VRE OPERATIONS BOARD
September 19, 2014
Executive Committee Meeting - 9:00 am
Operations Board Meeting - 9:30 am
Joint Audit Committee Meeting to Follow Board Meeting
Capital Committee Meeting to follow JAC Meeting
PRTC Headquarters
14700 Potomac Mills Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192
1.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Approval of Agenda
2.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes from the July 18, 2014 VRE Operations Board Meeting
Chairman’s Comments
Chief Executive Officer’s Report
Virginia Railway Express Riders’ and Public Comments
Closed Session
Action Items
A. Referral of Preliminary FY 2016 Operating and Capital Budget to the
Commissions
B. Authorization to Increase Amount for General Engineering Consulting VI
Contract
C. Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for General Planning Consulting I
Contract for Project Development Services
D. Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for General Engineering
Consulting VII Contract for Project Implementation Services
E. Authorization to Issue an Invitation for Bids for Consolidated Security Alarm and
Access System Monitoring and Maintenance Services
F. Authorization to Amend the Contract for Passenger Railcars
G. Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for Engineering and
Environmental Services for a Life Cycle Maintenance Facility
H. Authorization to Amend the Contract for Auditing Services
I. Authorization to Award a Contract for Marketing and Advertising Services
10.
J. Authorization to Amend the VRE Tariff Replacing the Two-Ride Ticket with a
Day Pass and Making Other Administrative Edits
Information Item
A. Update on Jurisdictional Action on the Master Agreement
B. Fredericksburg Mitigation Accommodation
11.
C. 2014 Customer Service Survey
Operations Board Members’ Time
____________________
The Next VRE Operations Board Meeting
October 17, 2014 - 9:30 am at PRTC
M I N U T E S
VRE Operations Board Meeting
PRTC Headquarters – Prince William County, Virginia
July 18, 2014
Virginia Railway
Express
Board Members
Paul Milde
Chairman
John Cook
Vice-Chairman
Gary Skinner
Secretary
Paul Smedberg
Treasurer
Sharon Bulova
Maureen Caddigan
Wally Covington
John Jenkins
Matt Kelly
Jennifer Mitchell
Suhas Naddoni
J. Walter Tejada
Bob Thomas
Jonathan Way
Alternates
Marc Aveni
Meg Bohmke
Brad Ellis
Jay Fisette
Frank Jones
Tim Lovain
Michael May
Jeff McKay
Martin Nohe
Kevin Page
Paul Trampe
Doug Allen
Chief Executive Officer
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
Members Present
Sharon Bulova (NVTC)
Maureen Caddigan (PRTC)
John Cook (NVTC)
Wally Covington (PRTC)*
John D. Jenkins (PRTC)
Matt Kelly (PRTC)
Paul Milde (PRTC)
Gary Skinner (PRTC)
Paul Smedberg (NVTC)
J. Walter Tejada (NVTC)
Bob Thomas (PRTC)
Jurisdiction
Fairfax County
Prince William County
Fairfax County
Prince William County
Prince William County
City of Fredericksburg
Stafford County
Spotsylvania County
City of Alexandria
Arlington County
Stafford County
Members Absent
Jennifer Mitchell
Suhas Naddoni (PRTC)
Jonathan Way (PRTC)
Jurisdiction
DRPT
City of Manassas Park
City of Manassas
Alternates Present
Kevin Page
DRPT
Alternates Absent
Marc Aveni (PRTC)
Meg Bohmke (PRTC)
Brad Ellis (PRTC)
Jay Fisette (NVTC)
Frank C. Jones (PRTC)
Tim Lovain (NVTC)
Michael C. May (PRTC)
Jeff McKay (NVTC)
Martin E. Nohe (PRTC)
Paul Trampe (PRTC)
Jurisdiction
City of Manassas
Stafford County
City of Fredericksburg
Arlington County
City of Manassas Park
City of Alexandria
Prince William County
Fairfax County
Prince William County
Spotsylvania County
Jurisdiction
Staff and General Public
Doug Allen – VRE
Gerri Hill – VRE
Anthony Ayala – VRE
Pierre Holloman – Alexandria
Chipp Boone – Keolis
Bryan Jungwirth – VRE
Donna Boxer – VRE
Ann King – VRE
Nancy Collins – Stafford County
Mike Lake – Fairfax County
Kelley Coyner – NVTC Staff
Lezlie Lamb – VRE
Rich Dalton – VRE
Bob Leibbrandt – Prince William County
Mort Downey – Parsons Brinckerhoff
Nathan Macek – Parsons Brinckerhoff
John Duque – VRE
Betsy Massie – PRTC Staff
Patrick Durany - Prince William County
Steve MacIsaac – VRE legal counsel
Arnold Gilbo – Keolis
Lynn Rivers – Arlington County
Rhonda Gilchrest – NVTC staff
Brett Shorter – VRE
Al Harf – PRTC staff
Joe Swartz – VRE
Chris Henry – VRE
Billy Withers – Fredericksburg
Tom Hickey – VRE
* Delineates arrival following the commencement of the Board meeting. Notation of exact arrival
time is included in the body of the minutes.
Chairman Milde called the meeting to order at 9:35 A.M. Following the Pledge of Allegiance,
Roll Call was taken.
Approval of the Agenda – 3
Chairman Milde stated that a Closed Session should be added to the agenda. There were no
objections.
Mr. Cook moved, with a second by Ms. Bulova, to approve the Amended Agenda. The vote in
favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Jenkins, Kelly, Milde, Page,
Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Approval of the Minutes of the June 20, 2014 Operations Board Meeting – 4
Mr. Cook moved approval of the minutes and Ms. Bulova seconded. The vote in favor was
cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Jenkins, Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner,
Smedberg and Tejada. Mr. Thomas abstained.
[Mr. Covington arrived at 9:40 P.M.]
Chairman’s Comments – 5
Chairman Milde acknowledged Billy Withers, Vice Mayor from Fredericksburg, who is
expected to be appointed as a new alternate to the VRE Operations Board.
Chairman Milde reported that there are several important upcoming transit events in the
region, including the opening of WMATA’s Silver Line on July 26th and the groundbreaking
event for the Potomac Shores VRE Station on July 31st at 11:00 A.M. Ms. Caddigan stated
that Governor McAuliffe has been invited to attend the Potomac Shores Event. Chairman
Milde also announced that the Joint Audit Committee will meet briefly following this
meeting. He also reported that following action at their July 10th meetings, NVTC and
PRTC have transmitted the Master Agreement amendment to the jurisdictions for their
action. Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties have already put this item on their agenda for
August.
Chief Executive Officer’s Comments –6
Mr. Allen reported that on-time performance (OTP) was down slightly to 85 percent for the
month of June, due to redirected freight rail traffic because of flooding of a CSXT tunnel, as
well as speed restrictions as a result of track maintenance and heat. Ridership remains
strong at 19,000 daily riders.
Mr. Allen stated that VRE ran special Firecracker Trains on the Fourth of July and he asked
Chris Henry to give a detailed briefing of this special service. Mr. Henry reported that the
Firecracker Trains were a big success. VRE ran one train on each line into the District of
Columbia carrying a total of 1900 passengers. The Fredericksburg Line sold out at 1004
tickets and the Manassas Line sales were at 90 percent with 891 tickets. VRE staff had
projected that about 2000 tickets would need to be sold to break-even with the cost to run
the service. The southernmost stations (Manassas Park, Leeland and Brooke) accounted
for 75 percent of the boardings. VRE conducted a follow-up online survey and received
responses back from 35 percent of riders with overwhelmingly positive responses. In
response to a question from Chairman Milde, Mr. Henry stated that VRE ran eight-car trains
on each line with capacity to carry 1100 passengers on each line. Tickets cost $10 per
round trip.
Mr. Henry stated that the schedule allowed for plenty of time for riders to get to the Mall
for the fireworks and to get back to Union Station afterwards. There were a few issues with
queuing and getting passengers down to the trains at Union Station for the return trip. It
wasn’t the plan going into it, but VRE had to adjust for Amtrak. On the return trip, the train
stopped briefly at L’Enfant so staff could check the crowd conditions. VRE staff
recommends that if VRE runs Firecracker trains next year, that they use Union Station
again because of the amenities for the passengers (restrooms and restaurants) and the
overcrowding at L’Enfant with Metro riders.
In response to a question from Mr. Skinner, Mr. Henry stated that the Fredericksburg Line
train departed Union Station at 10:45 P.M. and the Manassas Line train departed at 11:00
P.M. It seemed like enough time for people to get back. There was one couple who didn’t
make it back for the Fredericksburg train after the fireworks but they admitted going all
the way to Georgetown to watch the fireworks. VRE was able to get them on the Manassas
11:00 PM departing train to Alexandria, where Mr. Allen walked them over to the Metro
station.
Ms. Bulova noted that there were some concerns about the impact on jurisdictions’
firework events. Several Board Members observed that there did not seem to be any
impact at their local events. Mr. Tejada stated that they were able to announce the
Firecracker Trains on Spanish Local Radio the last week before the event and hopefully
that had an impact on ticket sales, especially for the Manassas Line. Mr. Henry stated that
47 percent of Firecracker Train riders were non-VRE riders.
Mr. Allen reported that four new VRE railcars arrived with four more on the way. As the
new cars are put into revenue service, the Legacy railcars will be retired. In response to a
question from Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Allen stated that the four new cars were put into service on
July 16th. The new railcars will be spread throughout the system. The railcars have the
same capacity as the older railcars.
Mr. Allen reported on several VRE issues, including the Notice to Proceed given for
construction of the Spotsylvania Station platform; the Triennial Review by the Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) will begin on July 29th for both PRTC and VRE; and
discussions with Amtrak have begun on the Access Agreement Contract. With new PRIAA
legislation, the access fees for Union Station are laid out for the entire Northeast Corridor.
Chairman Milde asked if the contract amount will go up or down. Mr. Allen stated that
early indications are that it will go down regarding access to the Northeast Corridor but
other aspects could go up. He is confident that VRE will be able to work out a fair
agreement with Amtrak.
Mr. Skinner announced that Spotsylvania County is planning a groundbreaking ceremony
for the new Spotsylvania Station at the beginning of August. The county is coordinating the
event with Secretary Layne’s schedule. Board Members will receive invitations to the
event.
Mr. Allen reported that staff is using a new template for the agenda reports to provide more
information that Board Members have requested.
VRE Riders’ and Public Comment – 7
There were no comments.
Consent Agenda –8
On a motion by Mr. Cook and a second by Mr. Thomas, the Board unanimously approved
the following Consent Agenda Items:


Resolution #8A-07-2014: Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
Mechanical Engineering Consulting Services
Resolution #8B-07-2014: Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
Engineering and Environmental Services for Brooke and Leeland Road Stations
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
FY 2016 Budget Key Issues – 9A
Mr. Allen explained that it is time to start the process of developing the FY 2016 budget and
get feedback and direction from the Operations Board. He asked Donna Boxer and Brett
Shorter to give a presentation on the budget.
Ms. Boxer stated that the Budget Key Issues are the first step in the budget process which
will culminate in a full budget being presented at the December 2014 meeting. The
Commissions will then forward the budget to the jurisdictions. The CAO Task Force
continues to advise VRE staff during the budget process. Beginning last year, the Capital
Committee plays a role in conducting an in-depth review of significant capital projects and
issues. The Committee is scheduled to begin meeting again in September. In response to a
question from Mr. Jenkins, Ms. Boxer stated that the Prince William County representative
on the CAO Task Force is Bob Leibbrandt, who serves as co-chairman along with Mike Lake
from Fairfax County. The actual Chief Administrative Officers (CAO) participate in the final
budget meeting in early December.
Ms. Boxer stated the FY 2016 Budget will be a continuation of many significant initiatives,
including the System Plan, life cycle maintenance strategy, the financial and debt
management principles, and a substantial increase in capital funding sources. Ms. Boxer
stated that the first Key Issue is Level of Service. Some trains are now over 100 percent
capacity and with the addition of the Spotsylvania Station and parking facility, ridership
will continue to increase. The new Fredericksburg train is budgeted in FY 2015 for the first
nine months of service with full service proposed in FY 2016. The FY 2015 budget also
includes the purchase of five railcars for expansion.
Ms. Boxer stated that Key Issue #2 is Maintenance of VRE Assets. VRE staff believes that
federal formula funding will continue to be available to maintain transit assets in a “state of
good repair.” A facilities asset management strategy is expected to be completed during FY
2015 to be incorporated into the FY 2016 Budget and CIP. The new maintenance facility
will be completed in FY 2016.
Key Issue #3 is Contract Renewal with Amtrak. VRE’s current five-year contract with
Amtrak expires at the end of FY 2015. Ms. Boxer stated that discussions are already
underway with Amtrak and the new contract will be based on the requirements of the
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) for track access calculations. The
big issue for FY 2016 is funding for alternate storage sites other than Ivy City. VRE has
significant funding included in the CIP for this ($40 million for FY 2016-2021). In response
to a question from Chairman Milde, Ms. Boxer explained that Amtrak wants VRE to move its
storage from the current Ivy City site. Chairman Milde asked how much acreage is needed
to store all of VRE’s assets. Mr. Dalton stated that VRE would need 20-25 acres from just a
storage standpoint. Chairman Milde observed that it is virtually impossible to find that
amount of land in the District. Ms. Boxer stated that this is one of many issues that need to
be resolved. The new Amtrak contract will also include the implementation of future
phases of PRIIA in regard to the current back-log of Amtrak repairs and improvements. The
amount that might be allocated to VRE as part of this process is not currently known.
Ms. Boxer stated that Key Issue #4 is Capital Improvements to Support the VRE System
Plan. Improvements to Phase I are linked to the CIP for FY 2015-2020, but funding is not
identified for all projects. Construction of the CSX third mainline may increase the need for
additional resources. NVTA funding may be available for some of the capital projects
within NVTA boundaries.
Ms. Boxer stated that VRE continues to increase the Capital Reserve, which is Key Issue #5.
Beginning in FY 2015, an annual contribution of $3 million is included in the six-year plan.
Key Issue #6 relates to VRE staff and office space. As the VRE system has grown the staff
level has not kept pace and it will be important to look at staffing expansion and office
space expansion. The FY 2016 budget is expected to include expanded staff resources
including additional office space since the Alexandria office is fully utilized.
Mr. Shorter stated that Key Issue #7 is Jurisdictional Subsidy and Key Issue #8 is Fare
Increases. He stated that staff has heard the Operations Board’s clear direction that VRE
must be supported within the confines of jurisdictional budget constraints. There also
needs to be a balance between level of service and the competitiveness of pricing of that
service as VRE looks at a potential fare increase. Over the last five years there have been
two fare increases (FY 2013 at three percent and FY 2014 at four percent). Past budget
predictions called for a five percent fare increase in 2016, 2018 and 2020. The
jurisdictional subsidy has remained constant from FY 2013 to FY 2015.
Mr. Shorter stated that other budget issues are the changes in state funding, the state
capital “fiscal cliff” beginning after 2018, federal MAP-21 funding to expire at the end of
September, and available NVTA funding. He stated that having multi-year funding
agreements with the Commonwealth for the track access fees is also important.
Chairman Milde asked if staff has looked at converting the dead head trains back to
Manassas into revenue service. Mr. Allen stated that VRE currently has two trains that go
back to the Broad Run yard in the middle of the day because there is no place to store them
in the District. VRE staff is looking to turn one into a revenue train running back in the late
morning.
Mr. Cook stated that as VRE looks at expansion of the end of the lines, with the Spotsylvania
Station being constructed, he stated that it is important to develop a plan for some trains to
begin service at the middle stations so there is capacity for those riders. Mr. Allen
responded that VRE has started an operational analysis on how to phase in the System Plan
and these types of issues will be looked at in depth. Mr. Cook asked for an update at a
future meeting.
Mr. Smedberg asked for a status on Positive Train Control. Mr. Dalton stated that in late
fall, VRE will begin equipment installation on VRE locomotives and railcars. VRE is
following CSX initiatives. By late 2015 testing will begin. He stated that the project is
budgeted for capital costs but operating costs could be as high as $1 million annually.
In response to a question from Mr. Cook, Mr. Shorter explained that the budget process is in
its preliminary stages and there are no projections yet for fare increases or subsidy
increases. Ms. Boxer stated that the preliminary budget that is presented in September will
include this information. Mr. Cook stated that he is not sure if he would be agreeable to a
jurisdictional subsidy increase that was higher than an average fare increase, because
taxpayers who do not ride VRE should not have the perception that they are paying more of
an increase than VRE riders. He stated that it is important to look at fare increases and
subsidy increases together over multiple years.
Mr. Kelly stated that if the subsidy continues to grow, it will push Fredericksburg into
having to use general funds. This is a legitimate topic of concern for the City. Chairman
Milde observed that ridership will continue to shift to the southern jurisdictions that will
be paying a larger piece of the pie. Ms. Boxer stated that in September, staff will come back
to the Operations Board with a more detailed budget and will include any proposal on
subsidy and fare increases.
Chairman Milde stated that he would like to seek resolution to instituting an indexed fare
schedule since the Operations Board has discussed this is the past. Ms. Boxer stated that
VRE adopted a fare index policy in January 2008. Then local budgets collapsed because of
the plummeting real estate market and the Board asked for no subsidy increase and any
increase would need to come from fare revenue. This was the end of the indexed fare
policy. There were three fare increases over a 13 month period. Chairman Milde asked
Board Members if they want to revisit the fare indexing issue. Ms. Bulova stated that
although she was a proponent of fare indexing when it was discussed in the past, she is not
sure this is the time to revisit it. There has been a recession which has made it impossible
to adhere to a fare policy. There are still many moving pieces to this budget and the Board
should wait for staff to present a preliminary budget in September.
Ms. Bulova moved, with a second by Mr. Covington, to approve Resolution #9A-07-2014,
which directs VRE staff to develop the FY 2016 Budget and CIP in accordance with the
Board’s direction.
Mr. Harf observed that there is uncertainty regarding federal funding but this issue will still
be uncertain in September. Mr. Allen stated that staff will make the best judgment on what
they think the numbers will be and be prepared to make adjustments. Mr. Harf stated that
he anticipates it will impact the capital side more than operating side. Ms. Boxer stated
that this is what they anticipate.
Mr. Tejada asked how often Capital plans adjust. Ms. Boxer replied every year. Mr. Tejada
asked how projects get put into the CIP like the Long Bridge Expansion project. Ms. Boxer
stated that staff is putting together recommendations for a new six-year plan. Projects like
the Long Bridge will be discussed by the Capital Committee in September. Mr. Covington
stated that if VRE redoubled its efforts to get the Gainesville-Haymarket extension
completed it would solve the subsidy issue for the southern jurisdictions because Prince
William would pick up more riders and increase its ridership percentage. Chairman Milde
stated that Stafford County does not want a subsidy increase regardless of any fare increase
proposal.
Mr. Page stated that this year DRPT started a process of multi-year funding agreements to
provide more funding predictability. As VRE develops its six-year plan, he hopes VRE will
include some proposed projects seeking multi-year funding. If VRE is willing to commit to
a six-year project, the Commonwealth is willing to commit off the top funds, with an
obligation for additional years.
The Board then voted on the motion and it passed. The vote in favor was cast by Board
Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins, Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner,
Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Mr. Allen asked Ms. Boxer to give a brief presentation on debt disclosure requirements. Ms.
Boxer stated that when municipal debt is issued, the party agrees to disclose certain
financial and other information to the capital markets. Currently, information is
electronically posted on the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) website. She
explained that NVTC issued debt in 1997 and 1998, which was the last time debt was
issued for VRE, and included two contingency disclosure agreements. One was signed by
NVTC and the other was signed by the six participating jurisdictions. This past March, the
SCC announced the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation (MCDC) initiative.
Issuers need to review their compliance documents and post notices. VRE Bond counsel
has posted a correction notice on the Commission’s behalf noting that the bond
downgrades for NVTC bonds were not disclosure on a timely basis. Advice from VRE’s
Bond counsel and review by Mr. MacIsaac, VRE’s legal counsel, concluded that NVTC is not
required to report on the initiative because bonds have not been issued in the last five
years. However, VRE was also advised that if VRE wants to issue bonds within the next five
years, then this would need to be disclosed on any written statement regarding any noncompliance against both agreements. As a result, she has talked to staff at the participating
jurisdictions to notify them of the issue and to convey the advice from bond counsel.
Authorization to Award a Contract for Heavy Interior Cleaning of Passenger Railcars – 9B
Mr. Allen stated that the VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize him to execute a
contract with ServiceMaster Preferred Services of Woodbridge, Virginia for heavy interior
cleaning of passenger railcars in the amount of $573,624, plus a 10 percent contingency of
$57,362, for a total not to exceed $630,986 for a base year and two option years, with the
CEO exercising the option years at his discretion. Resolution #9B-07-2014 would
accomplish this.
Ms. Caddigan moved, with a second by Mr. Skinner, to approve the resolution.
Mr. Allen stated that at the request of the Operations Board last month, staff has provided
additional information about this procurement. Mr. Kelly thanked staff for providing the
additional information. He observed that by providing the information prior to the meeting
(firm recommended for award, top 3-4 firms evaluated, and a synopsis of the rationale for
requested action) should save time at the Operations Board meetings. Mr. Cook asked for a
regular consolidated list of the firms so Board Members can decide if they have a conflict of
interest. Chairman Milde stated that he is interested in seeing the amounts of the different
bids. Mr. Allen stated that procurement protocol does not allow those amounts to be
disclosed until the contract is awarded.
The Board then voted on the motion and it passed. The vote in favor was cast by Board
Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins, Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner,
Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Authorization to Award a Task Order for Station Painting Services – 9C
Mr. Allen reported that Resolution #9C-07-2014 would authorize him to award a task
order under the facilities maintenance contract to NV Enterprises for station painting
services in an amount of $207,000, plus a 10 percent contingency of $20,700, for a total
amount not to exceed $227,700. VRE completed an assessment of its rail stations in order
to identify those in need of painting, which include Rippon, Quantico, Brooke, Crystal City,
Rolling Road and Manassas Park. This task order covers the painting at Rippon, Quantico
and Brooke Stations because they are in need of extensive preparation work in addition to
painting. For the Rippon station there is a pedestrian bridge over the CSX tracks. A
separate resolution as part of the next agenda item will be requested for the painting at
Crystal City, Rolling road and Manassas Park. VRE requested task order proposals from
both contractors in the interest of maximizing productivity by having multiple painting
projects underway simultaneously.
