Members of the 2023 Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board Executive Committee were installed Friday in a brief ceremony during which outgoing Chair Margaret Franklin of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors passed the gavel to James Walkinshaw of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Walkinshaw was the VRE board’s vice chair in 2022.

“I’m excited and honored to serve as chair this year,” said Walkinshaw. “VRE is fortunate to have an Operations Board dedicated to the system’s success, talented staff committed to our mission, and loyal riders who recognize the value of the safe, convenient, and reliable service we offer. 2023 will be a pivotal year as riders continue returning to the system and we undertake the critical task of updating our long-term vision through our System Plan 2050 process.”