE CEO Dale Zehner, who advised a 7 percent increase. The alternative was to cut train service. A midafternoon train that pulls into Fredericksburg about 2:30 was viewed as vulnerable to elimination. During the public comment period this fall, VRE received 296 e-mails from riders about the fare increase, which was advertised as potentially being as high as 15 percent in January, and 10 percent next July. Some 44 people attended a series of public hearings. Overwhelmingly, riders did not want service cut, Zehner told board members. The second-loudest message was to keep any fare increase as low as possible. A 7 percent increase helps VRE offset a 78 percent rise in fuel costs, expensive maintenance work and a dip in the reserve fund caused by high diesel fuel bills in the spring. It's unclear how the current decrease in gas prices will affect ridership. In response to a board member's question, Zehner said congestion is usually a greater predictor of a rider's decision to use or leave the train system. VRE estimates it could lose 100 to 200 passengers a day because of the fare increase, Zehner said. Recently, VRE has been carrying about 16,300 passengers a day, and logged a record number of riders between July and September. Improved seating in 61 new rail cars and 90 percent on-time arrivals have helped retain riders. A fare increase of 15 percent would mean a larger loss of riders, Zehner said.
True, true IMReady
(posted by
dr428
, Oct. 18, 2008 2:01 pm)
I can't believe people have the unmitigated gall to request Spotsy's BOS to sellout its residents to join White Elephant Railroad. It's a classic Business 101 failure at free enterprise, only propped up by subsidies that it can shake down from the masses. Spotsy Board, PLEASE keep doing the right thing and steer clear of this lipstick wearing VRE pig. The wants of the few DO NOT OUT WEIGH the needs of the many. Keep Spotsy tax dollars in Spotsy, and don't funnel them up to never-to-do well VRE.
Would you pay $29,500 for the right to ride a train from Spotsy to DC
(posted by
imready
, Oct. 18, 2008 1:25 pm)
That is exactly what the 1000 Spotsy riders want you to do for each and every one of them. VRE is asking for $29.5 million in VRE station and railway improvements from Spotsy. That works out to $29,500 for each Spotsy rider. Paid for by YOU not the VRE riders. Most of them don't even pay for their own ride. It gets picked up by MetroChecks bought by the federal government with your tax dollars. VRE riders? Deadbeats. Pay for it yourself.
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