Mr. Covington moved, with a second by Ms. Bulova, to approve Resolution #9C-07-2014.
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Authorization to Award a Task Order for Station Painting Services – 9D
Mr. Allen stated that the VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize him to award a
task order under the facilities custodial services contract to Fresh Air, LLC for station
painting services in an amount of $83,770, plus a ten percent contingency of $8,377, for a
total amount not to exceed $92,147. Resolution #9D-07-2014 would accomplish this.
This task order covers the painting of Crystal City, Rolling Road and Manassas Park
stations. These stations will not need as much preparation work and are not as complex as
the other three stations identified in the previous action item.
Mr. Covington moved, with a second by Ms. Bulova, to approve Resolution #9D-07-2014.
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Authorization to Execute a Ticket Sales Agreement with DASH Transit – 9E
Mr. Allen stated that the VRE Operations Board is being asked to approve Resolution #9E07-2014 which would authorize him to execute a ticket sales agreement for the sale of fare
media by DASH Transit at their Old Town Transit Shop for a base period of one year with
an option to extend for up to four additional one year periods, with the VRE CEO exercising
the option years at his discretion. Sales commissions are paid to VRE ticket vendors based
on sales volume, and the estimated value of this contract is $18,000 annually or $90,000
over the five year period.
Mr. Smedberg moved, with a second by Mr. Skinner, to approve Resolution #9E-07-2014.
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Authorization to Award a Purchase Order for Multi-Function Copier Lease Agreement – 9F
Mr. Allen stated that the VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize him to execute a
Purchase Order with Sharp Electronics Corporation of Mahwah, New Jersey for the lease of
two multi-function color copiers, in the amount of $141,840, plus a 10 percent contingency
of $14,184, for a total amount not to exceed $156,024. The term of the lease agreement is
for a period of one base year with four option years with the CEO exercising the option
years at his discretion. Resolution #9F-07-2014 would accomplish this.
Ms. Bulova moved, with a second by Mr. Tejada, to approve the resolution. The vote in
favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins, Kelly, Milde,
Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
General Engineering Consulting Contracts –10A
Mr. Allen stated that there is a need for additional authorization on the present General
Engineering Consulting (GEC) contract because the GEC VI contract is rapidly approaching
its $5 million authorization limit after only 16months of activity. As of May 2014 about
$4,400,000 (87 percent) of the current authorization for GEC VI had been allocated to 21
task order assignments. With the additional task orders currently pending, the present
authorization of GEC VI is expected to be fully committed by the end of September. VRE
staff has begun preparation on a new GEC contract, but it will not be in place before the end
of December 2014. Procurement and legal counsel advise that it is permissible to amend
the existing GEC VI contract while VRE proceeds with a new procurement. VRE is
proposing the following actions:
1) Request authorization at the September meeting to issue a RFP for a new GEC VII
with the intention of returning with a recommendation for award at the December
meeting.
2) Request authorization at the September meeting to expand the authorization limit
of the present GEC VI by $500,000 to sustain progress until GEC VII is awarded.
3) Conduct a review with GEC VI firms and other interested parties to determine how
VRE can better structure and manage work through GEC versus other methods of
procurement.
Mr. Allen stated that no action is being requested at this time and this item is just to inform
the Board of the upcoming request for action.
Closed Session – 8
Mr. Cook moved, with a second by Mr. Kelly, the following motion:
Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Sections 2.2-3711A (6)
(7) and (29) of the Code of Virginia); the VRE Operations Board authorizes a
Closed Session for the purpose of discussing one matter involving the
expenditure of public funds for train operations where competition and
bargaining is involved and where discussion in public would adversely affect
VRE’s financial interests and its bargaining position and negotiating strategy.
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
The Board entered into Closed Session at 10:51 A.M. and returned to Open Session at 11:00
A.M.
Mr. Cook moved, with a second by Mr. Kelly, the following certification:
The VRE Operations Board certifies that, to the best of each member’s
knowledge and with no individual member dissenting, at the just
concluded Closed Session:
1. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from open
meeting requirements under Chapter 37, Title 2.2 of the Code of
Virginia were discussed; and
2. Only such public business matters as were identified in the motion
by which the Closed Session was convened were heard, discussed
or considered.
The vote in favor was cast by Board Members Bulova, Caddigan, Cook, Covington, Jenkins,
Kelly, Milde, Page, Skinner, Smedberg, Tejada and Thomas.
Operations Board Members’ Time –10
Ms. Caddigan reminded Board Members about the Potomac Shores Station groundbreaking
event which is scheduled for July 31st at 11:00 A.M.
Mr. Tejada announced that earlier this morning there was a groundbreaking event for the
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transit Way. This is an important regional project that will
connect to other transit, including rail.
Adjournment
Without objection, Chairman Milde adjourned the meeting at 11:02 A.M.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014.
_____________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
_____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
CERTIFICATION
This certification hereby acknowledges that the minutes for the July 18, 2014 Virginia Railway Express Operations Board
Meeting have been recorded to the best of my ability.
Rhonda Gilchrest
Agenda Item 9-A
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Referral of Preliminary FY 2016 VRE Operating and
Capital Budget to the Commissions
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
refer the Preliminary FY 2016 VRE Operating and Capital Budget to the
Commissions for their consideration, so that the Commissions, in turn, can refer
these recommendations to the jurisdictions for their review and comment.
Background:
In accordance with the VRE Master Agreement, which outlines the process for
annual budget approval, the preliminary FY 2016 VRE Operating and Capital Budget
are attached for review. The Budget Key Issues considered by the Operations Board
in July are also provided as an attachment.
During the FY 2016 budget year, VRE will operate 32 daily revenue trains (including
a full year of the additional Fredericksburg line train), complete the order for the
fourteen additional railcars, implement Positive Train Control (PTC), begin the first
year of the new Amtrak contract, begin the first years of the new train operations
and maintenance of equipment contracts, and continue safety and customer service
outreach programs. Staff will also continue development of the 2040 System Plan
projects.
Since July, VRE staff has met monthly with the CAO Taskforce to discuss
jurisdictional budget issues and concerns and to review current VRE budget
projections. The most significant issue this year is the reduction in State Operating
funds. In FY 2015, staff projected state revenues of $10.3 million, based on
estimations from the TSDAC implementation. The actual award was $9.0 million,
with further reductions possible after the CTB meets in September. Based on this,
the projected amount of State operating funds is budgeted at $8.7 million, a
decrease of $1.6 million from the budget approved in FY 2015.
Discussion:
The FY 2016 preliminary budget totals $123.0 million. Assuming no change to fares
or subsidy, the budget reflects $3.9 million of costs which are currently unfunded.
As in the past, VRE will submit a balanced budget to the jurisdictions in the
beginning of December for evaluation prior to submission to the Operations Board
later that month.
Both revenue and expenses are still under review and these projections are
expected to change considerably over the next several months. The assumptions
used in preparing the preliminary draft are as follows:
1. Federal formula funding is based on an estimation of what VRE will receive
under the new Section 5337, State of Good Repair formula funding. Current
projections are based on the latest information available and is in line with
the amount projected in the Six Year Financial Forecast from the FY 2015
Budget, which represents a decrease of $6.6 million from the amount received
in FY 2015. Congress approved a short term extension to the current
transportation authorization through May 2015. All indications are the full
reauthorization will provide less funding for VRE’s FY 2016 than was
provided in FY 2015.
2. Fare revenue is budgeted at $37.3 million with no fare increase. Ridership is
estimated at 19,600 ADR with service at the current level of 34 daily trains
(32 revenue trains); with a full year of the Fredericksburg line train. Average
daily ridership in FY 2014 was 18,119. Staff continues to monitor the impact
of the reduced federal transit benefit on VRE ridership and revenue. The last
increase to fare revenue was 4% in FY 2014.
3. In FY 2015, a Fredericksburg line train was budgeted for nine months. In FY
2016, the train is budgeted for the remaining three months. The assumption is
that current legacy cars will be available to start the service, with new railcars
to be put in service in FY 2017. The current cost for this train for the
additional three months is cost-neutral, as the FY 2015 budget had funding for
leased railcars which was not spent and covers the cost of the additional three
months of service.
4. Commonwealth formula funding for operations of $9.0 million was received in
FY 2015. As noted above, the State may further revise the FY 2015 SYIP and
the award may be less. In light of this, operating funds are reduced to $8.7
million in FY 2016.
5. Commonwealth capital funding is currently projected at a match rate of either
16% of the total costs, if federal funding is available at the 80% match rate or
one of the three funding tiers of 68%, 34% or 17% of gross project costs,
regardless of the amounts of federal funding assigned to the project. The
most significant state capital funding request is for the purchase of nine
expansion rail cars, which is based on first tier state funding of 68% or $16.1
million. Since the remaining projects have an 80% federal match, state
funding is estimated at 16%, with the minimum local contribution of 4%.
Additionally, the fiscal cliff after FY 2018 remains an issue. Staff will continue
to monitor the situation.
6. For the FY 2015 budget, DRPT allowed VRE to apply for multiyear agreements
for track access fee reimbursement. For FY 2016, reimbursements are
currently being estimated at a level similar to FY 2015, with an 84%
combined rate for both federal STP funds allocated through the state and a
state capital match.
7. For FY 2016 capital needs have been identified and prioritized and funding
sources and methods have been considered within the available federal
formula funds and existing CMAQ applications. The multi-year CIP will also
include needed unfunded projects as well. The largest capital expense is
completing the order of 14 expansion railcars with federal and state
assistance in the amount of $23.6 million. An annual capital reserve
contribution of $3 million is recommended. The last call for projects for NVTA
funding covered awards to be made for both FY 2015 and FY 2016, so no
additional projects will be listed for FY 2016 beyond those already submitted
for funding.
8. Contract increases in access fee expenses of 4% will occur for CSX. Norfolk
Southern and Amtrak contract increases are based on changes to the AAR, a
nationally published index of railroad costs. Currently, Norfolk Southern and
Amtrak increases are budgeted at 5%. The bulk of the Keolis contract costs
increase by the annual change to the CPI.
9. Fuel expenses of $5.7 million are budgeted based on a per gallon cost of $3.50.
Because the cost of fuel also impacts the fuel tax revenue which many of the
jurisdictions use as the source of funding for the VRE subsidy, a revised fuel
tax projection for the PRTC jurisdictions will be prepared in the fall.
10. VRE staff recommends adding five FTE employees to various departments. As
VRE has grown in size and complexity and as external regulatory and
performance requirements have increased, staff resources have not kept pace.
The additional recommended positions are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
Budget and Finance – Financial Analyst
Procurement and Contract Administration – Senior Contract Specialist
Communication and Information Technology – Senior Manager of IT
Safety and Security – Security Specialist
Program Development – Project Planner
More detail on these positions will be provided as part of the presentation at the
Board meeting. The preliminary cost of the five positions is $585k. The budget also
includes funds for the rental of supplementary office space.
An additional three FTE employees are recommended in Equipment
Operations to replace current contract positions. This change will be cost
neutral.
•
•
•
Manager of Warehouse and Inventory
Inventory Control Administrator
Inventory Control Specialist
The major significant changes in the FY 2016 proposed budget compared to the
adopted FY 2015 budget are as follows, including those issues discussed in more
detail above:
Revenue:
• $400k increase in Fare Revenue due to a combination of projected level
ridership on current trains and the addition of a full year of the
Fredericksburg line train
• $4.6M decrease in Other Sources. Budget includes $945k of one-time funds
from the FY 2014 surplus for the local match for the nine railcars.
• $3.6 million decrease in federal and state subsidies. Total budget of $33.8
million is broken out as follows:
o $8.5 million decrease in federal and $5.5 million increase in state
subsidies for capital projects, including Rolling Stock (nine railcars),
Facilities Infrastructure, Equipment Storage, second platform for
Lorton, HEP Overhauls, and Equipment Life Cycle Maintenance
•
Program. The large increase in State funding is directly related to the
acquisition of the nine railcars, as noted above
o $1.6 million decrease in the state operating subsidy to reflect a slight
decrease to the FY 2015 award of $9.0 million
o $519k increase in the state and $707k increase in the federal subsidy
for access fees due primarily to the additional three months of the
Fredericksburg line train and AAR/CPI increases
o $240k decrease in State Step-Up ticket assistance (no further grant
funds available)
$1.2 million decrease in use of reserves. $2.0 million was budgeted in FY
2015 for potential mobilization costs associated with the operations and
maintenance contract. In FY 2016 funding, reserves from prior years are
used for $840k of one-time operating expenses.
Operating and capital expenses:
• $1.9 million decrease in combined costs for insurance/contribution to
reserve/mobilization based on the overall increase to the size of the budget
between the two budget years offset by the deleted mobilization costs
• $445k decrease in Passenger Support Services (PSS) as the department has
been merged with Operations and Communications, which has a $436k
increase
• $633k increase in Program Development due to implementation of the
System Plan
• $622k increase in Facilities Maintenance due to the addition of the
Spotsylvania station, contractual cost increases, and additional office space
costs in Alexandria
• $139k net decrease to the Equipment Operations budget. Repairs and
Maintenance increased by $775k due to the ongoing license fees and other
operating costs associated with the required implementation of Positive
Train Control (PTC). These costs were offset by $821k in savings compared
to the FY 2015 budget because the decision was made not to lease rail cars
for the additional Fredericksburg line train. An increase of $589k to the
Amtrak budget is for mid-day services, pending the outcome of discussions
on the new contract.
• $1.2 million increase to the Train Operations/Maintenance of Equipment
budget, including both the contractual increase based on the change to the
CPI, the new maintenance service contract and the addition of the final three
months budget for the six car Fredericksburg train
• $1.1 million increase in track access (Amtrak, CSX, and NS) due to contractual
obligations and the full year cost of the six car Fredericksburg train
•
$8.2 million decrease in capital projects. Total capital budget is projected at
$38.2 million. Projects include:
o $6.9 million for facilities infrastructure
o $23.6 million for rolling stock – nine railcars
o $1.9 million for equipment storage
o $2.6 million for equipment life cycle maintenance
o $100k for security enhancements
o $100k for transit enhancements
o $3.0 million for the second year of a recommended annual
contribution to the capital reserve
FISCAL IMPACT – FY 2016 BUDGET:
Additional draft budgets will be formulated during the fall and reviewed with the
CAO Budget Task Force resulting in a balanced budget by December 2015.
Attached are the following:
•
•
•
FY 2016 Key Budget Issues
FY 2016 Sources and Use
FY 2016 Summary Budget
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9A-09-2014
Referral of Preliminary FY 2016 VRE Operating and Capital
Budget to the Commissions
WHEREAS, the VRE Master Agreement requires the Commissions be presented with
a preliminary fiscal year budget for consideration at their respective September
meetings prior to the commencement of the subject fiscal year; and,
WHEREAS, the VRE Chief Executive Officer has provided the VRE Operations Board
with the preliminary FY 2016 Operating and Capital Budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board refers the
preliminary FY 2016 VRE Operating and Capital Budget to the Commissions for their
consideration; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board recommends that
the budget be forwarded to the jurisdictions for further formal review and
comment; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, VRE staff is directed to consider and address
comments by the jurisdictions and to forward a final recommended budget to the
VRE Operations Board at the December 2014 meeting for consideration and referral
to the Commissions for adoption in January 2015.
Approved this 19th day of September 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
_______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
FY 2016 Key Budget Issues
The key issues described below apply to the development of the FY 2016 Budget
and CIP and to the six-year financial plan, which provides a consolidated financial
projection over a multi-year time frame.
Key Issue #1: Level of service: Some trains are at or over 100% capacity and the
addition of the Spotsylvania station and parking facility will result in increased
ridership.
An additional Fredericksburg train scheduled to begin service in FY 2015 was added
in order to mitigate the overcrowding and the capacity issues at stations further up
the line to some extent; the full year cost of this additional service will be included in
the FY 2016 operating budget. A plan to purchase 14 expansion railcars was
approved by the Operations Board in January 2014. The first five cars were funded
in the FY 2015 Budget with the intention of including the remaining nine cars in FY
2016. The additional cars along with related infrastructure improvements to
stations and storage yards will allow for the lengthening of existing peak trains and
the conversion of a “deadhead” train on the Manassas line to revenue service after
FY 2016.
Key Issue #2: Maintenance of VRE Assets: Federal formula funds devoted to
maintaining transit assets in a “State of Good Repair” are expected to provide the
ongoing capital cost of maintaining VRE assets over their life-cycle.
The federal priority under MAP-21 of maintaining transit systems in a “State of
Good Repair” has been included in the current versions of the next transportation
authorization. So long as the formula funding available to VRE continues at the
projected level (see information on federal funding below) the funds to adequately
maintain equipment and facilities will be available from this source. An asset
management strategy for facilities will be completed during FY 2015, which will be
used to refine the costs included in the FY 2016 Budget and CIP. In accordance with
the already completed asset management strategy for VRE’s rolling stock,
construction of the new maintenance facility will be finished during FY 2016 and the
costs of the life-cycle maintenance program for equipment will continue to be
reflected in the CIP.
Key Issue #3: Contract renewal with Amtrak: VRE’s current five-year contract with
Amtrak expires at the end of FY 2015.
Discussions have begun on the new contract with Amtrak which will be reflected in
the FY 2016 operating budget and CIP. The new contract will incorporate the
requirements of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) for
the calculation of access fees. (This change will actually be implemented in October
2014 for the last year of the current contract). The cost of mid-day storage at Ivy
City will be part of the negotiation of the new contract. In addition, funding for the
development of alternative storage sites for VRE equipment will be incorporated
into the FY 2016 Budget and CIP and the six-year financial plan.
Key Issue #4: Capital improvements to support the VRE System Plan: Capital
improvements needed to meet the expected demand for VRE service and to increase
railroad infrastructure capacity in the VRE service territory require the identification
and commitment of funds beyond those currently available to VRE.
During FY 2014 the Operations Board and Commissions endorsed the VRE System
Plan, which provides for the logical, incremental expansion of VRE infrastructure
and service. The improvements needed for Phase 1 of the Plan were linked to the
CIP for the period FY 2015 through FY 2020. Although funding was identified for a
number of these improvements, many other projects were left unfunded. In
addition, the creation of a schedule for the construction of a third mainline track in
the CSX territory may increase the need for additional funding sources within the
six-year CIP currently under development. This issue will be addressed in more
detail at a Capital Committee meeting in September. A financial planning effort
related to the VRE System Plan will be included in this discussion.
NVTA regional funding is available on a discretionary basis for certain VRE capital
projects, but only for those located within the NVTA jurisdictions, which has created
an imbalance of funding sources within VRE.
Key Issue #5: Capital reserve: VRE needs to develop a target level for the capital
reserve.
For the last several years, VRE has maintained a capital reserve in order to take
advantage of discretionary state and federal grants that require a local match; to
fund smaller capital projects and/or those for which grant funds are unavailable;
and to benefit from the cost efficiencies of early advancement of certain projects.
Prior to FY 2015, the capital reserve was funded solely through surplus funds at
year-end and proceeds from the sale of older rolling stock. The FY 2015 budget and
six-year forecast included an annual contribution from current revenue of $3 million
in order to provide a larger and more stable source of funds for the current
purposes and to provide funding to advance complex system investments beyond
Phase 1 of the System Plan. The $3 million annual contribution level was pegged, in
part, to the additional funds available from the retirement of the outstanding taxexempt bonds, with the understanding that a target level for the capital reserve
would be developed based on the further refinement of the System Plan.
Key Issue #6: VRE staffing and office space: VRE needs the staff resources necessary
to operate and administer the commuter rail system safely, efficiently and in
compliance with all federal and state requirements.
Since inception, the administration and oversight of the commuter rail system has
been accomplished by a relatively small permanent staff, supplemented at times
with assistance on a contract or temporary basis. As the system itself has grown
and developed, along with internal and external requirements, the staff level has not
kept pace. As a result, the FY 2016 budget is expected to include the need for
additional staff resources, along with the need for additional office space since the
current offices in Alexandria are fully utilized. Early implementation of some of the
proposals may be requested at budget adoption in December.
Key Issue #7: Jurisdictional subsidy: The VRE service must be supported within the
confines of jurisdictional budget constraints.
Subsidy increases or decreases in FY 2016 and future years will be evaluated based
on system requirements, changes to state and federal funding levels and the
jurisdiction’s ability to contribute using fuel tax revenue or other sources of funding.
The FY 2015 six-year financial forecast projected a subsidy increase for FY
2016. However, VRE will work with jurisdictional staff on formulating future
subsidy levels and will make every effort to identify alternative sources of
funding.
Key Issue #8: Fare increases: An appropriate balance is needed between the levels of
service necessary to meet customer needs and competitive pricing for that service.
VRE has had two fare increases in the last five fiscal years (FY 2013 and FY 2014).
These have been necessary to maintain the level of service without being excessive
in cost to the rider. Fare increases will be evaluated as the budget process continues,
with consideration given to market factors, system funding needs, commuter benefit
levels, comparison to relevant indices, and a preference for biennial increases. The
FY 2015 six-year financial forecast projected a fare increase for FY 2016. In the
event a fare increase is warranted, staff will attempt to hold the increase to 5% or
less.
