Transforming Rail in Virginia VRE and the Expansion of Passenger Rail Service Presented by Christine Hoeffner, AICP, PLA Manager, Project Development Presented to Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee January 13, 2021 About VRE • Joint project of NVTC and PRTC. • Commissions own VRE but delegate many actions to the Operations Board. • The Operations Board, founded in 1988, consists of Commission board members from VRE jurisdictions plus the chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board or designee. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Service Begins Manassas Line – June 22, 1992 Fredericksburg Line – July 20, 1992 * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 What VRE Is Known For • Safe and Healthy Operations • High Customer Satisfaction • Quality Service • Reliable Service • Strong Partnerships * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 VRE COVID-19 Response * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railwaywww.vre.org/ready Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 VRE COVID-19 Response * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railwaywww.vre.org/ready Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Who We Serve * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Operations Service . 82 route miles of leased track . 2 lines • Fredericksburg • Manassas . 16 trains daily on each line (pre-pandemic) . 19 stations . 5 stations connect to Metrorail Staff . 50+ at headquarters/warehouse . 140+ contracted employees • Operations (Keolis) • Maintenance (Keolis) • Station upkeep (Fresh Air) * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Funding VRE’s operating budget must cover at least half of its expenses through passenger fares. Fare revenue has historically covered between 52 and 58 percent of operating expenses. When the fiscal year 2021 budget was passed in January 2020, fare revenue was projected at just over $44 million. VRE will not achieve its ticket-revenue goal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Funding Each fall VRE conducts a ridership survey. The resulting data, which includes riders’ jurisdiction of residence, is used to determine subsidy levels and representation on the Operations Board from the nine Virginia cities and counties that VRE directly serves. The global health crisis precluded a fall 2020 ridership survey. VRE will continue existing subsidy levels and board representation through fiscal year 2022. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Transforming Rail in Virginia Virginia’s visionary $3.7 billion infrastructure improvement program will separate freight and passenger rail, enhancing VRE service reliability and allowing for longer and more frequent trains. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Second Rail Crossing Over the Potomac Virginia will build a $1.9 billion bridge across the Potomac, primarily for the use of passenger trains, eliminating one of the most significant rail bottlenecks on the East Coast. VRE will partially fund the new Long Bridge and other key infrastructure projects. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 A Bright Future • Expanded capacity and increased reliability • Longer and more frequent trains • Bi-directional service • Late night and weekend service • Complementary passenger and commuter service • Separate tracks for freight and passenger trains * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Fredericksburg * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Leeland Road * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Brooke * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Franconia-Springfield * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Crystal City *Funds come from more than one program. * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014 Questions? * Source: Texas Transportation Institute, Virginia Railway Express Congestion Relief Contribution; 2014.