AGENDA ITEM 8-B
ACTION ITEM
TO:
CHAIRMAN COVINGTON AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
FROM:
DOUG ALLEN
DATE:
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
RE:
AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE THE LENGTHENING OF VRE
TRAINS
RECOMMENDATION:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to recommend that the Commissions
authorize the Chief Executive Officer to lengthen one Fredericksburg and one
Manassas line train beginning October 9, 2012 through a budget amendment in
an amount not to exceed $239,100 for the first year of service.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the L’Enfant storage track project update in May 2012, VRE staff
presented service expansion options designed to mitigate crowding on trains,
fully utilize VRE equipment, provide expanded service, and increase ridership.
The proposal included lengthening trains and reducing the price of Step Up
tickets for VRE riders. The VRE Operations Board authorized a change to the
tariff to reduce the price of Step Up tickets from $5 to $3 in August 2012.
The proposal also included additional capacity through VRE Fredericksburg train
303/302 having one car added to the existing six car consist and Manassas train
330/327 having up to two cars added to the existing six car consist. Throughout
CY 2012, ridership on these peak period trains has exceeded current seating
capacity such that VRE riders, in many cases, spend the majority of their
commute standing. The following table shows the current and proposed seating
capacity by train.
Train
Current
Seating
Capacity
by Train
Fredericksburg
303/302
Manassas
330/327

Current
Number of
Standees
During Peak
Commute
Proposed
Seating
Capacity by
Train
810
107
940
Proposed
Additional
Seats Per
Day added
to VRE
service
260
810
35
*1070
520
Net Cost
per Seat
$483
$218
VRE proposes to add up to 2 additional cars to increase seating capacity as ridership dictates. To start, VRE may elect to add each additional car incrementally as dictated by actual ridership. The primary objective of the service expansions is to reduce the number of
standees on these peak trains to prevent the potential loss of passengers from
VRE service as well as attract new riders. The table above indicates the average
number of standees on these peak trains when average daily ridership is
between 19,000 and 20,000 passenger trips for CY 2012.
By adding one additional car to Fredericksburg line train 303/302, total seating
capacity will increase by 260 seats per day. A total of up to 520 seats will be
added to the Manassas line train. With the incremental capacity improvement
proposed, VRE staff projects that there will be a slight increase in new ridership
that should materialize before the end of CY 2012. For the Fredericksburg train,
this ridership increase is further supported by the additional parking spaces
coming on-line at the Brooke and Leeland Road stations and the reduction in the
price of the Step Up ticket. For the Manassas line train, ridership is projected to
increase simply because there will be open seats and passengers will not need
to stand during their commute, drawing passengers to VRE service.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total annual net cost for FY 2013 for adding this capacity is projected to be
$239,100. Costs include $125,700 for the Fredericksburg line and $113,400 for
the Manassas line (excluding contribution to the operating reserve).
The service will be paid for through an increase in state operating funds for FY
2013. VRE staff has included the same service enhancements in the preliminary
FY 2014 budget. VRE staff will return to the Operations Board in December 2012
to update the FY 2013 Budget and Keolis contract, if needed.
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TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
CHAIRMAN COVINGTON AND THE VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
DOUG ALLEN
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE THE LENGTHENING OF VRE
TRAINS
RESOLUTION
8B-09-2012
OF THE
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
OPERATIONS BOARD
WHEREAS, as part of the update to the L’Enfant Storage track project in May
2012, VRE staff provided options to reduce overcrowding on peak trains; and,
WHEREAS, part of this proposal included adding one car to a Fredericksburg
line train and up to two cars to a Manassas line train; and,
WHEREAS, by adding one additional car to Fredericksburg line train 303/302,
seating capacity will increase by 260 seats per day; and,
WHEREAS, by adding one additional railcar to Manassas line train 330/327,
seating capacity will increase by 520 seats per day; and,
WHEREAS, VRE staff projects that there is expected to be a slight increase in
new ridership that should materialize from this action.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board
recommends that the Commissions authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
lengthen one Fredericksburg and one Manassas line train beginning October 9,
2012 through a budget amendment in an amount not to exceed $239,100 for the
first year of service.
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