84,802,020
Total Expenses (Subtotal)
*Other source is from the FY14 surplus
TOTAL
CMAQ Summary
CMAQ
Capital Project Summary
Capital Reserve Contribution
Security Enhancements
Transit Enhancements
Rolling Stock (Nine Railcars)*
Equipment Storage
Life Cycle Maintenance
Facilities Infrastructure
123,003,020
0
0
0
38,201,000
6,945,000
0
0
23,625,000
1,881,000
2,550,000
0
100,000
100,000
0
3,000,000
7,402,870
Non-Operating Summary
Capital Projects:
688,000
1,931,357
110,442
4,673,071
77,399,150
USES OF
FUNDS
34 trains
Operating Reserve
Debt Svc (Gallery IV) (11 Cabcars)
Debt Svc 60 Railcars (Local)
Debt Svc 60 Railcars (Fed/State/Local)
Non-Operating Expenses:
Operating Expenses
LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR FY16
37,300,000
0
0
37,300,000
0
37,300,000
FARE
INCOME
FY15 subsidy
surplus (deficit)
20,000
0
0
20,000
0
20,000
INTEREST
165,000
0
0
165,000
0
165,000
MISC
19,600 average daily riders
16,428,800
(3,931,409)
20,360,209
0
0
0
3,463,040
277,800
0
0
0
75,240
102,000
0
4,000
4,000
0
3,000,000
16,897,169
1,062,619
688,000
77,254
110,442
186,923
15,834,550
LOCAL
SUBSIDY
1,785,000
0
945,000
0
945,000
840,000
8,700,000
0
0
8,700,000
0
8,700,000
22,144,968
0
0
0
17,917,160
1,111,200
0
0
16,065,000
300,960
408,000
0
16,000
16,000
0
4,227,808
Program
1,931,357
16,690,000
110,442
4,673,071
300,000
350,000
24,054,870
38,201,000
62,255,870
10,848,500
0
0
10,848,500
5337
5307
5337
Funding
5337
SSTP/State
21,679,342
0
0
0
15,875,800
5,556,000
0
0
6,615,000
1,504,800
2,040,000
0
80,000
80,000
5,803,542
5,283,542
3,738,457
520,000
5307/5337
747,691
0
10,848,500
STATE
STP
1,545,086
1,056,708
6,390,000
3,340,000
6,960,000
16,690,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15,875,800
32,527,842
Federal Amt
1,545,086
10,848,500
3,738,457
240,000
280,000
OTHER
|----------------FEDERAL------------------|
Amtrak
NS
CSX
Total
309,017
3,171,100
STATE
CAPITAL
Soft Capital Projects
Debt Service 11 Cabcars
Access lease funding
Local only Debt Service 60 Railcars
Fed/State/Lo Debt Service 60 Railcars
Grant & Project Management
Grant & Project Management
Subtotal
Capital Projects/Earmarks
Federal Cap Program
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
OTHER
OTHER
STATE
SOURCES SOURCES OPERATING
840,000
16,690,000
16,690,000
SOURCES OF FUNDS
|-----------------STATE -----------------|
Total Access Fees
Leases
FY16 Sources and Use
0
0
State Amt
309,017
3,171,100
747,691
4,227,808
17,917,160
22,144,968
123,003,020
-
38,201,000
6,945,000
0
0
23,625,000
1,881,000
2,550,000
0
100,000
100,000
0
3,000,000
84,802,020
7,402,870
688,000
1,931,357
110,442
4,673,071
77,399,150
TOTAL
FY16 Summary Proposed Budget
GL Account
FY15 Operating
FY15 Capital
FY16 Operating
FY16 Capital
Changes
% Chg
Revenue:
Fare Revenue
Miscellaneous Revenue
Jurisdictional Subsidy
Other Sources
Federal/State Subsidy
Operating/Capital Reserves
Interest Income
36,900,000
165,000
12,305,000
30,194,301
2,000,000
15,300
Total Revenue
81,579,601
4,123,800
5,508,800
36,777,400
-
46,410,000
37,300,000
165,000
12,965,760
29,579,851
840,000
20,000
80,870,611
3,463,040
945,000
33,792,960
-
38,201,000
400,000
(4,563,800)
(3,598,890)
(1,160,000)
4,700
1%
0%
0%
-83%
-5%
-58%
31%
(8,917,990)
Operating/Non-Operating Expenses:
Insurance/Reserve/Mobilization
Executive Management
Passenger Support Services
Chief of Staff/Public Affairs
Marketing
Program Development
Operations and Communications
Budget and Finance
Communication and Information Technology
Engineering and Construction
Facilities Maintenance
Procurement
Equipment Operations
Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness
PRTC
NVTC
Train Operations/Maintenance of Equipment
Amtrak
Amtrak Access Fees
Norfolk Southern Access Fees
CSX Access Fees
8,136,152
887,000
445,100
441,000
450,000
950,125
1,611,250
2,808,500
1,159,500
844,500
3,695,000
353,500
11,836,250
586,300
104,000
80,000
20,241,112
4,582,942
6,000,000
3,210,000
6,392,500
Total Operating/Non-Operating Expenses
74,814,731
6,224,000
1,070,000
565,000
426,200
1,583,000
2,047,250
3,116,000
1,537,000
723,800
4,316,900
459,000
11,697,500
830,500
104,000
80,000
21,395,000
5,172,000
6,390,000
3,340,000
6,960,000
-
CIP Expenditures
Debt Service/Allowance for Doubtful Accts
6,764,870
Total CIP and Other Expenditures
6,764,870
46,410,000
81,579,601
46,410,000
Grand Total Expenses
Difference by Fund
Total Difference
78,037,150
46,410,000
-
-
38,201,000
(8,209,000)
-
6,764,870
38,201,000
(8,209,000)
84,802,020
38,201,000
(4,986,581)
6,764,870
-
(1,912,152)
183,000
(445,100)
124,000
(23,800)
632,875
436,000
307,500
377,500
(120,700)
621,900
105,500
(138,750)
244,200
1,153,888
589,058
390,000
130,000
567,500
3,222,419
(3,931,409)
(3,931,409)
(3,931,409)
(3,931,409)
-24%
21%
-100%
28%
-5%
67%
27%
11%
33%
-14%
17%
30%
-1%
42%
0%
0%
6%
13%
6%
4%
9%
Agenda Item 9-B
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Increase Amount for General
Engineering Consulting VI Contract
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is asked to increase the authorization for General
Engineering Consulting VI Contract task order projects by $500,000 to total
accumulated value of $5,500,000.
Background:
VRE uses General Engineering Consulting (GEC) contracts to provide on-call
engineering, planning, environmental and construction support services. VRE has
found the use of GEC contracts to be more efficient than completing numerous,
separate procurements. GEC contracts help VRE access specialized skills and
expertise from consultants as an extension of staff on an as-needed basis. GEC
contracts are not intended to address all projects and separate procurements will
continue to be issued using the RFP process when appropriate.
VRE has used a succession of GEC contracts over the years, each awarded to
multiple offerors in order to promote competition and allow tasks to be assigned
based of specific areas of expertise and qualifications. The VRE Operations Board
approved the current GEC contract (GEC VI) in March 2013, for a period of up to five
years or an accumulative value of $5,000,000. GEC VI was awarded to five
consulting firms: AECOM, Gannett Fleming, Michael Baker Associates, Parsons
Brinkerhoff, and STV/Ralph Whitehead.
GEC VI is rapidly approaching its $5,000,000 authorization limit after only 19
months of activity. As of August 2014, about $4,433,000 (89 percent) of the current
authorization for GEC VI had been allocated to 23 task order assignments, leaving
$567,000 of the original authorization available for new task orders. With the
addition of task orders currently pending, the GEC VI authorization is expected to be
full committed by the end of October.
Actions have been initiated to procure new GEC contracts, but uninterrupted access
to a GEC contract is needed to progress on several important and/or timely projects.
Procurement and legal counsel advise it is permissible to increase the accumulated
value authorized. Based on the recent rate of task order commitments, amending
the GEC VI contract to increase its authorization limit by $500,000 to an
accumulated value of $5,500,000 is recommended to provide sufficient GEC capacity
until new contracts can awarded.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the increase of authority. Funding for
individual task orders would be drawn from federal, state and/or local funds
defined for specific projects in the VRE operating and capital budgets.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9B-09-2014
Authorization to Increase Amount for
General Engineering Consulting VI Contract
WHEREAS, it is the experience of VRE that General Engineering Consulting (GEC)
Contracts are an efficient and cost-effective means of performing engineering,
planning, environmental and construction related activities required for a limited
duration or needed in a timely manner on an as-needed basis; and,
WHEREAS, the VRE Operations Board approved the current GEC Contract (GEC VI)
on March 15, 2013, for a period not to exceed five-years up to an authorization limit
of $5,000,000; and,
WHEREAS, it is projected that the task order commitments under GEC VI will reach
the contract’s present authorization limits before procurement of a new GEC
contract can be completed; and,
WHEREAS, an interruption in GEC services would likely delay progress on several
important and/or timely projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the VRE Chief Executive Officer to amend the current contract for
General Engineering Consultant services to increase the authorization limitation for
task order projects by $500,000 to total accumulated value of $5,500,000.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-C
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
General Planning Consulting I Contract for Project
Development Services
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to issue
a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Planning Consulting services to support
project development.
Background:
VRE has used General Engineering Consulting (GEC) contracts to provide on-call
engineering, planning, environmental and construction support services. VRE has
found the use of GEC contracts to be more efficient than completing numerous,
separate procurements. GEC contracts help VRE access specialized skills and
expertise from consultants as an extension of staff on an as-needed basis. GEC
contracts are not intended as the procurement mechanism for all projects and
separate procurements will continue to be issued using the RFP process when
appropriate.
VRE has used a succession of GEC contracts over the years; each awarded to
multiple offerors in order to promote competition and allow tasks to be assigned
based on specific areas of expertise and qualifications. The current GEC contract
(GEC VI) is rapidly approaching its authorization limit and is expected to be fully
committed by the end of October.
VRE staff recommends dividing future work between two contracts (GPC I for
project development services and GEC VII for project implementation services
related to construction) in order to provide a broader and more specific assignment
of consultant services.
GPC I will encompass a number of services in support of initial stages of VRE project
development to facilitate implementation of the VRE System Plan 2040 and other
operational support needs. Work will be distributed and managed through task
orders aligned with the following sample categories:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Concept Development Studies
Fare Collection Services
Grant Support Services
Operations Planning Services
Project Management Services
Public Outreach Services
Shop & Yard Planning Services
Station Planning Services
9. Strategic Planning Services
10. System Planning Services
11. Asset Management Services
12. IT/Telecommunications Services
13. Project and Document
Administration
14. Training & Operational Support
The GPC I contract will be awarded to multiple firms to promote competition and
allow tasks to be assigned based on areas of best expertise and qualifications. GPC I
will be used to provide general services in support of non-construction related
projects for a period of up to five years (one base year with four options for
renewal) or an accumulated value of authorized projects not to exceed $5,000,000.
After proposals have been received and evaluated through a competitive process,
VRE staff will return to the Operations Board with a recommendation for award.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the issuance of this solicitation. Funding
for individual task orders would be drawn from federal, state and/or local funds
defined for specific projects in the VRE operating and capital budgets.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9C-09-2014
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
General Planning Consulting I Contract
for Project Development Services
WHEREAS, it is the experience of VRE that General Engineering Consulting (GEC)
Contracts are an efficient and cost-effective means of performing engineering,
planning, environmental and construction related activities required for a limited
duration or needed in a timely manner on an as-needed basis; and,
WHEREAS, a competitive procurement for a new contract to support nonconstruction related projects must be initiated in order to avoid interruption or
delay to several important and/or timely projects related to the System Plan 2040.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the VRE Chief Executive Officer to issue a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for a new General Planning Consulting services to support project
development activities (GPC I) for up to five-years or an accumulated value of
authorized projects not to exceed $5,000,000.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-D
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
General Engineering Consulting VII Contract for Project
Implementation Services
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to issue
a Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Engineering Consulting services to
support project implementation related to construction.
Background:
VRE has used General Engineering Consulting (GEC) contracts to provide on-call
engineering, planning, environmental and construction support services. VRE has
found the use of GEC contracts to be more efficient than completing numerous,
separate procurements. GEC contracts help VRE access specialized skills and
expertise from consultants as an extension of staff on an as-needed basis. GEC
contracts are not intended as the procurement mechanism for all projects and
separate procurements will continue to be issued using the RFP process when
appropriate.
VRE has used a succession of GEC contracts over the years, each awarded to
multiple offerors in order to promote competition and allow tasks to be assigned
based of specific areas of expertise and qualifications. The current GEC contract
(GEC-VI) is rapidly approaching its authorization limit and is expected to be fully
committed by the end of October.
VRE staff recommends dividing future work between two contracts (GPC-I for
planning and project development services and GEC-VII for project implementation
services related to construction in order to provide a broader and more specific
assignment of consultant services.
GEC-VII will encompass a number of engineering and construction services projects
in support of the initial stages of the VRE System Plan 2040 as well as the state-ofgood repair maintenance projects. Work will be distributed and managed through
task orders aligned with the following sample categories:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Construction Management Services
Design Services (Shops & Yards)
Design Services (Stations)
Design Services (Track)
Design Services (Communication & Signals)
Program Management Services
Real Estate Services
The GEC VII contract will be awarded to multiple firms to promote competition and
allow tasks to be assigned based on areas of best expertise and qualifications. GECVII will be used to procure architectural and professional services in support of
construction related projects for a five year term (one base year with four options
for renewal) or an accumulated value of authorized projects not to exceed $500,000
per year. After proposals have been procured and evaluated through a competitive
bidding process, VRE staff will return to the Operations Board with a
recommendation for award.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the issuance of this solicitation. Funding
for individual task orders would be drawn from federal, state and/or local funds
defined for specific projects in the VRE operating and capital budgets.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9D-09-2014
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
General Engineering Consulting VII Contract
for Project Implementation Services
WHEREAS, it is the experience of VRE that General Engineering Consultant (GEC)
Contracts are an efficient and cost-effective means of performing engineering,
planning, environmental and construction related activities required for a limited
duration or needed in a timely manner on an as-needed basis; and,
WHEREAS, a competitive procurement for a new contract to support construction
related projects must be initiated in order to avoid interruption or delay to several
important and/or timely projects related to the System Plan 2040.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the VRE Chief Executive Officer to issue a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for a new General Engineering Consulting services to support engineering and
construction activities (GEC VII) for up to five-years or an accumulated value of
authorized projects not to exceed $500,000 per year.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-E
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Issue an Invitation for Bids for
Consolidated Security Alarm and Access System
Monitoring and Maintenance Services
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
issue an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the purchase of services consolidating the
monitoring and maintenance of VRE’s security alarm and access control system for a
period of a base year and two (2) option years.
Background:
Currently, VRE is utilizing the services of multiple contractors to monitor all security
alarms for fire and intrusion detection and for the maintenance and repair of all
equipment related to these systems. The scope of work for the IFB consolidates
system monitoring and maintenance services for all security alarm and security
access control functions at all VRE facilities into one contract. The consolidation of
these monitoring and maintenance services will provide a single point of contact
and allow for quicker response times and increased reliability of the security
systems critical in the daily operations at VRE.
Upon receipt of the bids, VRE will return to the Board with authorization to award
the contract.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the issuance of this solicitation. Funding is
provided for in the current budget for Facilities and Information Technology.
Funding for future years will be included in each proposed annual budget.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9E-09-2014
Authorization to Issue an Invitation for Bids for
Consolidated Security Alarm and Access System
Monitoring and Maintenance Services
WHEREAS, VRE installed fire and intrusion alarm systems and security access
control systems at all VRE facilities; and,
WHEREAS, the monitoring and maintenance services for these security-related
systems are being provided by multiple contractors causing slight delays and
inefficiencies in response times; and,
WHEREAS, the consolidation of monitoring these services through a single
contractor will allow quicker response times, and consistencies in the delivery of
services in a more efficient manner; and,
WHEREAS, the utilization of a single contractor to maintain all equipment that are
related to these services will provide increased reliability to all of VRE’s securityrelated systems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the Chief Executive Officer issue an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the
purchase of services consolidating the monitoring and maintenance of VRE’s
security alarm and access control system for a period of a base year and two (2)
option years.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-F
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Amend the Contract for Passenger
Railcars
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to recommend the Commissions authorize
the Chief Executive Officer to amend the contract with Sumitomo Corporation of
America (SCOA) to place an option order for five additional railcars and increase the
contract by $10,545,200, from $36,045,714, plus a contingency of $527,260, for a
total amount not to exceed $47,118,174.
Background:
Purchase of Replacement Railcars:
In April 2011, the VRE Operations Board approved a funding plan, developed in
conjunction with DRPT, for the purchase of fifteen (15) new railcars to replace the
remaining twenty legacy gallery railcars still in VRE service. Only fifteen new
railcars are needed to replace the twenty legacy railcars primarily due to reduced
maintenance cycles of the new cars and reduced spare ratios required by a
standardized fleet. The cost of the fifteen railcars was estimated at $36 million, or
$2.4 million per railcar, including contingency and engineering oversight costs.
In May 2011, the VRE Operations Board authorized the issuance of an RFP for the
purchase of the railcars. On July 1, 2011, an RFP was issued for a base order of eight
(8) railcars with an option for up to forty-two railcars. The base order had to be
limited to eight railcars due to the schedule for receiving federal formula funds.
Responses to the RFP were due on September 1, 2011, and VRE received one
response from
Sumitomo Corporation of America. The railcars proposed by SCOA are the same as
those currently in VRE service with the exception of minor design changes required
by new safety standards. The proposed price for the railcars exceeded the available
funding primarily due to significant increases in the cost of rolled and stainless steel
used in the construction of the frame and car shell. The funding plan was revised to
$42.8 million for the fifteen cars, and additional funds were identified by both DRPT
and VRE.
In January of 2012, the VRE Operations Board authorized a Contract with SCOA for
the base order of eight (8) new railcars. In March of 2012, a Contract was executed
and a Notice To Proceed (NTP) was issued.
In November of 2013, the VRE Operations Board authorized a Contract Amendment
for the option order of seven (7) new railcars. In December of 2013, a Contract
Amendment was executed and a Notice To Proceed (NTP) was issued.
In December of 2013, the Operations Board adopted the revised FY2014 VRE
Operating and Capital Budget and the recommended FY2015 VRE Operating and
Capital Budget. The Operations Board referred both to the Commissions for their
consideration and referral to the jurisdictions. In January of 2014, a revised funding
plan for fourteen (14) expansion railcars was presented to the VRE Operations
board as shown below. The purpose of the revised funding plan was to address the
eventual decision not to use NVTA funds for the purchase of expansion railcars.
Funding Source
Budget
Revised Funding Plan
FY 14 - FY15
FY 14 - FY 16
Variance
Federal formula funds -5307
3,278,400
9,895,000
6,616,600
State Mass Transit funds
7,808,200
24,990,000
17,181,800
NVTA regional funds
19,800,000
-
(19,800,000)
Jurisdictional funds
3,508,800
-
(3,508,800)
467,600
1,865,000
1,397,400
34,863,000
36,750,000
1,887,000
VRE - subsidy match/cap res
TOTAL
NOTES:
•
•
Total costs are expected to increase by $1.9M because of the later purchase of the cars.
VRE funds are a combination of the routine match to federal funds and a contribution from the
capital reserve of $452K and $614K in FY 14 and FY 15, respectively.
The revised funding plan was approved by the Commissions on February 13, 2014,
for subsequent consideration and approval by the jurisdictions. The revised funding
plan has been incorporated into the FY2015 Operating and Capital Budget.
This proposed action is for the first five (5) new railcars. Once authorized, the new
cars will be delivered in twenty-four (24) to thirty (30) months from Notice To
Proceed (NTP). These new railcars are for expansion.
Fiscal Impact:
The table below identifies the project costs and funding sources, for the five (5) new
railcars. The table includes both the cost of the purchase of the railcars and the
required oversight work. A separate action item will be submitted for Operations
Board approval for the engineering oversight work.
Project Cost
Description
Cost for five (5) Option Cars
Contingency – SCOA
Engineering Oversight
Contingency - Oversight
Total:
Cost
10,545,200
527,260
781,250
39,062
$11,892,772
Funding Sources – Based on Project Costs
Source
Amount
Federal Formula Funds – 5307
3,280,000
State Mass Transit Funds *
8,087,085
VRE
525,687
Total:
$11,892,772
* Includes State controlled Federal funds.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9F-09-2014
Authorization to Amend the Contract for Passenger Railcars
WHEREAS, in March of 2012 VRE executed a Contract with Sumitomo Corporation
of America for a base order of eight new passenger railcars with an option for fortytwo additional passenger railcars; and,
WHEREAS, in December of 2013, VRE executed a Contract Amendment for seven
option passenger railcars to complete the replacement of the legacy gallery car fleet;
and,
WHEREAS, the purchase of five option railcars will allow VRE to expand capacity
and add ridership; and,
WHEREAS, VRE has identified the funding sources to purchase the additional five
railcars.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby recommend the Commissions authorize the Chief Executive Officer to amend
the contract with Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA) to place an option order
for five additional railcars and increase the contract by $10,545,200, from
$36,045,714, plus a contingency of $527,260, for a total amount not to exceed
$47,118,174.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-G
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for
Engineering and Environmental Services for a Life Cycle
Maintenance Facility
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to issue
a Request for Proposals (RFP) for engineering, environmental, and limited
construction support services necessary to advance a Life Cycle Maintenance (LCM)
Facility and associated track work.
Background:
In January 2014, the VRE Operations Board adopted a life cycle maintenance
strategy for VRE rolling stock. The basis of this strategy is to maintain VRE
locomotives and passenger cars at the highest level of reliability throughout the life
cycle of the equipment.
In order to fully implement this strategy, VRE needs to add a new building fully
dedicated to LCM activities (such as removal, repair and reinstallation of main
engines, head end power units, trucks , car bodies, main generators, auxiliary
generators, traction motors, etc.) along with associated track work. The current
Crossroads Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) in Spotsylvania County VA is
properly situated with respect to operation and has sufficient property available to
accommodate the planned LCM facilities.
The scope of work for this RFP includes the full range of preliminary engineering,
final design and environmental screening services necessary for developing contract
documents for competitive bidding, as well as limited engineering support services
during construction. It will encompass a new pre-fabricated building to house LCM
activities along with associated track work to be constructed in the general proximity
of the south end of the Crossroads MSF property.
Upon receipt of the bids, VRE will return to the Board with authorization to award
the contract.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the project is provided in the FY2015 Budget and approved Capital
Improvement Plan through Federal Section 5307 funding with state and local match.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9G-09-2014
Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposals for Engineering and
Environmental Services for a Life Cycle Maintenance Facility
WHEREAS, the VRE Operations Board in January 2014 resolved that VRE adopt a
life cycle maintenance strategy in order to maintain its locomotives and passenger
cars at the highest level of reliability; and,
WHEREAS, a new building and associated track work is required to accommodate
life cycle maintenance activities; and,
WHEREAS, the current Crossroads Maintenance and Storage Facility has sufficient
property available and is appropriately situated to accommodate a new life cycle
maintenance building and associated track work; and,
WHEREAS, funds for the engineering and environmental services necessary to
advance a life cycle maintenance facility are available through the VRE capital
budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the VRE Chief Operating Officer to issue a Request for Proposals
for engineering, environmental, and limited construction support services necessary
to advance a Life Cycle Maintenance (LCM) Facility and associated track work.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-H
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Amend the Contract for Auditing
Services
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
amend the contract with PBMares, LLP for auditing services to increase the not to
exceed contract value by $20,000 from $347,525 to $367,525 for the seven-year
term of the contract, including option periods.
