The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board and its parent commissions, the Northern Virginia and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commissions, have approved an across-the-board four percent fare increase effective July 1, 2015. The fare increase was approved after public hearings were held at seven locations throughout the VRE service area and written public comments were received on the proposed fare increase in February and March 2015.
The fare increase is needed to balance the FY 2016 budget primarily due to increased operating costs associated with Positive Train Control, train operations and maintenance, and scheduled increased costs for track access. In addition, VRE will increase service later this summer when it opens Spotsylvania Station and adds a new Fredericksburg Line train. The price of Amtrak Step-Up tickets will increase from $3 to $5 as the subsidy provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation during the construction of the I-95 Express Lanes expired December 31, 2015. The price of the VRE Transit Link Card (TLC) will also increase.
It is anticipated that the fare increase will generate $900,000 in additional fare revenue in FY 2016.
Please see VRE’s website for additional information regarding the new fares effective July 1st at www.vre.org/service/fares.htm.