Background:
In February 2008, NVTC issued a Request for Proposals for the provision of financial
auditing services for NVTC and VRE, with the intention of each organization
entering into a separate contract with the selected auditor. Proposals were
evaluated by a selection committee made up of financial staff from NVTC, VRE, PRTC
and DRPT, and PBGH (now PBMares, LLP) was selected in April 2008, after
concurrence by VRE’s Audit and Finance Committee. In accordance with the best
practices recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association, the term
of the contract was for three years with options to extend for up to four additional
years. The final year of the current contract is for the audit of VRE’s FY 2014
financial statements, currently in process.
The contract price was based on a fixed amount of $44,000 for the annual financial
audit with increases in subsequent years of approximately 3.5%. Under the
contract, additional fees for other required or requested services were to be
negotiated based on specified hourly rates; the approved contract amount did not
include contingency for these costs.
During the term of the contract, additional fees were agreed to in the total amount of
$14,455 for the following purposes:
•
•
•
Conducting procedures at VRE under the federal Single Audit Act for FY 2008
- $4,000.
Assisting in responses to accounting issues raised by the FTA during a
Financial Management Oversight review – FY 2009/FY 2010 - $2,700
Special examination report as requested by the Operations Board – FY
2012/FY 2013 - $7,755
In addition, some additional fees may be incurred in the current fiscal year as the
result of new requirements for testing the data that underlies the information
provided by the Virginia Retirement System.
As a result, authorization is requested to increase the contract value by $20,000.
Fiscal Impact:
The bulk of the additional costs were incurred during the years in which the work
was completed and were covered by cost savings in other areas.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9H-09-2014
Authorization to Amend the Contract for Auditing Services
WHEREAS, in April 2008 VRE executed a contract with PBGH (now PBMares, LLP)
for financial auditing services for an initial three years with options to extend to up
to four additional years in an amount not to exceed $347,525; and,
WHEREAS, the contract provided for the negotiation of additional fees for other
required or requested services based on specified hourly rates; and,
WHEREAS, other services have been performed during the contract term in the
total amount of $14,455 and additional services may be required during the final
contract year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the Chief Executive Officer to amend the contract with PBMares by
increasing the not to exceed contract value by $20,000 from $347,525 to $367,525
for the seven-year term of the contract.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-I
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Award a Contract for Marketing and
Advertising Services
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
execute a contract with Pulsar Advertising of Washington, D.C. for marketing,
advertising, public relations and web design services for one year base term and
four option years to be exercised at the Chief Executive Officer’s discretion, in an
amount not to exceed $1,680,000 for the total five (5) year term beginning October
1, 2014.
Background:
As VRE trains are at capacity and parking is at a premium at most VRE stations,
VRE’s requirements for an advertising agency differ from historical efforts such as
encouraging new ridership. The scope of services for marketing efforts include
branding VRE in an effort to improve recognition and support; developing and
implementing marketing campaigns; producing marketing materials such as rider’s
guides, schedules, posters, etc.; media buying; re-designing our website and
integrating improved social media linkages; and potentially developing smart phone
applications. These integrated efforts will allow us to effectively communicate with
riders, promote services to the public and influence opinion leaders in securing new
sources of non-fare revenue.
The VRE Operations Board approved requests to issue a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for Website Design Services on September 20, 2013 and for Marketing and
Advertising Services on April 18, 2014; but because marketing agencies’ expertise
now regularly includes website design, these procurements were combined to
ensure cohesive branding.
Since there are different approaches to the scope of work, an evaluation of technical
merit is required. Specifically, the requirements of the RFP are unique because it
requires a firm with demonstrated creativity and experienced personnel, and we
need to understand how the firm will approach, develop and process the work to
achieve desired goals. Therefore, other factors must be evaluated in addition to
price.
A mailing list of fifty - three (53) prospective offerors was established for the
solicitation to ensure access to adequate sources of services. On June 23, 2014, an
RFP was issued and Proposals were received on August 7, 2014. Ten (10) responses
were received. Evaluation of the Proposals received was performed by the
Technical Evaluation Team (TET), which consisted of three (3) VRE staff members.
The TET met to discuss and evaluate the Proposals using the following criteria:
A. Demonstrated understanding of the scope of services and RFP requirements
and methodology for satisfying the requirements and goals of VRE.
B. Demonstrated plan to meet the scope of services requirements.
C. Demonstrated experience of the firm in transit or civil construction programs.
D. Demonstrated experience of key personnel relevant to project management on
similar contracts of this type and magnitude.
E. Level of creativity, graphic quality, effective copy, originality as documented by
creative materials and portfolio samples.
F.
Price and value of cost proposal.
Interviews were conducted with the four (4) highest ranked offerors. Following the
interview process, it was determined that the Proposal from Pulsar Advertising was
technically compliant and unanimously selected to be the best value for the project.
Final Ranking of Offerors
Offerors
1. Pulsar Advertising, Washington, D.C.
2. R&R Partners, Washington, D.C.
3. LMO Advertising, Arlington, VA
4. Williams Whittle, Alexandria, VA
5. Qorvis MSL Group, LLC of Washington, D.C.
6. PadillaCRT of Richmond, VA
7. Vintage Juice Brand Marketing of Alexandria, VA
8. Blaize Events & Media, Inc. of Virginia Beach, VA
9. Fuseideas, LLC of Winchester, MA
10. White of Herndon, VA
Sparky’s Garage previously performed services for VRE from July 1, 2011 to
September 30, 2014 under a contract. Pulsar’s pricing is approximately 10 percent
less than the contract cost estimate. The Contract will be for a base period of three
(3) years with the option to extend for two (2) additional one-year periods with the
CEO exercising the option years at his discretion. The contract shall term shall not
exceed five (5) years.
Fiscal Impact:
The current budget for Marketing includes funding of $324,000 for the remainder of
FY15. Funding for future years will be included in each proposed budget.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9I-09-2014
Authorization to Award a Contract for
Marketing and Advertising Services
WHEREAS, on September 20, 2013 the VRE Operations Board authorized the Chief
Executive Officer to issue an RFP for web design services; and,
WHEREAS, on April 18, 2014, the VRE Operations Board authorized the Chief
Executive Officer to issue an RFP for marketing, advertising and public relations
services; and,
WHEREAS, an RFP for the services referenced above was issued on June 23, 2014
and on August 7, 2014, ten proposals were received; and,
WHEREAS, VRE staff reviewed the proposals, interviewed the top four firms, and
queried references; and,
WHEREAS, following this process, a recommendation for award is being made to
Pulsar Advertising.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does
hereby authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract with Pulsar
Advertising for marketing, advertising, public relations and web design services in
an amount not to exceed $1,680,000 for the total five (5) year term beginning
October 1, 2014.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
Agenda Item 9-J
Action Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Authorization to Amend the VRE Tariff Replacing the
Two-Ride Ticket with a Day Pass and Making Other
Administrative Edits
Recommendation:
The VRE Operations Board is being asked to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to
amend the VRE tariff replacing the Two-Ride ticket in the current fare structure
with a Day Pass and make minor administrative edits to clarify and update sections
dealing with System Safety and Security.
Background:
The current Two-Ride ticket was originally introduced as a means for allowing
passengers to make a single purchase of two one-way rides for round-trip travel on
a given day. The price of the ticket was not discounted, simply twice the cost of a
similar Single-Ride Ticket. The benefit was that passengers could purchase and hold
only one ticket, instead of one ticket for each ride. This has led to confusion
regarding the need to validate the two-ride ticket prior to each ride. Many
passengers mistakenly believe that as a “round-trip” ticket, they only need to
validate one time in the morning. To eliminate this confusion, the Operations Board
is being asked to authorize VRE to replace the Two-Ride ticket with a Day Pass. The
Day Pass would be priced the same, but would only need to be validated one time,
prior to the first ride. The pass would expire at midnight on the day validated.
In addition to amending the VRE tariff to reflect this change, authorization is
requested to make edits to clarify and update other areas of the tariff dealing with
System Safety and Security.
A redlined version of the tariff, showing these changes is attached, as well as a clean
copy with the changes incorporated.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact.
Virginia Railway Express
Operations Board
Resolution
9J-09-2014
Authorization to Amend the VRE Tariff Replacing the Two-Ride
Ticket with a Day Pass and Making Other Administrative Edits
WHEREAS, the current Two-Ride Ticket has caused some confusion for our riders;
and,
WHEREAS, Management believes switching to a Day Pass will alleviate the
confusion caused by the Two-Ride Ticket; and,
WHEREAS, A Tariff change is required for VRE to discontinue the Two-Ride Ticket
and replace it with a Day Pass; and,
WHEREAS, other minor administrative edits to the VRE Tariff are needed to clarify
and update language in the tariff dealing with System Safety and Security.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board authorizes
the Chief Executive Officer to amend VRE’s Tariff to discontinue the Two-Ride Ticket
and replace it with a Day Pass; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the VRE Operations Board does hereby
authorize the Chief Executive Officer to revise the tariff to include other
administrative changes clarifying and updating language dealing with System Safety
and Security.
Approved this 19th day of September, 2014
____________________________
Gary Skinner
Secretary
______________________________
Paul Milde
Chairman
PASSENGER TARIFF
of the
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
Revenue Rules, Regulations and Fares
Governing Operation of the
Manassas Line and Fredericksburg Line
Service Routes
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1995
REVISED: May 17, 1996
REVISED: August 22, 1997
REVISED: December 19, 1997
REVISED: November 21, 2003
REVISED: June 29, 2008
REVISED: October 5, 2009
REVISED: May 19, 2010
REVISED: January 3, 2011
REVISED: May 2, 2011
REVISED: July 1, 2012
REVISED: April 26, 2013
REVISED: September 19, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION
PAGE
1.0 DEFINITIONS
01.01.00 BASE FARE
01.02.00
CONTINUOUS TRAVEL
01.03.00
DISCOUNTED FARE
01.04.00
EXPULSION FROM TRAIN SERVICE
01.05.00
FARE EXEMPT PASSENGER
01.06.00
FARE EVASION
01.07.00
FARE ZONE
01.07.01
INNER FARE ZONE
01.07.02
OUTER FARE ZONE
01.07.03
DESTINATION FARE ZONE
01.07.04
ORIGINATION FARE ZONE
01.08.00
FARE ZONE INCREMENT
01.09.00
FULL FARE
01.010.00
NON REVENUE TRAINS (Deadheads)
01.011.00
NON FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER
01.012.00
OUT OF ZONE
01.013.00
OUTER FARE ZONE DISCOUNT
01.014.00
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
01.015.00
REVENUE TRAIN SERVICE
01.016.00
SENIOR CITIZENS
01.017.00
SERVICE ROUTE
01.017.01
FREDERICKSBURG LINE
01.017.02
MANASSAS LINE
01.018.00
SERVICE TIMETABLE
01.018.01
SERVICE DAY
01.019.00
SPECIAL TRAIN
01.020.00
STOP OVER
01.021.00
TICKET
01.022.00
TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC)
01.023.00
UNDER RIDE
01.024.00
VALIDATION OF TICKETS
01.025.00
RAILCAR VESTIBULE
01.026.00
TRAIN SERVICE PERSONNEL
01.027.00
VRE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
01.028.00
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
01.029.00
VRE
01.030.00
YOUTH
6-8
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
2.0 CLASSES OF TICKETS
02.01.00
SINGLE RIDE
02.01.0002.02.00 DAY PASS
02.02.0002.03.00 TEN-RIDE TICKET
02.03.0002.04.00 FIVE-DAY PASS
02.04.0002.05.00 TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC)
02.05.0002.06.00 MONTHLY TICKET
02.06.0002.07.00 AMTRAK STEP-UP TICKET
02.07.0002.08.00 SENIOR CITIZENSREDUCED FARE TICKET
02.08.00
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TICKET
02.09.00
YOUTH FARE TICKET
02.010.0002.09.00
GROUP TICKETS
02.011.0002.010.00
FREE RIDE CERTIFICATES
PAGE
8-10
3.0 PURCHASING OF TICKETS
03.01.00
NO ON-BOARD TICKET SALES
03.02.00
TICKET VENDING MACHINES
03.03.00
AUTHORIZED OFF-SITE SALES LOCATIONS
03.04.00
TICKETS BY MAIL
10-12
4.0 ON-BOARD INSPECTIONS, FARE EVASION AND PENALTIES
04.01.00
REQUIRED POSSESSION OF VALID TICKET
04.02.00
DISPLAY AND PRESENTATION OF TICKETS
04.03.00
INSPECTION OF TICKETS
04.04.00
REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION
04.05.00
FARE EVASION PENALTY
04.06.00
ADJUDICATION OF SUMMONSES
04.07.00
MONTHLY TICKET VIOLATION GRACE PERIOD
11-13
5.0 GENERAL TICKET AND TRAVEL REGULATIONS
13-15
05.01.00
EXPIRATION OF TICKETS
05.02.00
TICKET REFUNDS
05.03.00
SERVICE DISRUPTION “FREE RIDE” CERTIFICATES
05.04.00
TRANSFERABILITY OF TICKETS
05.05.00
ALTERATIONS, ERASURES AND FORFEITURES
05.06.00
LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED TICKETS
05.07.00
STOP-OVERS
05.08.00
WEEKEND HOLIDAY SERVICE
3
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
PAGE
6.0 VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER RIGHTS RESERVED
15-16
06.01.00
RESPONSIBILITY OF VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER
06.02.00
REFUSAL OF PASSAGE
06.03.00
SEATING
06.04.00
SCHEDULE REVISIONS
06.05.00
STOPS
06.06.00
TRANSFERRING OF PASSENGERS
7.0 BAGGAGE AND PARCELS
07.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS
07.02.00
CHECKED BAGGAGE
07.03.00
UNATTENDED BAGGAGE
16
8.0 SMOKING POLICY FOR TRAINS AND PREMISES
16-17
08.01.00
NO SMOKING ON VRE TRAINS
08.02.00
NO SMOKING AT INDOOR VRE STATION FACILITIES
08.03.00
NO SMOKING IN DESIGNATED “NO SMOKING” AREAS
AT VRE STATION FACILITIES
9.0 FOOD AND BEVERAGES
09.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS
09.02.00
DISPOSAL OF REFUSE
17
10.0 ANIMALS AND PETS
17
10.01.00
SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
10.02.00
PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS
11.0 USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES (INCLUDING
CAMERAS)RADIOS AND OTHER AUDIO DEVICES
17
11.01.00
USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICESRADIOS AND OTHER
AUDIO DEVICES
12.0
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY
TRAIN SERVICE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
12.01.00
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY
TRAIN SERVICE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
17
13.0 BOARDING AND DETRAINING REGULATIONS
13.01.00
BOARDING AND DETRAINING MOVING TRAINS
18
14.0 STATIONS AND FACILITIES
14.01.00
NO LOITERING OR TRESPASSING
14.02.00
POSTING OF BILLS
14.03.00
CONTRAVENTION OF INSTRUCTIONS
18
5
14.04.00
SALE OF MERCHANDISE AND SOLICITING
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
14.05.00
LITTERING AND TRASH DISPOSAL
PAGE
18
15.0 ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
15.01.00
ACCESS TO STATIONS AND FACILITIES FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
15.02.00
ACCESS TO VRE TRAINS FOR PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
18
16.0 LOST AND FOUND
16.01.00
RETRIEVAL OF LOST PROPERTY
19
17.0 BICYCLES
17.01.00
COLLAPSIBLE BICYCLES
17.02.00
FULL SIZE BICYCLES
19
18.0 AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
18.01.00
AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
18.02.00
PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR PROPOSED
TARIFF AMENDMENT
20
19.0 PUBLIC INSPECTION OF TARIFF
20
19.01.00
AVAILABILITY OF TARIFF FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II
APPENDIX III
SYSTEM MAP WITH FARE ZONES
FULL FARE MATRIX
DISCOUNTED FARE MATRIX
6
1.0 DEFINITIONS
01.01.00
BASE FARE – Established at $5.8055, the Single-ride, full fare for travel
within one inner fare zone. Because all regular VRE fares are rounded
up to the nearest $.05, the cost of one Single-ride, full fare journey
between Union Station (Zone 1) and L’Enfant (Zone 1) is $5.8055.
01.02.00
CONTINUOUS TRAVEL – Travel on a single train or the minimum number
of trains headed in one direction necessary for the passenger to reach
his or her final destination.
01.03.00
DISCOUNTED FARE – A fare offered for travel between any particular
pairing of origin and destination fare zones which is reduced from the full
fare for equivalent travel.
01.04.00
EXPULSION FROM TRAIN SERVICE – VRE, at its discretion, may
temporarily remove or permanently ban individuals from using the
service. Reasons for banning include, but are not limited to: threats or
inappropriate behavior against train personnel or passengers on board,
more than one fare evasion summons in a calendar year, bringing a
banned substance onto the train, or flagrant violation of VRE rules that
either endanger the individual or others. Banned individuals would be
provided with a banning notice detailing the reason and the length of the
expulsion. Once banned, individuals found using the service could be
reported to the appropriate authorities as a trespasser and prosecuted
as such.
01.05.00
FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER – Any passenger who, in lieu of a ticket, has
a VRE authorized fare exempt pass or a specially issued ticket from
VRE. Fare-exempt passengers include and are limited to 1) train and
engine crew members engaged in or traveling to and/or from a VRE
work assignment; 2) maintenance of equipment employees engaged in
or traveling to and/or from a VRE work assignment; 3) transportation,
maintenance and claims supervisors engaged in or traveling to and/or
from a VRE work assignment; 4) commissioners and staff from the
Commissions and the VRE Operations Group engaged in or traveling to
and/or from a VRE work assignment; 5) representatives from the freight
railroads engaged in inspection of the VRE operation or territory; 6)
uniformed federal, state, and local law enforcement officers; 7) nonuniformed federal state and local law enforcement officers who are part
of VRE’s Undercover Security Program; 8) children ten years old and
under accompanied by a fare paying adult; 9) an attendant
accompanying a disabled passenger in possession of a disability
attendant ID; 10) trainers of service animals for persons with disabilities
when engaged in training activities.
01.06.00
FARE EVASION – As provided in Section 18.2-160.1 Virginia Ccode the
failure, refusal or inability of a Non Fare-Exempt passenger to display a
valid ticket on board a VRE train when requested to do so by Train
Service Personnel, VRE authorized personnel, or law enforcement
officers.
01.07.00
FARE ZONE – A numbered, geographical region of a service route used to
determine fares for travel to stations falling within that region. VRE fare
zones are concentric from Union Station with Zone 1 encompassing the
stations falling within the District of Columbia. Zone 2 begins at Crystal
City. Zones 2 – 9 are segmented at approximately 7-mile increments.
7
01.07.01
INNER FARE ZONE – Includes Fare Zones 1 and 2.
01.07.02
OUTER FARE ZONE – Includes Fare Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
01.07.03
DESTINATION FARE ZONE – The Fare Zone indicated on the face
of a passenger’s ticket at which the passenger is required to
disembark.
01.07.04
ORIGINATION FARE ZONE – The Fare Zone that applies to the
station where a passenger boards.
01.08.00
FARE ZONE INCREMENT – Established at $.62, the amount added to the
base fare for each additional fare zone traveled (i.e., cost of one, full fare
journey between Crystal City (Zone 2) and Union Station (Zone 1) is
$6.455.35 (Base Fare) plus $.62 (one Fare Zone Increment) =
$5.977.07, rounded up to the nearest $.05 = $6.007.10).
01.09.00
FULL FARE – The basic cost of a Single-ride fare for travel between any
origin and destination.
01.010.00 NON-REVENUE TRAINS (Dead-heads) – Scheduled and non-scheduled
train movements required for transportation of equipment to
maintenance, layover and turnaround facilities. These trains are not
available to the public.
01.011.00 NON FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER – Any passenger required to present a
valid ticket for transportation on a VRE train. Fare-exempt passengers
are not included in this category.
01.012.00 OUT OF ZONE – When a passenger boards or disembarks at a station
beyond the zone indicated on his or her ticket.
01.013.00 OUTER FARE ZONE DISCOUNT – Applied to ticket prices for travel
between stations in Outer Fare Zones (Fare Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9),
regardless of trip length. The Outer Fare Zone Discount is equal to four
(4) times the Fare Zone Increment currently in effect.
01.014.00 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – Persons with physical or mental
impairments that substantially limit one or more of the major life activities
as defined by American With Disabilities Act and that prevents them
from using mass transit effectively without special planning, design, or
accomodations.
01.015.00 REVENUE TRAIN SERVICE – Train service available to the public for
which passengers are required to purchase tickets for transportation.
01.016.00 SENIOR CITIZENS – Persons age 65 or older.
01.017.00 SERVICE ROUTE – The station stops and connecting track found on the
Fredericksburg and the Manassas Line. Attached to this document is a
diagram showing the VRE station stops.
01.017.01
FREDERICKSBURG LINE – The line that runs between
Fredericksburg and Washington Union Station. Stations include:
Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Brooke, Quantico, Rippon,
Woodbridge, Lorton, Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal
City, L’Enfant and Union Station.
01.017.02
MANASSAS LINE – The line that runs between Broad Run
(Manassas) and Washington Union Station. Stations include:
Broad Run/Airport, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre,
8
Rolling Road, Backlick Road, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant
and Union Station.
01.018.00 SERVICE TIMETABLE – Scheduled times at which VRE train service
operates.
01.018.01
SERVICE DAY – A day during which commuter service is
operated.
01.019.00 SPECIAL TRAIN – Train service provided for tourist excursions and/or
chartered travel. At the discretion of VRE, fares may or may not be
charged.
01.020.00 STOP-OVER – Interruption of a trip by a passenger where he or she
disembarks at a station prior to his or her final destination station with
the intention to continue his or her travel on another train to his or her
final destination station.
01.021.00 TICKET – Proof of payment for transportation, subject to validation, that has
specific information printed on authorized VRE ticket stock.
01.022.00 TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC) – A joint fare card good for travel on both
VRE and Metro for one calendar month.
01.023.00 UNDER-RIDE – When a passenger boards or disembarks at a station within
the zones indicated on his or her ticket.
01.024.00 VALIDATION OF TICKETS – The activity required which makes a ticket
valid for transportation on VRE. Free Ride Certificates, Single-Ride,
Two-Ride and Ten-Ride tickets must be date and time stamped at any
VRE ticket machine located at a VRE station entrance area no more
than 60 minutes prior to boarding. The ticket must be inserted into the
ticket vending machine (TVM) in the manner indicated on the ticket and
on the validation machine. Two-Ride and Ten-Ride tickets must be
validated once for each passenger using the ticket on a particular train.
Day Passes and Five-Day Passes must be validated just prior to first
use. To validate a monthly or TLC ticket, a passenger must print their
name on the ticket in the space provided. Amtrak Step-Up tickets do
not require validation.
01.025.00 RAILCAR VESTIBULE – The entrance area at the end or center of a railcar
between the enclosed passenger compartment and the exterior loading
door.
01.026.00 TRAIN SERVICE PERSONNEL – Conductors, Assistant Conductors,
Engineers and Managers engaged in VRE work assignments.
01.027.00 VRE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL - Persons employed by VRE or Keolis
that are engaged in official VRE business.
01.028.00 VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS – The commuter rail service owned and
operated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
01.029.00 VRE – Abbreviation for “Virginia Railway Express.”
01.030.00 YOUTH – Persons age 11-18 years.
2.0 CLASSES OF TICKETS
02.01.00
SINGLE-RIDE/TWO-RIDE TICKET – Full-fare ticket good for SingleRide or Two-Ride between points of origin and destination located within
9
and between the Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket.
Ticket must be validated once for each person using the ticket each
way. Tickets expire 1 year from purchase date.
02.02.00
DAY PASS – Full-fare ticket good for unlimited travel for one (1) VRE
service day from activation between the points of origin and destination
located within and between the Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face
of the ticket. Only one passenger at a time can travel on the pass.
Tickets expire 1 year from purchase date.
02.01.00
02.02.0002.03.00 TEN-RIDE TICKET – Multiple ride ticket good for ten (10) individual
single-rides between points of origin and destination located within and
between the Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket. More
than one passenger may travel on the ticket. Ticket must be validated
once for each person using the ticket. Cost equals the price of ten (10)
Single-Ride tickets for the same zone pairing, minus 8 percent. TenRide ticket prices are rounded to the nearest $.10. Tickets expire 1 year
from purchase date.
02.03.0002.04.00 FIVE-DAY PASS – Multiple ride ticket good for unlimited travel for
five (5) consecutive VRE service days from activation between the
points of origin and destination located within and between the Fare
Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket. Only one passenger at
a time can travel on the pass. Cost equals the price of ten (10) Singleride tickets for the same zone pairing, minus 20 percent. Five day pass
prices are rounded up to the nearest $.05. Passes not validated expire
1 year from purchase date.
02.04.0002.05.00 TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC) – A joint VRE/WMATA fare card that
allows unlimited travel on VRE and Metrorail for one calendar month. A
TLC pass is valid on VRE through the end of the first operating, nonholiday business day of the month after the month indicated on the back
of the ticket. Tickets are priced between Zone 1 and the passenger’s
origination zone plus $11008.00 for the Metrorail fare.
02.05.0002.06.00 MONTHLY TICKET – Multiple ride ticket good for unlimited travel
between points of origin and destination located within and between the
Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket for the calendar
month and year indicated on the face of the ticket. A monthly ticket is
valid through the end of the first operating, non-holiday business day of
the month after the month indicated on the back of the ticket. Only the
passenger whose name appears on the back of the ticket may travel on
it. Cost equals the price of forty-two (42) Single-Ride tickets for the
same zone pairing, minus 34%. Monthly ticket prices are rounded to the
nearest $.10.
02.06.0002.07.00 AMTRAK STEP-UP TICKET – An upgrade ticket that must be used
in conjunction with multi-ride VRE tickets (Monthly, TLC, Ten-Ride, or
Five- Day) for one-way travel on select Amtrak trains. Only one
passenger allowed per Step-Uup ticket. No validation is required of the
Step-Up ticket. It is collected when Amtrak conductor checks primary
VRE ticket for validation. Cost is $3.00. Tickets expire 1 year from
purchase date.
10
Formatted: Indent: Left: 1.25", No bullets or
numbering, Tab stops: Not at 1.25"
Formatted: Indent: Left: 1.25", No bullets or
numbering, Tab stops: Not at 1.25"
02.07.0002.08.00 SENIOR CITIZENSREDUCED FARE TICKET – A discounted
Single-ride, Two-RideDay Pass, Five-Dday Pass, Ten-Ride or Monthly
ticket, sold at a rate of 50% (rounded down to the nearest $.05) off the
full fare. These tickets are good only on regularly scheduled VRE
operated trains and are available to senior citizens age 65 and older at
the time of the ticket purchase, persons with disabilities, and persons
age 11-18. Discounted fare tickets are available at VRE ticket vendors,
located at Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Quantico, Woodbridge, Broad
Run, Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and
Union Station. Seniors can prove eligibility with any valid photo ID that
shows their birth date or a Medicare card. Identification for passengers
with disabilities shall consist of a Reduced Fare ID issued by VRE.
Youths ages 11-18 must have a VRE issued Youth Fare ID in order to
purchase tickets. Parents can purchase tickets for the youth only if the
youth is present with the ID or through CommuterDirect after registering
the youth’s information. ID must be carried on train and produced for
Train Personnel upon request. Tickets expire 1 year from purchase
date, except Monthly tickets which are valid for the calendar month
indicated on the face of the ticket.
02.08.00
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TICKET – A discounted Single-ride,
Two-Ride, Five-Day, Ten-Ride or Monthly ticket, sold at a rate of 50%
(rounded down to the nearest $.05) off the full fare. These tickets are
good only on regularly scheduled VRE operated trains and are available
to persons with disabilities. Discounted fare tickets are available
vendors
located
at
Quantico,
Woodbridge,
Broad
Run,
Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Union
Station. Identification for passengers with disabilities shall consist of a
disabled identification card issued by VRE or a Medicare card. ID must
be carried on train and produced for Train Personnel upon request.
Tickets expire 1 year from purchase date, except Monthly tickets which
are valid for the calendar month indicated on the face of the ticket.
02.09.00
YOUTH FARE TICKET – A discounted Single-ride, Round-trip, FiveDay, Ten-Trip, or Monthly ticket, sold at a rate of 50% (rounded down to
the nearest $.05) off the full fare, to persons age 11-18. These tickets
are good only on regularly scheduled VRE operated trains. Discounted
fare tickets are available only at vendors located at Quantico,
Woodbridge, Broad Run, Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal
City, L’Enfant, and Union Station. Youths ages 11-18 must have a VRE
issued Youth Fare ID in order to purchase tickets. Parents can
purchase tickets for the youth only if the youth is present with the ID or
through CommuterDirect after registering the youth’s information. ID
must be carried on train and produced for Train Personnel upon
request. Tickets expire 1 year from purchase date, except Monthly
tickets which are valid for the calendar month indicated on the face of
the ticket.
02.010.0002.09.00 GROUP TICKETS – Discounted sSpecial tickets issued to groups of
ten (10) or more passengers traveling together. Group tickets can be
used only on the day and on the particular trains for which they are
requested. Cost of tickets sold under to a group discount equals the
Single-Ride fareTen-Trip Ticket rate price minus 50 percent and
11
rounded up to the nearest $.05 for those groups willing to comply with
our scheduling recommendations. For those groups that cannot comply
with our scheduling recommendations, each person in the group will be
charged at the Single Ride Ticket rate. Group ticket sales do not qualify
for VRE’s “Free Ride Certificate” program. These tickets can only be
sold through the VRE office and must be requested at least two (2)
weeks prior to travel date.
02.011.0002.010.00
FREE RIDE CERTIFICATE – Promotional ticket valid on any
VRE revenue service train for one (1) one-way trip between any two
stations on the VRE system. Ticket must be validated prior to use in the
ticket validation machine on the station platform. Free ride certificates
will expire on the date printed on the ticket.
3.0 PURCHASING OF TICKETS
03.01.00
NO ON-BOARD TICKET SALES – Tickets will not be sold on-board
VRE trains at any time. Passengers are required to purchase and
validate tickets prior to boarding trains.
03.02.00
TICKET VENDING MACHINES – Full fare Single-Ride, Two-RideDay
Pass, Ten-Ride, Amtrak Step-Up, Five-Day Pass, Monthly, and Monthly
Amtrak Step-Up tickets, can be purchased at ticket vending machines
located in station entrance areas at all VRE stations. All ticket vending
machines accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and
bank debit cards only. No cash or coin is accepted by or contained in
the machines. Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass, Five-Day Pass, TenRide, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets can be purchased at any time.
Monthly tickets for a particular calendar month will be sold from the tenth
(10th) calendar day of the previous month through the ninth (9th)
calendar day of the effective month.
03.03.00
AUTHORIZED VENDORS – Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass, TenRide, Five-Day Pass, Monthly, TLC, Amtrak Step-Up and discounted
tickets are available for purchase from authorized locations. SingleRide, Two-RideDay Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, and Amtrak StepUp tickets can be purchased at any time from the ticket vending
machines at the stations. Monthly and TLC tickets for a particular
calendar month will be sold from the tenth (10th) calendar day of the
previous month through the ninth (9th) calendar day of the effective
month. Most vendors will accept cash, electronic SmartBenefits
Vouchers and credit and debit cards. At their option and expense,
vendors may accept checks for ticket purchases. Single-Ride, TwoRideDay Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, TLC and Monthly ticket sales
at VRE authorized vendor locations can be purchased for any Fare
Zone combination.
03.04.00
TICKETS BY MAIL AND VIA THE WEB – Single-Ride, Two-RideDay
Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, TLC and Monthly tickets can be
purchased by mail and via the web. Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass,
Five-Day, and Ten-Ride tickets can be purchased any time. TLC and
Monthly tickets for a particular calendar month will be sold from the tenth
(10th) calendar day of the previous month through the ninth (9th)
calendar day of the effective month. Payment can be in the form of a
12
personal check, cashier’s check, money order, or through submission of
a valid MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover account
number. Electronic SmartBenefits Vouchers will be accepted with mail
orders as full or partial payment for tickets purchased. Ticket by mail
requests must be submitted to:
Commuter Direct
PO Box 12176
Arlington VA 22219
Phone: (703) 228-RIDE
http://www.commuterdirect.com
4.0 ON-BOARD INSPECTION, FARE EVASION AND PENALTIES
04.01.00
REQUIRED POSSESSION OF VALID TICKET – Pursuant to Sec. 18.2160.1 Virginia Code Annotated, all Non Fare-Exempt Passengers are
required to purchase and validate a ticket prior to boarding a VRE train
and be in possession of a valid ticket at all times when on-board a VRE
train.
04.02.00
DISPLAY AND PRESENTATION OF TICKETS – Passengers must be
prepared to present a ticket when requested to do so by Train Service
Personnel. If a passenger is traveling on a Single-Ride, Two-Ride or
Ten-Ride ticket in the physical possession of another passenger on the
same train, he or she must stay in the immediate proximity of that
passenger for the duration of travel. Only one passenger at a time may
travel on a Monthly, TLC, Day Pass, or Five-Day ticket Pass and they
are non-transferable.
04.03.00
INSPECTION OF TICKETS – Train Service Personnel will inspect
tickets randomly and at various locations to verify that passengers are in
possession of valid tickets. Tickets inspections are at the discretion of
the conductor. Conductors may also request to see the ID’s used to
purchase reduced fare tickets.
04.04.00
REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION – Non Fare-Exempt
Passengers who refuse or who are unable to produce a valid ticket will
be asked by Train Service Personnel to produce (for the purpose of
issuing a summons) valid personal identification, including name and
current address. Passengers who cannot or will not produce personal
identification when requested to do so are subject to being evicted from
the train at the next station stop or being remanded to the custody of the
proper authorities.
04.05.00
FARE EVASION PENALTIES – Pursuant to the Sec. 18.2-160.1
Virginia Code Annotated, Non Fare-Exempt Passengers without a valid
ticket are subject to a fine of $100 plus court costs for civil infractions
and up tono less than $500 and/or jail time for serious offenses (i.e.
Fraudulent tickets) that are considered Class 2 misdemeanors. Train
Service Personnel are empowered by law to act as conservators of the
peace and shall issue a summons to a passenger observed in the act of
fare evasion.
13
04.06.00
ADJUDICATION OF SUMMONSES – The Commonwealth’s Attorney
for the City of Alexandria shall prosecute Summonses issued by Train
Service Personnel for fare evasion offenses. Summonses shall be
adjudicated according to the policies and procedures dictated by the
General District Court, and, upon appeal, by the Circuit Court.
04.07.00
MONTHLY TICKET VIOLATION GRACE PERIOD – A passenger who
is issued a summons by Train Service Personnel may, with discretion of
the Commonwealth Attorney, have the summons waived if they are able
to supply proof that he or she is the owner of a valid Monthly ticket or
TLC pass purchased prior to the issuance of the summons. Upon
issuing the summons, Train Service Personnel shall inquire as to
whether the summons recipient claims to own a valid Monthly ticket or
TLC pass at the time the summons was issued, but does not have it in
his or her possession. If the response is affirmative, the recipient shall
be issued instructions on how to supply evidence of ownership in order
to have the summons waived. Evidence of ownership submitted shall
include a photocopy of the passenger’s Monthly ticket or TLC pass valid
for the date and train cited on the summons and mention of the place,
method and approximate timeproof of purchase. Proof must be
submitted by the passenger via certified facsimile, mail or in person
within three business days of the receipt of the summons by the
passenger to:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King St., Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
VRE will review the proof and may examine its records of sales to assist
in that determination and may recommend to the Commonwealth
Attorney that the summons be waived.
5.0 GENERAL TICKET AND TRAVEL REGULATIONS
05.01.00
EXPIRATION OF TICKETS – Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass, FiveDay, Ten-Ride, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets shall expire 1 year from
purchase and any remaining value shall not be refundable. Monthly
tickets and TLC passes shall expire and be deemed invalid at 11:59 PM
on the first operating, non-holiday business day of the month after the
last day of the calendar month and year indicated on the face of the
ticket.
05.02.00
TICKET REFUNDS – Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass, Five-Day, TenRide, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets are not refundable, unless a SingleRide or Ten-Ride ticket is mistakenly purchased with the same origin
and destination fare zones from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM). In
that event, the tickets may be returned unused for a full refund at face
value. Monthly tickets and TLC passes (VRE portion only) will be
refunded at a redemption value determined by the calendar day of the
effective month or the preceding month that the ticket is presented or
postmarked for refund:
•
Before effective month begins…100%
14
•
•
•
Service days 1-13: Monthly ticket purchase price minus two
Single-ride full fares applicable to the origin and destination
zone pairing for each service day operated prior to
presentation of the ticket for refund
Remainder of effective month…0%
After the effective month…0%
Refund requests must be submitted with the actual ticket in question by
certified mail or in person to:
Virginia Railway Express
Attn: Ticket Refunds
1500 King St., Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
Refunds for tickets paid for by cash, check or debit card will be issued
by check. Refunds for tickets purchased by credit card will be issued
through a credit to the credit card account on which the ticket was
purchased. Cash refunds of tickets purchased in whole or part with
SmartBenefits is not permitted. VRE reserves the right to refuse refunds
that it deems, at its sole reasonable discretion, unfounded or fraudulent.
The VRE Chief Executive Officer may, at his or her sole reasonable
discretion, grant a ticket refund in whole or part under conditions that do
not satisfy the criteria above if, in his or her judgment, extenuating
circumstances are present to justify a refund in the interest of good
customer relations.
05.03.00
SERVICE DISRUPTION “FREE RIDE CERTIFICATE” – A VRE
passenger is entitled to receive a “Free Ride Certificate” (“FRC”) for
service disruptions which:
1) Cause the passenger on the train to arrive at his or her
destination station 30 or more minutes behind schedule
according to the conductor’s watch. All passengers from the
30 minute late station forward are then eligible for the free
ride certificate;
OR
2) Requires a VRE passenger waiting on a station platform with
a validated Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass, Five-Day, TenRide, TLC or Monthly ticket to subsequently seek another
method of transportation when no transportation is provided
by VRE;
OR
3) The passenger is travelling on a train which is annulled;
OR
4) The passenger is bypassed by a train scheduled to stop at
his or her station.
The crew of the delayed train will distribute “Free Ride Certificates” once
the train has been declared 30 minutes late.
Passengers are responsible for requesting their FRC from one of the
conductors at the time of the delay. FRC requests submitted when onboard distribution took place will not be honored. If a passenger was
inconvenienced by a late, annulled, or bypassed train and did not
15
receive a FRC on a subsequent trip, then the passenger must mail or
fax a copy of their VALIDATED ticket to VRE with a FRC request form
found at http://www.vre.org/programs/freeride.htm indicating what train
the passenger was on and his or her mailing address to:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
fax: 703/684-1313
A FRC will be sent out within 7-10 working days. VRE reserves the right
to deny any request.
05.04.00
TRANSFERABILITY OF TICKETS – Single-Ride, Two-RideDay Pass,
Five-Day, Amtrak Step-Up, and Ten-Ride tickets are transferable to
persons other than the purchaser. Monthly and TLC tickets are not
transferable and shall be only for the personal use of the individual
whose name appears on the back of the ticket.
05.05.00
ALTERATIONS, ERASURES AND FORFEITURES – A ticket may be
confiscated by Train Service Personnel if, in the reasonable judgment of
such personnel, the ticket has been altered or counterfeited in any
manner, or if a passenger refuses to or cannot identify himself or herself
as the individual whose signature appears on a Monthly ticket in his or
her possession. Persons who have their tickets confiscated are subject
to a Fare Evasion summons. Confiscated tickets are not subject to
refund.
05.06.00
LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED TICKETS – VRE is not responsible
for lost, stolen, misplaced or destroyed tickets and is not obligated to
replace or refund such tickets. VRE will make every reasonable effort to
reunite passengers with lost tickets that fall into the possession of VRE.
VRE will, at its discretion, provide replacement for lost, stolen or
destroyed Monthly and TLC tickets (VRE portion only).
• Passengers are eligible for two replacement Monthly tickets
during any twelve-month period, but must file a lost ticket report
with VRE no less than 2 business days prior to requesting a
replacement ticket. They also must be able to provide VRE with
proof of purchase of thea monthly ticket; the location, date and
approximate time of purchase; and the method of payment used
to purchase the ticket before a replacement ticket will be issued.
Only the VRE portion of TLC tickets can be replaced.
05.07.00
STOP OVERS – Stopovers are permitted when using Single-Ride, TwoRideDay Pass, Five-Day Pass andand Ten-Ride tickets as long as the
journey progresses in a single, continuous direction and is completed in
the same day. Monthly and TLC tickets are valid for unlimited travel on
VRE revenue train service during the calendar month indicated on the
face of the ticket, between the fare zones indicated on the face of the
ticket, and stopovers are permitted.
05.08.00
WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY SERVICE – VRE will not normally operate
service on Saturdays or Sundays, or on the following holidays: New
16
Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Special “S” schedule service
may be offered on the Friday after Thanksgiving. If service is provided,
regular fares will prevail unless otherwise specified by VRE.
6.0 VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER RIGHTS RESERVED
06.01.00
RESPONSIBILITY OF VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIERS – Neither
VRE, Keolis Rail Services Virginia, CSX Transportation nor Norfolk
Southern Railway, VRE’s contract carriers, assume financial
responsibility for inconvenience, damage or expense resulting from
errors or omissions in timetables, delayed or missed trains, missed
stops, cancelled trains, failure to make connections or shortages of
equipment and seats. The time of arrival at or departure from any point
in VRE’s published timetables is the schedule that its operators
endeavor to maintain, but it is not guaranteed and connections are not
guaranteed. The above parties also assume no financial responsibility
for loss or damage of passenger property at VRE facilities or on VRE
trains.
06.02.00
REFUSAL OF PASSAGE – Train Service Personnel may refuse a
person passage or continued passage on a VRE train if 1) a passenger
who displays a firearm in the threat of or commission of a crime. 2) he
or she is in possession of explosives; dangerous weapons, such as a
dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor,
slingshot, spring stick, metal knuckles, or blackjack, any flailing
instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a
manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a
nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; any
disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed
blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be
known as a throwing star or oriental dart; flammable material or any
other dangerous item or material; 3) he or she is apparently under the
influence of drugs or alcohol; 4) his or her conduct or behavior is
disorderly and disturbing to other passengers or poses a safety or
security risk to passengers and/or Train Service Personnel; 5) his or her
conduct is disruptive and distracting to Train Service Personnel whose
primary responsibility is for the safe operation of the trains; 6) he or she
is incapable of properly caring for himself or herself; or 76) any civil
actions are pending against him or her by VRE (includingfor fare
evasion enforcement costs).
06.03.00
SEATING – VRE does not guarantee to provide a seat to a passenger
by virtue of their having purchased a ticket for passage. VRE reserves
full control and discretion as to seating of passengers and the right to
change such seating should it be deemed necessary at any time during
the trip, provided that seating arrangements will be made without regard
to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability, national origin
or age.
06.04.00
SCHEDULE REVISIONS – VRE reserves the right to modify Service
Timetables without notice, but will attempt to give due public notice
when and where possible.
17
06.05.00
STOPS – Trains shall be required to make stops only as provided by the
Service Timetable established by VRE, except in the case of service
disruptions such as track conditions, weather conditions or other
conditions beyond VRE’s control or where for reasons of safety an
alternate stopping place is required.
06.06.00
TRANSFERRING OF PASSENGERS – VRE reserves the right
whenever circumstances require to transfer passengers from one train
to another and to substitute bus or Metrorail service for train service.
7.0 BAGGAGE AND PARCELS
07.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS – Passengers traveling on VRE trains shall be
limited to luggage, parcels or objects which they can carry on and off
VRE trains and which will not, in the judgment of Train Service
Personnel, cause inconvenience to or unsafe conditions for other
passengers.
07.02.00
CHECKED BAGGAGE SERVICE – There is no checked baggage
service on VRE trains.
07.03.00
UNATTENDED BAGS – Bags that are left unattended can be viewed as
security concerns. As such, they may be confiscated and not returned.
8.0 SMOKING POLICY FOR TRAINS AND PREMISES
08.01.00
NO SMOKING ON VRE TRAINS – Smoking of pipes, cigarettes, ecigarettes, cigars or any other objects is prohibited on VRE trains at all
times.
08.02.00
NO SMOKING AT INDOOR VRE STATION FACILITIES – Smoking of
pipes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or any other objects is prohibited at
indoor VRE station facilities at all times.
08.03.00
NO SMOKING IN DESIGNATED “NO SMOKING” AREAS AT VRE
STATION FACILITIES – Smoking of pipes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes,
cigars or any other object is prohibited at all times in areas posted as No
Smoking areas at all VRE stations. Smoking areas are generally
designated as the 100 most northern feet of the platform.
9.0 FOOD AND BEVERAGES
09.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS – Consumption of food and non-alcoholic
beverages is permitted on VRE trains. Alcoholic beverages are not
permitted on VRE trains or station platforms.
09.02.00
DISPOSAL OF REFUSE – Passengers are required to properly dispose
of all wrappers, containers, refuse and unwanted reading materials
which they bring on a train in receptacles located on the train or at their
destination station.
10.0
ANIMALS AND PETS
18
010.01.00 SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – Properly
trained guide and hearing dogsguide, hearing, and assistance dogs will
be permitted if the animal is on a leash or harness. Other classes of
trained service animals are also permitted if they are properly restrained.
Service animals may not occupy a seat.
010.02.00 PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS – Small pets not classified as guide and
hearing dogs and service animals for persons with disabilities may be
transported on trains, providing they are non-odoriferous and not
otherwise objectionable. They must be in a closed, well-ventilated
container and cannot occupy a seat.
11.0 USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES (INCLUDING CAMERAS)RADIOS
AND OTHER AUDIO DEVICES
011.01.00 USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES RADIOS AND OTHER
AUDIO DEVICES – All radios, tape players, CD players, portable
televisions and other audio devices must be used with a headset and
the volume must be kept low such that other passengers are not
disturbed. Cell phone use is permitted, but may not be used in a
manner that disturbs other passengers unnecessarilyVRE only permits
the use of devices approved by the Federal Communications
Commission for public use. Audio devices must be used with a headset
and the volume must be kept low such that other passengers are not
disturbed.
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.25", Hanging: 1"
Cell phone use is permitted, but may not be used in such a manner that
disturbs
other
passengers
unnecessarily.
The use of audio, visual or still-image recording devices (collectively
"cameras" or "photography") for non-commercial use is permitted on
any public access areas managed by VRE. VRE does not permit
commercial, special or news photography onboard its trains or any
photography in restricted areas without explicit written authorization from
VRE. While photography is permitted in clearly defined public areas of
the VRE system, it cannot be permitted in any manner that would
interfere with other passengers or the safe movement of the train.
011.01.00 .
12.0
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY TRAIN SERVICE AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
012.01.00 OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY TRAIN SERVICE AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL – All persons are required to abide by the
instructions issued by Train Service and Emergency Personnel while
on-board VRE trains, at VRE facilities and on railroad property.
13.0
BOARDING AND DETRAINING REGULATIONS
013.01.00 BOARDING AND DETRAINING MOVING TRAINS – No passenger shall
attempt to board or get off a VRE train when it is in motion. Passengers
boarding and alighting must use equipment mounted railings and handholds to climb into or out of equipment.
19
Formatted: Indent: Left: 1.25", No bullets or
numbering
20
14.0
STATIONS AND FACILITIES
014.01.00 NO LOITERING OR TRESPASSING – Entry into VRE stations and/or
premises is reserved to those individuals with the immediate intent to
use the commuter rail service provided by VRE and to authorized
personnel, agents and invitees of VRE, Keolis Rail Service Virginia,
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, CSX Transportation and
Norfolk Southern Railway.
014.02.00 POSTING OF BILLS – No person shall distribute, place or post handbills,
signs, notices or any other form of written or printed material on or within
any facility or platform of VRE. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the
posting of signs, notices and official information by VRE.
014.03.00 CONTRAVENTION OF INSTRUCTIONS – No person shall disobey official
instructions or directions indicated on any sign or posting erected at or
on a VRE facility or vehicleequipment.
014.04.00 SALE OF MERCHANDISE AND SOLICITING – No person shall attempt to
sell any merchandise, article or other item or solicit members of the
public for any purpose at any VRE facility or platform, or on-board any
VRE train without the written permission of VRE.
014.05.00 LITTERING AND TRASH DISPOSAL – All persons shall dispose of trash
and unwanted reading materials in proper receptacles at VRE facilities.
Littering and dumping at VRE facilities is not permitted and may be
subject to finesd as local ordinances permit.
15.0
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
015.01.00 ACCESS TO STATIONS AND FACILITIES BY PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES – All VRE stations and facilities shall be fully accessible
to persons with disabilities in compliance with all Federal and
Commonwealth of Virginia statutes.
015.02.00 ACCESS TO VRE TRAINS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – All trains
operated by VRE in Revenue Train Service and Special Train Service
shall be accessible to persons with disabilities in full compliance with
Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia statutes. Each train shall
provide at least one (1) car that is fully accessible to persons with
disabilities. A fully accessible car shall be equipped with an accessible
toilet (if a toilet is made available for public use). The car shall normally
be positioned at the northernmost end of the train. Passengers in
wheelchairs and others requiring boarding assistance from Train
Service Personnel shall position themselves at the northernmost end of
the station platform in the designated “Boarding Area for Persons with
Disabilities.” Persons with disabilities not using wheelchairs and not
requiring boarding assistance may access any car on a train which is
opened for boarding. Persons with disabilities must be given priority
access to seats marked as seating for wheelchair/persons with
disabilities.
21
16.0
LOST AND FOUND
016.01.00 RETRIEVAL OF LOST PROPERTY – For items lost or left on trains or at
stations,
reports
may
be
made
at
www.vre.org/feedback/lostitems.htmlphp or passengers may call 703684-1001 (TTY) 703-684-0551 for assistance.
VRE shall make every reasonable effort to assist passengers in the
retrieval of lost, stolen, or misplaced items, but is not responsible for
such items.
17.0
BICYCLES
017.01.00 COLLAPSIBLE BICYCLES –Collapsible bicycles are permitted on all VRE
trains, on any car. These bicycles must be able to be safely stored in
the luggage racks, under seats or in some other place that is not an
inconvenience to other passengers.
017.02.00 FULL SIZE BICYCLES - Full size bicycles will only be allowed on the last
three northbound, the mid-day, any reverse-flow, and the last three
southbound trains on each line. Specifically, these are trains are:
Fredericksburg Line –308, 310, 312, 301, 309, 311, 313; Manassas
Line – 321, 325, 328, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, and 338.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Full size bicycles must board at the northern-most car on the
train and use the southern half of the car.
No more than two (2) full size bicycles are allowed on the car.
If the car already has two bicycles, you cannot bring your
bicycle on the train and must wait for the next one.
Full size bicycles must be tethered to the bench seats using a
bungee cord attached to the eyelet on the seat frame. The
south end bench is distinguishable by only having four (4)
folding seats. Bicyclists will be responsible for securing their
bicycle.
The bench seating on the north end of the car is priority
seating for passengers with disabilities. This area is located
directly across from the restroom and cannot be used for
bicycles.
If the bench seating for full size bicycles is occupied by
passengers, the bicycle rider may ask the passenger to vacate
the seat or ask the conductor for assistance if the passenger is
unwilling to move. The priority will be for the bicycles.
For the safety and convenience of our other riders, all bikes
will be boarded and removed last after all other passengers
have boarded or detrained.
Passengers are not permitted to ride any bicycle on the
platforms or trains.
All bicycles must be clean and free of grease.
VRE will not be responsible for the security of any bicycle
brought on board.
22
Field Code Changed
18.0
AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
018.01.00 AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF – Any special bulletin involving an adjustment
to ticket pricing for promotional purposes and any formal amendment to
the VRE Passenger Tariff shall be approved first by the VRE Operations
Board and subsequently by the Northern Virginia Transportation
Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation
Commission.
018.02.00 PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR PROPOSED TARIFF AMENDMENT – Any
proposed amendment to the VRE Passenger Tariff involving an
increase in fares or major reduction in service shall be open to public
comment at a Public Hearing. A major reduction in service is defined as
the elimination of a route and/or a change that reduces service hours by
25% or more. Formal public notice of the Public Hearing shall be issued
no less than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the Operations
Board meeting at which the amendment will be voted on. Information
collected at the public meetings will be collated and provided to the
Operations Board prior to the vote. Information regarding the proposed
change will be posted on VRE’s website and comment will be received
via email, public hearings, letters and faxes. At least one meeting will
be held at a location on each line.
19.0
PUBLIC INSPECTIONS OF TARIFF
019.01.00 AVAILABILITY OF TARIFF FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION – The official tariff
of the VRE as approved by the VRE Operations Board, the Northern
Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and
Rappahannock Transportation Commission, and any revisions or
special bulletins thereto, shall be kept on file and available for public
inspection between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through
Friday except holidays, at the following address:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
23
APPENDIX I
System Map with Fare Matrix
Formatted: Font: 10 pt
24
Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt
25
APPENDIX II
Full Fare Matrix
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
10.65
97.60
84.90
294.10
10.00
91.80
79.70
276.30
6.80
62.40
54.30
188.20
6.20
56.50
49.20
170.50
5.55
50.70
44.10
152.70
4.90
44.80
38.90
135.00
4.30
38.90
33.90
117.30
3.65
33.10
28.70
99.60
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
10.00
91.80
79.70
276.30
9.40
85.90
74.70
258.60
6.20
56.50
49.20
170.50
5.55
50.70
44.10
152.70
4.90
44.80
38.90
135.00
4.30
38.90
33.90
117.30
3.65
33.10
28.70
99.60
3.00
27.20
23.70
82.00
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
9.40
85.90
74.70
258.60
8.75
80.00
69.60
241.20
5.55
50.70
44.10
152.70
4.90
44.80
38.90
135.00
4.30
38.90
33.90
117.30
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
8.75
80.00
69.60
241.20
8.10
74.20
64.50
223.50
4.90
44.80
38.90
135.00
4.30
38.90
33.90
117.30
3.65
33.10
28.70
99.60
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
8.10
74.20
64.50
223.50
7.50
68.30
59.40
205.90
4.30
38.90
33.90
117.30
3.65
33.10
28.70
99.60
3.00
27.20
23.70
82.00
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
7.50
68.30
59.40
205.90
6.80
62.40
54.30
188.20
3.65
33.10
28.70
99.60
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
6.80
62.40
54.30
188.20
6.20
56.50
49.20
170.50
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
6.20
56.50
49.20
170.50
5.55
50.70
44.10
152.70
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.55
50.70
44.10
152.70
26
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
Zone 1
11.10
101.50
88.30
305.90
Zone 2
10.40
95.50
82.90
287.40
Zone 3
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
Zone 4
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
Zone 5
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
Zone 6
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
Zone 7
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
Zone 8
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
10.40
95.50
82.90
287.40
9.80
89.30
77.70
268.90
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
3.15
28.30
24.60
85.30
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
9.80
89.30
77.70
268.90
9.10
83.20
72.40
250.80
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
9.10
83.20
72.40
250.80
8.45
77.20
67.10
232.40
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
8.45
77.20
67.10
232.40
7.80
71.00
61.80
214.10
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
3.15
28.30
24.60
85.30
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
7.80
71.00
61.80
214.10
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
27
APPENDIX III
Discounted Fare Matrix
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
Zone 1
5.30
48.80
42.45
147.05
Zone 2
5.00
45.90
39.85
138.15
Zone 3
3.40
31.20
27.15
94.10
Zone 4
3.10
28.25
24.60
85.25
Zone 5
2.75
25.35
22.05
76.35
Zone 6
2.45
22.40
19.45
67.50
Zone 7
2.15
19.45
16.95
58.65
Zone 8
1.80
16.55
14.35
49.80
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.00
45.90
39.85
138.15
4.70
42.95
37.35
129.30
3.10
28.25
24.60
85.25
2.75
25.35
22.05
76.35
2.45
22.40
19.45
67.50
2.15
19.45
16.95
58.65
1.80
16.55
14.35
49.80
1.50
13.60
11.85
41.00
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.70
42.95
37.35
129.30
4.35
40.00
34.80
120.60
2.75
25.35
22.05
76.35
2.45
22.40
19.45
67.50
2.15
19.45
16.95
58.65
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.35
40.00
34.80
120.60
4.05
37.10
32.25
111.75
2.45
22.40
19.45
67.50
2.15
19.45
16.95
58.65
1.80
16.55
14.35
49.80
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.05
37.10
32.25
111.75
3.75
34.15
29.70
102.95
2.15
19.45
16.95
58.65
1.80
16.55
14.35
49.80
1.50
13.60
11.85
41.00
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.75
34.15
29.70
102.95
3.40
31.20
27.15
94.10
1.80
16.55
14.35
49.80
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.40
31.20
27.15
94.10
3.10
28.25
24.60
85.25
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.10
28.25
24.60
85.25
2.75
25.35
22.05
76.35
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
2.75
25.35
22.05
76.35
28
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
Zone 1
5.55
50.75
44.15
152.95
Zone 2
5.20
47.75
41.45
143.70
Zone 3
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
Zone 4
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
Zone 5
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
Zone 6
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
Zone 7
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
Zone 8
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.20
47.75
41.45
143.70
4.90
44.65
38.85
134.45
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
1.55
14.15
12.30
42.65
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.90
44.65
38.85
134.45
4.55
41.60
36.20
125.40
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.55
41.60
36.20
125.40
4.20
38.60
33.55
116.20
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.20
38.60
33.55
116.20
3.90
35.50
30.90
107.05
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
1.55
14.15
12.30
42.65
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.90
35.50
30.90
107.05
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
26.35
22.95
79.40
29
PASSENGER TARIFF
of the
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
Revenue Rules, Regulations and Fares
Governing Operation of the
Manassas Line and Fredericksburg Line
Service Routes
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1995
REVISED: May 17, 1996
REVISED: August 22, 1997
REVISED: December 19, 1997
REVISED: November 21, 2003
REVISED: June 29, 2008
REVISED: October 5, 2009
REVISED: May 19, 2010
REVISED: January 3, 2011
REVISED: May 2, 2011
REVISED: July 1, 2012
REVISED: April 26, 2013
REVISED: September 19, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION
PAGE
1.0 DEFINITIONS
01.01.00 BASE FARE
01.02.00
CONTINUOUS TRAVEL
01.03.00
DISCOUNTED FARE
01.04.00
EXPULSION FROM TRAIN SERVICE
01.05.00
FARE EXEMPT PASSENGER
01.06.00
FARE EVASION
01.07.00
FARE ZONE
01.07.01
INNER FARE ZONE
01.07.02
OUTER FARE ZONE
01.07.03
DESTINATION FARE ZONE
01.07.04
ORIGINATION FARE ZONE
01.08.00
FARE ZONE INCREMENT
01.09.00
FULL FARE
01.010.00
NON REVENUE TRAINS (Deadheads)
01.011.00
NON FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER
01.012.00
OUT OF ZONE
01.013.00
OUTER FARE ZONE DISCOUNT
01.014.00
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
01.015.00
REVENUE TRAIN SERVICE
01.016.00
SENIOR CITIZENS
01.017.00
SERVICE ROUTE
01.017.01
FREDERICKSBURG LINE
01.017.02
MANASSAS LINE
01.018.00
SERVICE TIMETABLE
01.018.01
SERVICE DAY
01.019.00
SPECIAL TRAIN
01.020.00
STOP OVER
01.021.00
TICKET
01.022.00
TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC)
01.023.00
UNDER RIDE
01.024.00
VALIDATION OF TICKETS
01.025.00
RAILCAR VESTIBULE
01.026.00
TRAIN SERVICE PERSONNEL
01.027.00
VRE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
01.028.00
VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
01.029.00
VRE
01.030.00
YOUTH
6-8
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
2.0 CLASSES OF TICKETS
02.01.00
SINGLE RIDE
02.02.00
DAY PASS
02.03.00
TEN-RIDE TICKET
02.04.00
FIVE-DAY PASS
02.05.00
TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC)
02.06.00
MONTHLY TICKET
02.07.00
AMTRAK STEP-UP TICKET
02.08.00
REDUCED FARE TICKET
02.09.00
GROUP TICKETS
02.010.00
FREE RIDE CERTIFICATES
PAGE
8-10
3.0 PURCHASING OF TICKETS
03.01.00
NO ON-BOARD TICKET SALES
03.02.00
TICKET VENDING MACHINES
03.03.00
AUTHORIZED OFF-SITE SALES LOCATIONS
03.04.00
TICKETS BY MAIL
10-11
4.0 ON-BOARD INSPECTIONS, FARE EVASION AND PENALTIES
04.01.00
REQUIRED POSSESSION OF VALID TICKET
04.02.00
DISPLAY AND PRESENTATION OF TICKETS
04.03.00
INSPECTION OF TICKETS
04.04.00
REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION
04.05.00
FARE EVASION PENALTY
04.06.00
ADJUDICATION OF SUMMONSES
04.07.00
MONTHLY TICKET VIOLATION GRACE PERIOD
11-12
5.0 GENERAL TICKET AND TRAVEL REGULATIONS
13-15
05.01.00
EXPIRATION OF TICKETS
05.02.00
TICKET REFUNDS
05.03.00
SERVICE DISRUPTION “FREE RIDE” CERTIFICATES
05.04.00
TRANSFERABILITY OF TICKETS
05.05.00
ALTERATIONS, ERASURES AND FORFEITURES
05.06.00
LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED TICKETS
05.07.00
STOP-OVERS
05.08.00
WEEKEND HOLIDAY SERVICE
6.0 VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER RIGHTS RESERVED
15-16
06.01.00
RESPONSIBILITY OF VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER
06.02.00
REFUSAL OF PASSAGE
06.03.00
SEATING
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
06.04.00
06.05.00
06.06.00
PAGE
SCHEDULE REVISIONS
STOPS
TRANSFERRING OF PASSENGERS
7.0 BAGGAGE AND PARCELS
07.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS
07.02.00
CHECKED BAGGAGE
07.03.00
UNATTENDED BAGGAGE
16
16
8.0 SMOKING POLICY FOR TRAINS AND PREMISES
16-17
08.01.00
NO SMOKING ON VRE TRAINS
08.02.00
NO SMOKING AT INDOOR VRE STATION FACILITIES
08.03.00
NO SMOKING IN DESIGNATED “NO SMOKING” AREAS
AT VRE STATION FACILITIES
9.0 FOOD AND BEVERAGES
09.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS
09.02.00
DISPOSAL OF REFUSE
17
10.0 ANIMALS AND PETS
17
10.01.00
SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
10.02.00
PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS
11.0
USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
(INCLUDING CAMERAS)
11.01.00
USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
17
12.0
17-18
13.0 BOARDING AND DETRAINING REGULATIONS
13.01.00
BOARDING AND DETRAINING MOVING TRAINS
18
14.0 STATIONS AND FACILITIES
14.01.00
NO LOITERING OR TRESPASSING
14.02.00
POSTING OF BILLS
14.03.00
CONTRAVENTION OF INSTRUCTIONS
14.04.00
SALE OF MERCHANDISE AND SOLICITING
18
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY
TRAIN SERVICE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
12.01.00
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY
TRAIN SERVICE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d)
14.05.00
LITTERING AND TRASH DISPOSAL
PAGE
18
15.0 ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
15.01.00
ACCESS TO STATIONS AND FACILITIES FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
15.02.00
ACCESS TO VRE TRAINS FOR PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
18-19
16.0 LOST AND FOUND
16.01.00
RETRIEVAL OF LOST PROPERTY
19
17.0 BICYCLES
17.01.00
COLLAPSIBLE BICYCLES
17.02.00
FULL SIZE BICYCLES
19-20
18.0 AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
18.01.00
AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
18.02.00
PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR PROPOSED
TARIFF AMENDMENT
20
19.0 PUBLIC INSPECTION OF TARIFF
20
19.01.00
AVAILABILITY OF TARIFF FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II
APPENDIX III
SYSTEM MAP WITH FARE ZONES
FULL FARE MATRIX
DISCOUNTED FARE MATRIX
5
1.0 DEFINITIONS
01.01.00
BASE FARE – Established at $5.80, the Single-ride, full fare for travel within
one inner fare zone. Because all regular VRE fares are rounded up to
the nearest $.05, the cost of one Single-ride, full fare journey between
Union Station (Zone 1) and L’Enfant (Zone 1) is $5.80.
01.02.00
CONTINUOUS TRAVEL – Travel on a single train or the minimum number
of trains headed in one direction necessary for the passenger to reach
his or her final destination.
01.03.00
DISCOUNTED FARE – A fare offered for travel between any particular
pairing of origin and destination fare zones which is reduced from the full
fare for equivalent travel.
01.04.00
EXPULSION FROM TRAIN SERVICE – VRE, at its discretion, may
temporarily remove or permanently ban individuals from using the
service. Reasons for banning include, but are not limited to: threats or
inappropriate behavior against train personnel or passengers on board,
more than one fare evasion summons in a calendar year, bringing a
banned substance onto the train, or flagrant violation of VRE rules that
either endanger the individual or others. Banned individuals would be
provided with a banning notice detailing the reason and the length of the
expulsion. Once banned, individuals found using the service could be
reported to the appropriate authorities as a trespasser and prosecuted
as such.
01.05.00
FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER – Any passenger who, in lieu of a ticket, has
a VRE authorized fare exempt pass or a specially issued ticket from
VRE. Fare-exempt passengers include and are limited to 1) train and
engine crew members engaged in or traveling to and/or from a VRE
work assignment; 2) maintenance of equipment employees engaged in
or traveling to and/or from a VRE work assignment; 3) transportation,
maintenance and claims supervisors engaged in or traveling to and/or
from a VRE work assignment; 4) commissioners and staff from the
Commissions and the VRE Operations Group engaged in or traveling to
and/or from a VRE work assignment; 5) representatives from the freight
railroads engaged in inspection of the VRE operation or territory; 6)
uniformed federal, state, and local law enforcement officers; 7) nonuniformed federal state and local law enforcement officers who are part
of VRE’s Undercover Security Program; 8) children ten years old and
under accompanied by a fare paying adult; 9) an attendant
accompanying a disabled passenger in possession of a disability
attendant ID; 10) trainers of service animals for persons with disabilities
when engaged in training activities.
01.06.00
FARE EVASION – As provided in Section 18.2-160.1 Virginia Code the
failure, refusal or inability of a Non Fare-Exempt passenger to display a
valid ticket on board a VRE train when requested to do so by Train
Service Personnel, VRE authorized personnel, or law enforcement
officers.
01.07.00
FARE ZONE – A numbered, geographical region of a service route used to
determine fares for travel to stations falling within that region. VRE fare
zones are concentric from Union Station with Zone 1 encompassing the
stations falling within the District of Columbia. Zone 2 begins at Crystal
City. Zones 2 – 9 are segmented at approximately 7-mile increments.
6
01.07.01
INNER FARE ZONE – Includes Fare Zones 1 and 2.
01.07.02
OUTER FARE ZONE – Includes Fare Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
01.07.03
DESTINATION FARE ZONE – The Fare Zone indicated on the face
of a passenger’s ticket at which the passenger is required to
disembark.
01.07.04
ORIGINATION FARE ZONE – The Fare Zone that applies to the
station where a passenger boards.
01.08.00
FARE ZONE INCREMENT – Established at $.62, the amount added to the
base fare for each additional fare zone traveled (i.e., cost of one, full fare
journey between Crystal City (Zone 2) and Union Station (Zone 1) is
$6.45 (Base Fare) plus $.62 (one Fare Zone Increment) = $7.07,
rounded up to the nearest $.05 = $7.10).
01.09.00
FULL FARE – The basic cost of a Single-ride fare for travel between any
origin and destination.
01.010.00 NON-REVENUE TRAINS (Dead-heads) – Scheduled and non-scheduled
train movements required for transportation of equipment to
maintenance, layover and turnaround facilities. These trains are not
available to the public.
01.011.00 NON FARE-EXEMPT PASSENGER – Any passenger required to present a
valid ticket for transportation on a VRE train. Fare-exempt passengers
are not included in this category.
01.012.00 OUT OF ZONE – When a passenger boards or disembarks at a station
beyond the zone indicated on his or her ticket.
01.013.00 OUTER FARE ZONE DISCOUNT – Applied to ticket prices for travel
between stations in Outer Fare Zones (Fare Zone 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9),
regardless of trip length. The Outer Fare Zone Discount is equal to four
(4) times the Fare Zone Increment currently in effect.
01.014.00 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – Persons with physical or mental
impairments that substantially limit one or more of the major life activities
as defined by American With Disabilities Act and that prevents them
from using mass transit effectively without special planning, design, or
accommodations.
01.015.00 REVENUE TRAIN SERVICE – Train service available to the public for
which passengers are required to purchase tickets for transportation.
01.016.00 SENIOR CITIZENS – Persons age 65 or older.
01.017.00 SERVICE ROUTE – The station stops and connecting track found on the
Fredericksburg and the Manassas Line. Attached to this document is a
diagram showing the VRE station stops.
01.017.01
FREDERICKSBURG LINE – The line that runs between
Fredericksburg and Washington Union Station. Stations include:
Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Brooke, Quantico, Rippon,
Woodbridge, Lorton, Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal
City, L’Enfant and Union Station.
01.017.02
MANASSAS LINE – The line that runs between Broad Run
(Manassas) and Washington Union Station. Stations include:
Broad Run/Airport, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre,
7
Rolling Road, Backlick Road, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant
and Union Station.
01.018.00 SERVICE TIMETABLE – Scheduled times at which VRE train service
operates.
01.018.01
SERVICE DAY – A day during which commuter service is
operated.
01.019.00 SPECIAL TRAIN – Train service provided for tourist excursions and/or
chartered travel. At the discretion of VRE, fares may or may not be
charged.
01.020.00 STOP-OVER – Interruption of a trip by a passenger where he or she
disembarks at a station prior to his or her final destination station with
the intention to continue his or her travel on another train to his or her
final destination station.
01.021.00 TICKET – Proof of payment for transportation, subject to validation, that has
specific information printed on authorized VRE ticket stock.
01.022.00 TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC) – A joint fare card good for travel on both
VRE and Metro for one calendar month.
01.023.00 UNDER-RIDE – When a passenger boards or disembarks at a station within
the zones indicated on his or her ticket.
01.024.00 VALIDATION OF TICKETS – The activity required which makes a ticket
valid for transportation on VRE. Free Ride Certificates, Single-Ride and
Ten-Ride tickets must be date and time stamped at any VRE ticket
machine located at a VRE station entrance area no more than 60
minutes prior to boarding. The ticket must be inserted into the ticket
vending machine (TVM) in the manner indicated on the ticket and on the
validation machine. Ten-Ride tickets must be validated once for each
passenger using the ticket on a particular train. Day Passes and FiveDay Passes must be validated just prior to first use. To validate a
monthly or TLC ticket, a passenger must print their name on the ticket in
the space provided. Amtrak Step-Up tickets do not require validation.
01.025.00 RAILCAR VESTIBULE – The entrance area at the end or center of a railcar
between the enclosed passenger compartment and the exterior loading
door.
01.026.00 TRAIN SERVICE PERSONNEL – Conductors, Assistant Conductors,
Engineers and Managers engaged in VRE work assignments.
01.027.00 VRE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL - Persons employed by VRE or Keolis
that are engaged in official VRE business.
01.028.00 VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS – The commuter rail service owned and
operated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
01.029.00 VRE – Abbreviation for “Virginia Railway Express.”
01.030.00 YOUTH – Persons age 11-18 years.
2.0 CLASSES OF TICKETS
02.01.00
SINGLE-RIDE TICKET – Full-fare ticket good for Single-Ride between
points of origin and destination located within and between the Fare
8
Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket. Tickets expire 1 year
from purchase date.
02.02.00
DAY PASS – Full-fare ticket good for unlimited travel for one (1) VRE
service day from activation between the points of origin and destination
located within and between the Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face
of the ticket. Only one passenger at a time can travel on the pass.
Tickets expire 1 year from purchase date.
02.03.00
TEN-RIDE TICKET – Multiple ride ticket good for ten (10) individual
single-rides between points of origin and destination located within and
between the Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket. More
than one passenger may travel on the ticket. Ticket must be validated
once for each person using the ticket. Cost equals the price of ten (10)
Single-Ride tickets for the same zone pairing, minus 8 percent. TenRide ticket prices are rounded to the nearest $.10. Tickets expire 1 year
from purchase date.
02.04.00
FIVE-DAY PASS – Multiple ride ticket good for unlimited travel for five
(5) consecutive VRE service days from activation between the points of
origin and destination located within and between the Fare Zone pairing
indicated on the face of the ticket. Only one passenger at a time can
travel on the pass. Cost equals the price of ten (10) Single-ride tickets
for the same zone pairing, minus 20 percent. Five day pass prices are
rounded up to the nearest $.05. Passes not validated expire 1 year
from purchase date.
02.05.00
TRANSIT LINK CARD (TLC) – A joint VRE/WMATA fare card that
allows unlimited travel on VRE and Metrorail for one calendar month. A
TLC pass is valid on VRE through the end of the first operating, nonholiday business day of the month after the month indicated on the back
of the ticket. Tickets are priced between Zone 1 and the passenger’s
origination zone plus $110.00 for the Metrorail fare.
02.06.00
MONTHLY TICKET – Multiple ride ticket good for unlimited travel
between points of origin and destination located within and between the
Fare Zone pairing indicated on the face of the ticket for the calendar
month and year indicated on the face of the ticket. A monthly ticket is
valid through the end of the first operating, non-holiday business day of
the month after the month indicated on the back of the ticket. Only the
passenger whose name appears on the back of the ticket may travel on
it. Cost equals the price of forty-two (42) Single-Ride tickets for the
same zone pairing, minus 34%. Monthly ticket prices are rounded to the
nearest $.10.
02.07.00
AMTRAK STEP-UP TICKET – An upgrade ticket that must be used in
conjunction with multi-ride VRE tickets (Monthly, TLC, Ten-Ride, or
Five- Day) for one-way travel on select Amtrak trains. Only one
passenger allowed per Step-Up ticket. No validation is required of the
Step-Up ticket. It is collected when Amtrak conductor checks primary
VRE ticket for validation. Cost is $3.00. Tickets expire 1 year from
purchase date.
9
02.08.00
REDUCED FARE TICKET – A discounted Single-ride, Day Pass, FiveDay Pass, Ten-Ride or Monthly ticket, sold at a rate of 50% (rounded
down to the nearest $.05) off the full fare. These tickets are good only
on regularly scheduled VRE operated trains and are available to senior
citizens age 65 and older at the time of the ticket purchase, persons with
disabilities, and persons age 11-18. Discounted fare tickets are
available at VRE ticket vendors, located at Fredericksburg, Leeland
Road, Quantico, Woodbridge, Broad Run, Franconia/Springfield,
Alexandria, Crystal City, and Union Station. Seniors can prove eligibility
with any valid photo ID that shows their birth date or a Medicare card.
Identification for passengers with disabilities shall consist of a Reduced
Fare ID issued by VRE. Youths ages 11-18 must have a VRE issued
Youth Fare ID in order to purchase tickets. Parents can purchase
tickets for the youth only if the youth is present with the ID or through
CommuterDirect after registering the youth’s information. ID must be
carried on train and produced for Train Personnel upon request. Tickets
expire 1 year from purchase date, except Monthly tickets which are valid
for the calendar month indicated on the face of the ticket.
02.09.00
GROUP TICKETS –Special tickets issued to groups of ten (10) or more
passengers traveling together. Group tickets can be used only on the
day and on the particular trains for which they are requested. Cost of
tickets sold to a group equals the Ten-Trip Ticket rate rounded up to the
nearest $.05 for those groups willing to comply with our scheduling
recommendations. For those groups that cannot comply with our
scheduling recommendations, each person in the group will be charged
at the Single Ride Ticket rate. Group ticket sales do not qualify for
VRE’s “Free Ride Certificate” program. These tickets can only be sold
through the VRE office and must be requested at least two (2) weeks
prior to travel date.
02.010.00
FREE RIDE CERTIFICATE – Promotional ticket valid on any VRE
revenue service train for one (1) one-way trip between any two stations
on the VRE system. Ticket must be validated prior to use in the ticket
validation machine on the station platform. Free ride certificates will
expire on the date printed on the ticket.
3.0 PURCHASING OF TICKETS
03.01.00
NO ON-BOARD TICKET SALES – Tickets will not be sold on-board
VRE trains at any time. Passengers are required to purchase and
validate tickets prior to boarding trains.
03.02.00
TICKET VENDING MACHINES – Full fare Single-Ride, Day Pass, TenRide, , Five-Day Pass, Monthly, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets, can be
purchased at ticket vending machines located in station entrance areas
at all VRE stations.
All ticket vending machines accept Visa,
MasterCard, Discover, American Express and bank debit cards only.
No cash or coin is accepted by or contained in the machines. SingleRide, Day Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets
can be purchased at any time. Monthly tickets for a particular calendar
month will be sold from the tenth (10th) calendar day of the previous
month through the ninth (9th) calendar day of the effective month.
10
03.03.00
AUTHORIZED VENDORS – Single-Ride, Day Pass, Ten-Ride, FiveDay Pass, Monthly, TLC, Amtrak Step-Up and discounted tickets are
available for purchase from authorized locations. Single-Ride, Day
Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets can be
purchased at any time from the ticket vending machines at the stations.
Monthly and TLC tickets for a particular calendar month will be sold from
the tenth (10th) calendar day of the previous month through the ninth
(9th) calendar day of the effective month. Most vendors will accept cash,
electronic SmartBenefits and credit and debit cards. At their option and
expense, vendors may accept checks for ticket purchases. Single-Ride,
Day Pass, Five-Day Pass, Ten-Ride, TLC and Monthly ticket sales at
VRE authorized vendor locations can be purchased for any Fare Zone
combination.
03.04.00
TICKETS BY MAIL AND VIA THE WEB – Single-Ride, Day Pass, FiveDay Pass, Ten-Ride, TLC and Monthly tickets can be purchased by mail
and via the web. Single-Ride, Day Pass, Five-Day, and Ten-Ride
tickets can be purchased any time. TLC and Monthly tickets for a
particular calendar month will be sold from the tenth (10th) calendar day
of the previous month through the ninth (9th) calendar day of the
effective month. Payment can be in the form of a personal check,
cashier’s check, money order, or through submission of a valid
MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover account number.
Electronic SmartBenefits will be accepted with mail orders as full or
partial payment for tickets purchased. Ticket by mail requests must be
submitted to:
Commuter Direct
PO Box 12176
Arlington VA 22219
Phone: (703) 228-RIDE
http://www.commuterdirect.com
4.0 ON-BOARD INSPECTION, FARE EVASION AND PENALTIES
04.01.00
REQUIRED POSSESSION OF VALID TICKET – Pursuant to Sec. 18.2160.1 Virginia Code Annotated, all Non Fare-Exempt Passengers are
required to purchase and validate a ticket prior to boarding a VRE train
and be in possession of a valid ticket at all times when on-board a VRE
train.
04.02.00
DISPLAY AND PRESENTATION OF TICKETS – Passengers must be
prepared to present a ticket when requested to do so by Train Service
Personnel. If a passenger is traveling on a Single-Ride, or Ten-Ride
ticket in the physical possession of another passenger on the same
train, he or she must stay in the immediate proximity of that passenger
for the duration of travel. Only one passenger at a time may travel on a
Monthly, TLC, Day Pass, or Five-Day Pass and they are nontransferable.
04.03.00
INSPECTION OF TICKETS – Train Service Personnel will inspect
tickets randomly and at various locations to verify that passengers are in
11
possession of valid tickets. Ticket inspections are at the discretion of
the conductor. Conductors may also request to see the IDs used to
purchase reduced fare tickets.
04.04.00
REQUIREMENT TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION – Non Fare-Exempt
Passengers who refuse or who are unable to produce a valid ticket will
be asked by Train Service Personnel to produce (for the purpose of
issuing a summons) valid personal identification, including name and
current address. Passengers who cannot or will not produce personal
identification when requested to do so are subject to being evicted from
the train at the next station stop or being remanded to the custody of the
proper authorities.
04.05.00
FARE EVASION PENALTIES – Pursuant to the Sec. 18.2-160.1
Virginia Code Annotated, Non Fare-Exempt Passengers without a valid
ticket are subject to a fine of $100 plus court costs for civil infractions
and no less than $500 and/or jail time for serious offenses (i.e.
Fraudulent tickets) that are considered Class 2 misdemeanors. Train
Service Personnel are empowered by law to act as conservators of the
peace and shall issue a summons to a passenger observed in the act of
fare evasion.
04.06.00
ADJUDICATION OF SUMMONSES – The Commonwealth’s Attorney
for the City of Alexandria shall prosecute Summonses issued by Train
Service Personnel for fare evasion offenses. Summonses shall be
adjudicated according to the policies and procedures dictated by the
General District Court, and, upon appeal, by the Circuit Court.
04.07.00
MONTHLY TICKET VIOLATION GRACE PERIOD – A passenger who
is issued a summons by Train Service Personnel may, with discretion of
the Commonwealth Attorney, have the summons waived if they are able
to supply proof that he or she is the owner of a valid Monthly ticket or
TLC pass purchased prior to the issuance of the summons. Upon
issuing the summons, Train Service Personnel shall inquire as to
whether the summons recipient claims to own a valid Monthly ticket or
TLC pass at the time the summons was issued, but does not have it in
his or her possession. If the response is affirmative, the recipient shall
be issued instructions on how to supply evidence of ownership in order
to have the summons waived. Evidence of ownership submitted shall
include a photocopy of the passenger’s Monthly ticket or TLC pass valid
for the date and train cited on the summons and proof of purchase.
Proof must be submitted by the passenger via facsimile, mail or in
person within three business days of the receipt of the summons by the
passenger to:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King St., Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
VRE will review the proof and may examine its records of sales to assist
in that determination and may recommend to the Commonwealth
Attorney that the summons be waived.
5.0 GENERAL TICKET AND TRAVEL REGULATIONS
12
05.01.00
EXPIRATION OF TICKETS – Single-Ride, Day Pass, Five-Day, TenRide, and Amtrak Step-Up tickets shall expire 1 year from purchase and
any remaining value shall not be refundable. Monthly tickets and TLC
passes shall expire and be deemed invalid at 11:59 PM on the first
operating, non-holiday business day of the month after the last day of
the calendar month and year indicated on the face of the ticket.
05.02.00
TICKET REFUNDS – Single-Ride, Day Pass, Five-Day, Ten-Ride, and
Amtrak Step-Up tickets are not refundable, unless a Single-Ride or TenRide ticket is mistakenly purchased with the same origin and destination
fare zones from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM). In that event, the
tickets may be returned unused for a full refund at face value. Monthly
tickets and TLC passes (VRE portion only) will be refunded at a
redemption value determined by the calendar day of the effective month
or the preceding month that the ticket is presented or postmarked for
refund:
•
•
•
•
Before effective month begins…100%
Service days 1-13: Monthly ticket purchase price minus two
Single-ride full fares applicable to the origin and destination
zone pairing for each service day operated prior to
presentation of the ticket for refund
Remainder of effective month…0%
After the effective month…0%
Refund requests must be submitted with the actual ticket in question by
certified mail or in person to:
Virginia Railway Express
Attn: Ticket Refunds
1500 King St., Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
Refunds for tickets paid for by cash, check or debit card will be issued
by check. Refunds for tickets purchased by credit card will be issued
through a credit to the credit card account on which the ticket was
purchased. Cash refunds of tickets purchased in whole or part with
SmartBenefits is not permitted. VRE reserves the right to refuse refunds
that it deems, at its sole reasonable discretion, unfounded or fraudulent.
The VRE Chief Executive Officer may, at his or her sole reasonable
discretion, grant a ticket refund in whole or part under conditions that do
not satisfy the criteria above if, in his or her judgment, extenuating
circumstances are present to justify a refund in the interest of good
customer relations.
05.03.00
SERVICE DISRUPTION “FREE RIDE CERTIFICATE” – A VRE
passenger is entitled to receive a “Free Ride Certificate” (“FRC”) for
service disruptions which:
1) Cause the passenger on the train to arrive at his or her
destination station 30 or more minutes behind schedule
according to the conductor’s watch. All passengers from the
30 minute late station forward are then eligible for the free
ride certificate;
13
OR
2) Requires a VRE passenger waiting on a station platform with
a validated Single-Ride, Day Pass, Five-Day, Ten-Ride, TLC
or Monthly ticket to subsequently seek another method of
transportation when no transportation is provided by VRE;
OR
3) The passenger is travelling on a train which is annulled;
OR
4) The passenger is bypassed by a train scheduled to stop at
his or her station.
The crew of the delayed train will distribute “Free Ride Certificates” once
the train has been declared 30 minutes late.
Passengers are responsible for requesting their FRC from one of the
conductors at the time of the delay. FRC requests submitted when onboard distribution took place will not be honored. If a passenger was
inconvenienced by a late, annulled, or bypassed train and did not
receive a FRC on a subsequent trip, then the passenger must mail or
fax a copy of their VALIDATED ticket to VRE with a FRC request form
found at http://www.vre.org/programs/freeride.htm indicating what train
the passenger was on and his or her mailing address to:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
fax: 703/684-1313
A FRC will be sent out within 7-10 working days. VRE reserves the right
to deny any request.
05.04.00
TRANSFERABILITY OF TICKETS – Single-Ride, Day Pass, Five-Day,
Amtrak Step-Up, and Ten-Ride tickets are transferable to persons other
than the purchaser. Monthly and TLC tickets are not transferable and
shall be only for the personal use of the individual whose name appears
on the back of the ticket.
05.05.00
ALTERATIONS, ERASURES AND FORFEITURES – A ticket may be
confiscated by Train Service Personnel if, in the reasonable judgment of
such personnel, the ticket has been altered or counterfeited in any
manner, or if a passenger refuses to or cannot identify himself or herself
as the individual whose signature appears on a Monthly ticket in his or
her possession. Persons who have their tickets confiscated are subject
to a Fare Evasion summons. Confiscated tickets are not subject to
refund.
05.06.00
LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED TICKETS – VRE is not responsible
for lost, stolen, misplaced or destroyed tickets and is not obligated to
replace or refund such tickets. VRE will make every reasonable effort to
reunite passengers with lost tickets that fall into the possession of VRE.
VRE will, at its discretion, provide replacement for lost, stolen or
destroyed Monthly and TLC tickets (VRE portion only).
14
• Passengers are eligible for two replacement Monthly tickets
during any twelve-month period, but must file a lost ticket report
with VRE no less than 2 business days prior to requesting a
replacement ticket. They also must be able to provide VRE with
proof of purchase of the monthly ticket; the location, date and
approximate time of purchase; and the method of payment used
to purchase the ticket before a replacement ticket will be issued.
Only the VRE portion of TLC tickets can be replaced.
05.07.00
STOP OVERS – Stopovers are permitted when using Single-Ride, Day
Pass, Five-Day Pass and Ten-Ride tickets as long as the journey
progresses in a single, continuous direction and is completed in the
same day. Monthly and TLC tickets are valid for unlimited travel on
VRE revenue train service during the calendar month indicated on the
face of the ticket, between the fare zones indicated on the face of the
ticket, and stopovers are permitted.
05.08.00
WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY SERVICE – VRE will not normally operate
service on Saturdays or Sundays, or on the following holidays: New
Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Special “S” schedule service
may be offered on the Friday after Thanksgiving. If service is provided,
regular fares will prevail unless otherwise specified by VRE.
6.0 VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIER RIGHTS RESERVED
06.01.00
RESPONSIBILITY OF VRE AND CONTRACT CARRIERS – Neither
VRE, Keolis Rail Services Virginia, CSX Transportation nor Norfolk
Southern Railway, VRE’s contract carriers, assume financial
responsibility for inconvenience, damage or expense resulting from
errors or omissions in timetables, delayed or missed trains, missed
stops, cancelled trains, failure to make connections or shortages of
equipment and seats. The time of arrival at or departure from any point
in VRE’s published timetables is the schedule that its operators
endeavor to maintain, but it is not guaranteed and connections are not
guaranteed. The above parties also assume no financial responsibility
for loss or damage of passenger property at VRE facilities or on VRE
trains.
06.02.00
REFUSAL OF PASSAGE – Train Service Personnel may refuse a
person passage or continued passage on a VRE train if 1) a passenger
who displays a firearm in the threat of or commission of a crime. 2) he
or she is in possession of explosives; dangerous weapons, such as a
dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor,
slingshot, spring stick, metal knuckles, or blackjack, any flailing
instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a
manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a
nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; any
disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed
blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be
known as a throwing star or oriental dart; flammable material or any
other dangerous item or material; 3) he or she is apparently under the
influence of drugs or alcohol; 4) his or her conduct or behavior is
15
disorderly and disturbing to other passengers or poses a safety or
security risk to passengers and/or Train Service Personnel; 5) his or her
conduct is disruptive and distracting to Train Service Personnel whose
primary responsibility is for the safe operation of the trains; 6) he or she
is incapable of properly caring for himself or herself; or 7) any civil
actions are pending against him or her by VRE (including fare evasion
enforcement costs).
06.03.00
SEATING – VRE does not guarantee to provide a seat to a passenger
by virtue of their having purchased a ticket for passage. VRE reserves
full control and discretion as to seating of passengers and the right to
change such seating should it be deemed necessary at any time during
the trip, provided that seating arrangements will be made without regard
to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability, national origin
or age.
06.04.00
SCHEDULE REVISIONS – VRE reserves the right to modify Service
Timetables without notice, but will attempt to give due public notice
when and where possible.
06.05.00
STOPS – Trains shall be required to make stops only as provided by the
Service Timetable established by VRE, except in the case of service
disruptions such as track conditions, weather conditions or other
conditions beyond VRE’s control or where for reasons of safety an
alternate stopping place is required.
06.06.00
TRANSFERRING OF PASSENGERS – VRE reserves the right
whenever circumstances require to transfer passengers from one train
to another and to substitute bus or Metrorail service for train service.
7.0 BAGGAGE AND PARCELS
07.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS – Passengers traveling on VRE trains shall be
limited to luggage, parcels or objects which they can carry on and off
VRE trains and which will not, in the judgment of Train Service
Personnel, cause inconvenience to or unsafe conditions for other
passengers.
07.02.00
CHECKED BAGGAGE SERVICE – There is no checked baggage
service on VRE trains.
07.03.00
UNATTENDED BAGS – Bags that are left unattended can be viewed as
security concerns. As such, they may be confiscated and not returned.
8.0 SMOKING POLICY FOR TRAINS AND PREMISES
08.01.00
NO SMOKING ON VRE TRAINS – Smoking of pipes, cigarettes, ecigarettes, cigars or any other objects is prohibited on VRE trains at all
times.
08.02.00
NO SMOKING AT INDOOR VRE STATION FACILITIES – Smoking of
pipes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or any other objects is prohibited at
indoor VRE station facilities at all times.
16
08.03.00
NO SMOKING IN DESIGNATED “NO SMOKING” AREAS AT VRE
STATION FACILITIES – Smoking of pipes, cigarettes, e-cigarettes,
cigars or any other object is prohibited at all times in areas posted as No
Smoking areas at all VRE stations. Smoking areas are generally
designated as the 100 most northern feet of the platform.
9.0 FOOD AND BEVERAGES
09.01.00
PERMITTED ITEMS – Consumption of food and non-alcoholic
beverages is permitted on VRE trains. Alcoholic beverages are not
permitted on VRE trains or station platforms.
09.02.00
DISPOSAL OF REFUSE – Passengers are required to properly dispose
of all wrappers, containers, refuse and unwanted reading materials
which they bring on a train in receptacles located on the train or at their
destination station.
10.0
ANIMALS AND PETS
010.01.00 SERVICE ANIMALS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – Properly
trained guide, hearing, and assistance dogs will be permitted if the
animal is on a leash or harness. Other classes of trained service
animals are also permitted if they are properly restrained. Service
animals may not occupy a seat.
010.02.00 PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS – Small pets not classified as guide and
hearing dogs and service animals for persons with disabilities may be
transported on trains, providing they are non-odoriferous and not
otherwise objectionable. They must be in a closed, well-ventilated
container and cannot occupy a seat.
11.0
USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES (INCLUDING CAMERAS)
011.01.00 USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES –VRE only permits the use
of devices approved by the Federal Communications Commission for
public use. Audio devices must be used with a headset and the volume
must be kept low such that other passengers are not disturbed.
Cell phone use is permitted, but may not be used in such a manner that
disturbs
other
passengers
unnecessarily.
The use of audio, visual or still-image recording devices (collectively
"cameras" or "photography") for non-commercial use is permitted on
any public access areas managed by VRE. VRE does not permit
commercial, special or news photography onboard its trains or any
photography in restricted areas without explicit written authorization from
VRE. While photography is permitted in clearly defined public areas of
the VRE system, it cannot be permitted in any manner that would
interfere with other passengers or the safe movement of the train.
12.0
OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY TRAIN SERVICE AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
17
012.01.00 OBSERVANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY TRAIN SERVICE AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL – All persons are required to abide by the
instructions issued by Train Service and Emergency Personnel while
on-board VRE trains, at VRE facilities and on railroad property.
13.0
BOARDING AND DETRAINING REGULATIONS
BOARDING AND DETRAINING MOVING TRAINS – No passenger
shall attempt to board or get off a VRE train when it is in motion.
Passengers boarding and alighting must use equipment mounted
railings and hand-holds to climb into or out of equipment.
14.0
STATIONS AND FACILITIES
014.01.00 NO LOITERING OR TRESPASSING – Entry into VRE stations and/or
premises is reserved to those individuals with the immediate intent to
use the commuter rail service provided by VRE and to authorized
personnel, agents and invitees of VRE, Keolis Rail Service Virginia,
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, CSX Transportation and
Norfolk Southern Railway.
014.02.00 POSTING OF BILLS – No person shall distribute, place or post handbills,
signs, notices or any other form of written or printed material on or within
any facility or platform of VRE. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the
posting of signs, notices and official information by VRE.
014.03.00 CONTRAVENTION OF INSTRUCTIONS – No person shall disobey official
instructions or directions indicated on any sign or posting erected at or
on a VRE facility or equipment.
014.04.00 SALE OF MERCHANDISE AND SOLICITING – No person shall attempt to
sell any merchandise, article or other item or solicit members of the
public for any purpose at any VRE facility or platform, or on-board any
VRE train without the written permission of VRE.
014.05.00 LITTERING AND TRASH DISPOSAL – All persons shall dispose of trash
and unwanted reading materials in proper receptacles at VRE facilities.
Littering and dumping at VRE facilities is not permitted and may be
subject to fines as local ordinances permit.
15.0
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
015.01.00 ACCESS TO STATIONS AND FACILITIES BY PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES – All VRE stations and facilities shall be fully accessible
to persons with disabilities in compliance with all Federal and
Commonwealth of Virginia statutes.
015.02.00 ACCESS TO VRE TRAINS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES – All trains
operated by VRE in Revenue Train Service and Special Train Service
shall be accessible to persons with disabilities in full compliance with
Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia statutes. Each train shall
provide at least one (1) car that is fully accessible to persons with
disabilities. A fully accessible car shall be equipped with an accessible
toilet (if a toilet is made available for public use). The car shall normally
18
be positioned at the northernmost end of the train. Passengers in
wheelchairs and others requiring boarding assistance from Train
Service Personnel shall position themselves at the northernmost end of
the station platform in the designated “Boarding Area for Persons with
Disabilities.” Persons with disabilities not using wheelchairs and not
requiring boarding assistance may access any car on a train which is
opened for boarding. Persons with disabilities must be given priority
access to seats marked as seating for wheelchair/persons with
disabilities.
16.0
LOST AND FOUND
016.01.00 RETRIEVAL OF LOST PROPERTY – For items lost or left on trains or at
stations, reports may be made at www.vre.org/feedback/lostitems.php
or passengers may call 703-684-1001 (TTY) 703-684-0551 for
assistance.
VRE shall make every reasonable effort to assist passengers in the
retrieval of lost, stolen, or misplaced items, but is not responsible for
such items.
17.0
BICYCLES
017.01.00 COLLAPSIBLE BICYCLES –Collapsible bicycles are permitted on all VRE
trains, on any car. These bicycles must be able to be safely stored in
the luggage racks, under seats or in some other place that is not an
inconvenience to other passengers.
017.02.00 FULL SIZE BICYCLES - Full size bicycles will only be allowed on the last
three northbound, the mid-day, any reverse-flow, and the last three
southbound trains on each line. Specifically, these are trains are:
Fredericksburg Line –308, 310, 312, 301, 309, 311, 313; Manassas
Line – 321, 325, 328, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, and 338.
•
•
•
•
•
Full size bicycles must board at the northern-most car on the
train and use the southern half of the car.
No more than two (2) full size bicycles are allowed on the car.
If the car already has two bicycles, you cannot bring your
bicycle on the train and must wait for the next one.
Full size bicycles must be tethered to the bench seats using a
bungee cord attached to the eyelet on the seat frame. The
south end bench is distinguishable by only having four (4)
folding seats. Bicyclists will be responsible for securing their
bicycle.
The bench seating on the north end of the car is priority
seating for passengers with disabilities. This area is located
directly across from the restroom and cannot be used for
bicycles.
If the bench seating for full size bicycles is occupied by
passengers, the bicycle rider may ask the passenger to vacate
the seat or ask the conductor for assistance if the passenger is
unwilling to move. The priority will be for the bicycles.
19
•
•
•
•
18.0
For the safety and convenience of our other riders, all bikes
will be boarded and removed last after all other passengers
have boarded or detrained.
Passengers are not permitted to ride any bicycle on the
platforms or trains.
All bicycles must be clean and free of grease.
VRE will not be responsible for the security of any bicycle
brought on board.
AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF
018.01.00 AMENDMENTS TO TARIFF – Any special bulletin involving an adjustment
to ticket pricing for promotional purposes and any formal amendment to
the VRE Passenger Tariff shall be approved first by the VRE Operations
Board and subsequently by the Northern Virginia Transportation
Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation
Commission.
018.02.00 PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR PROPOSED TARIFF AMENDMENT – Any
proposed amendment to the VRE Passenger Tariff involving an
increase in fares or major reduction in service shall be open to public
comment at a Public Hearing. A major reduction in service is defined as
the elimination of a route and/or a change that reduces service hours by
25% or more. Formal public notice of the Public Hearing shall be issued
no less than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the Operations
Board meeting at which the amendment will be voted on. Information
collected at the public meetings will be collated and provided to the
Operations Board prior to the vote. Information regarding the proposed
change will be posted on VRE’s website and comment will be received
via email, public hearings, letters and faxes. At least one meeting will
be held at a location on each line.
19.0
PUBLIC INSPECTIONS OF TARIFF
019.01.00 AVAILABILITY OF TARIFF FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION – The official tariff
of the VRE as approved by the VRE Operations Board, the Northern
Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and
Rappahannock Transportation Commission, and any revisions or
special bulletins thereto, shall be kept on file and available for public
inspection between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through
Friday except holidays, at the following address:
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314-2730
20
APPENDIX I
System Map with Fare Matrix
21
APPENDIX II
Full Fare Matrix
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
Zone 1
11.10
101.50
88.30
305.90
Zone 2
10.40
95.50
82.90
287.40
Zone 3
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
Zone 4
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
Zone 5
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
Zone 6
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
Zone 7
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
Zone 8
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
10.40
95.50
82.90
287.40
9.80
89.30
77.70
268.90
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
3.15
28.30
24.60
85.30
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
9.80
89.30
77.70
268.90
9.10
83.20
72.40
250.80
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
9.10
83.20
72.40
250.80
8.45
77.20
67.10
232.40
5.10
46.60
40.50
140.40
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
8.45
77.20
67.10
232.40
7.80
71.00
61.80
214.10
4.50
40.50
35.30
122.00
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
3.15
28.30
24.60
85.30
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
7.80
71.00
61.80
214.10
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
3.80
34.40
29.80
103.60
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
7.10
64.90
56.50
195.70
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
6.45
58.80
51.20
177.30
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.80
52.70
45.90
158.80
22
APPENDIX III
Discounted Fare Matrix
Zone 9
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
Zone 1
5.55
50.75
44.15
152.95
Zone 2
5.20
47.75
41.45
143.70
Zone 3
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
Zone 4
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
Zone 5
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
Zone 6
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
Zone 7
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
Zone 8
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 8
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
5.20
47.75
41.45
143.70
4.90
44.65
38.85
134.45
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
1.55
14.15
12.30
42.65
Zone 7
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.90
44.65
38.85
134.45
4.55
41.60
36.20
125.40
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
Zone 6
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.55
41.60
36.20
125.40
4.20
38.60
33.55
116.20
2.55
23.30
20.25
70.20
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 5
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
4.20
38.60
33.55
116.20
3.90
35.50
30.90
107.05
2.25
20.25
17.65
61.00
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
1.55
14.15
12.30
42.65
Zone 4
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.90
35.50
30.90
107.05
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
1.90
17.20
14.90
51.80
Zone 3
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.55
32.45
28.25
97.85
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
Zone 2
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
3.20
29.40
25.60
88.65
2.90
26.35
22.95
79.40
Zone 1
Single-Ride
Ten-Trip
Five-Day
Monthly
26.35
22.95
79.40
23
Agenda Item 10-A
Information Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Update on Jurisdictional Action on the Master
Agreement
Background:
The Virginia General Assembly has enacted a statutory requirement amending §
15.2-4507 and providing that for each year the state contribution is greater or equal
to the highest contribution from a single jurisdiction, the Chairman of the
Commonwealth Transportation Board or his designee shall have a weighted vote
equal to the highest contributing jurisdiction.
On June 20, 2014, the VRE Operations Board recommended to the Commissions that
the approved amendment to the Master Agreement for the Provision of Commuter
Rail Service in Northern Virginia be transmitted to all Participating and Contributing
Jurisdictions for their approval and execution, and that thereafter it be approved
and executed by the Commissions.
Current Status
Jurisdiction
Alexandria
Arlington
Date considered/to be
Status
considered by Governing Body
September 9, 2014
Approved by Council
September 20, 2014
Pending Consideration
Fairfax
September 9, 2014
Stafford
August 19, 2014
Fredericksburg
Manassas
Manassas Park
Prince William
Spotsylvania
NVTC
PRTC
To be determined
July 28, 2014
August 5, 2014
September 16, 2014
August 12, 2014
TBD
TBD
Approved by Board of
Supervisors
To be determined
Approved by Council
Approved by Council
Pending Consideration
Approved by Board of
Supervisors
Approved by Board of
Supervisors
Waiting on all approvals
Waiting on all approvals
Agenda Item 10-B
Information Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
Fredericksburg Mitigation Accommodation
As part of the discussion and approvals leading up to the last Master Agreement
changes in 2007, a list of mitigation accommodation projects were approved that
dealt with certain projects in different jurisdictions. Fredericksburg Councilman
Matt Kelly asked that the list be reviewed for Fredericksburg projects not
completed. He indicated this issue should be resolved before the current
recommended revision to the Master Agreement related to weighting the state’s
vote is considered by the Fredericksburg Council for action.
Upon reviewing the issue, it appears that some additional work at the
Fredericksburg Station is warranted. In lieu of the original projects, Mr. Kelly has
asked that repairing the remainder of the platforms be substituted. The purpose of
this item is to discuss the issue and seek direction. If the Operations Board concurs,
staff will return with a modified FY 2016 CIP.
Agenda Item 10-C
Information Item
To:
Chairman Milde and the VRE Operations Board
From:
Doug Allen
Date:
September 19, 2014
Re:
2014 Customer Service Survey
Background
VRE conducted its annual customer service survey on board all northbound VRE
and Amtrak cross-honor trains on the morning of May 7, 2014. The survey gives
riders an opportunity to evaluate VRE operations and system performance. The
survey was completed by 5,997 riders, which is approximately 60% of the riders
that morning.
Survey Results
The scoring trend on the survey continues to be positive, especially with respect to
the performance of the train crews. The overall train crew rating was 92%, up from
90% the previous two years. Two areas that were specifically targeted in the action
plan from last year’s survey were Checking Tickets Regularly, and Making Timely
Delay Announcements.
•
Checking Tickets Regularly – The scores for this category had plateaued at
about 78% for several years. We worked with Keolis to move towards a
100% inspection, as long as there was no impact on the safe operation of the
train, and the effort was clearly recognized by the passengers. Last year’s
rating had edged up to 81% and this year we hit 86%.
•
Make Timely Delay Announcements – The scores had been in high 60’s
and mid 70’s indicating that passengers felt that they were not being updated
adequately while onboard during a delay. Once again, we worked with Keolis
to implement a procedure to ensure that conductors were making
announcements at a minimum of once every 10 minutes during a delay. This
year the scores improved to 81%. While there is still room for improvement,
we have shown that we can use targeted efforts to improve the passenger’s
experience and perceptions.
On the Customer Service section, one area that typically receives low ratings is VRE
Follow-up to Delays or Problems. With scores over the past few years ranging
from a low of 50% up to a high of 65%, we added this category to our action plan.
By making the effort to send explanatory Train Talk emails out immediately
following a service disruption, we have been able to reduce the number of GoTrains
emails we receive about specific events, and we have been able to share with the
passengers some of the rationale on decisions we make with respect to the
operation. This effort, which is ongoing, resulted in a score this year of 68%. Once
again, there is still plenty of room for improvement, but the efforts seem to be
having an impact.
Our action plan for the past year also included improving the quality and quantity of
communications on the platform. This year, in the categories of Public Address
System on the Platform and Timeliness of Platform Information we scored 62%
and 61% respectively. While seemingly unimpressive, those numbers were in the
40-45% range just a few years ago. One important takeaway from this year’s
results, especially with respect to communicating with passengers is, when we think
we have communicated enough, we need to go even further.
The survey results summary is included here and full results are available at
www.vre.org as downloadable Microsoft Word or PDF files.
Moving Forward
While these results are still being evaluated, we have already begun work on an
action plan for the coming year.
We saw scores decline in the categories dealing with our current Fare Collection
System. That was most likely in response to reliability issues that resulted from our
attempt to change to a domestic supplier of ticket stock. The new stock did not
perform as we expected and created additional maintenance issues. This has been
resolved with a return to our German supplier. In the bigger picture, though, the
upcoming Mobile Ticketing project should improve the passenger’s perception of
the ease and convenience of purchasing and validating VRE tickets.
We are also exploring projects dealing with automatic passenger counters onboard
the trains, and automatic traffic counters at the station parking lots. Besides
providing accurate and timely information that can be better utilized for planning
and operations, this information, coupled with other improvements in technology,
could provide real-time information to passengers. For example, passengers could
receive real time alerts as to parking availability which may allow them to choose a
different station that day.
The VRE website, according to the survey, is where 80% of our passengers go for
detailed information about our service. The Quality of Website has been rated
consistently at or about 75%. We recognize that the current website is not as
passenger-centric as it needs to be and we will be initiating a project to redesign and
re-launch the website. Particular focus will be placed on the user experience and
improving the ability to find important service information. We will also work to
integrate the site with our efforts on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
We hope to launch the new website in advance of next year’s survey. The annual
Customer Service Survey is a very long, detailed document. The fact that we are
able to get a completion rate of about 60% of the passengers is a clear indicator that
our passengers are actively engaged and interested in the service and our
performance. We take all of the input as a constructive measure on how we are
performing and will continue to develop plans of action to address the concerns and
ideas provided.
Attachment A
Customer Service:
2011
2012
2013
2014
1
Responsiveness of VRE Staff
85%
88%
89%
90%
2
Friendliness of VRE Staff
83%
89%
88%
89%
3
VRE Follow-Up to Delays or Problems
50%
61%
65%
68%
4
Lost and Found
68%
70%
69%
68%
5
Usefulness of Rail time
72%
77%
80%
79%
6
Timeliness of E-mail Responses
51%
58%
62%
64%
7
Quality of E-mail Responses
56%
65%
67%
68%
8
Quality of Website
74%
75%
75%
74%
9
Timeliness of Website Information
67%
69%
70%
70%
10
Timeliness of Train Talk
65%
65%
68%
71%
11
Quality of Train Talk
69%
67%
70%
72%
12
Overall Communication with Passengers
67%
72%
77%
76%
Train Crew Members:
1
Are Knowledgeable About VRE Operations
83%
90%
92%
93%
2
Are Helpful
84%
90%
90%
92%
3
Are Courteous
83%
89%
89%
91%
4
Make Regular Station Announcements
75%
82%
84%
85%
5
Make Timely Delay Announcements
68%
76%
78%
81%
6
Check Tickets Regularly
78%
78%
81%
86%
7
Present A Professional Appearance
91%
93%
93%
94%
8
Overall Crew Performance
85%
90%
90%
92%
VRE Operations:
1
Convenience of Schedules
59%
59%
62%
60%
2
On-time Performance
62%
85%
89%
84%
3
Cleanliness of Trains
89%
91%
93%
93%
4
Cleanliness of Stations
83%
84%
88%
87%
5
Communication between VRE Staff & Riders
71%
77%
81%
82%
6
Automated Telephone System
59%
67%
72%
73%
7
Reliability of FC2 Ticket Vending Machines
51%
58%
58%
56%
8
Ease of Buying a FC2 Ticket
70%
75%
79%
77%
9
Ease of Using SmartBenefits (Metrocheks)
61%
63%
70%
71%
10
Station Parking Availability
56%
57%
66%
65%
11
Public Address System On Train
52%
58%
64%
64%
12
Public Address System On Platform
45%
51%
58%
62%
13
Timeliness of Platform Information
40%
50%
58%
61%
14
Personal Security at Station & On Train
63%
68%
75%
76%
15
Safety of Train Equipment
79%
84%
87%
88%
16
Station Signage
67%
71%
76%
77%
17
Lighting at Morning Station
79%
82%
85%
86%
18
Lighting at Evening Station
79%
82%
85%
86%
19
Traffic Circulation
49%
53%
58%
57%
20
Level of Fare for Quality and Value of Service
63%
61%
67%
64%
78%
84%
88%
88%
21 Overall Service Quality
*Percentages represent ratings of "excellent" or
“good"