Julia Eisen – WMAL News | October 3, 2023
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is looking to increase its fares for the first time since 2020.
The proposed preliminary FY25 budget is hoping to balance the VRE’s finances over the last couple of years. Inflation has increased by about 20 percent since the last time fares were increased but VRE is only asking for a five percent fare increase, according to Mark Schofield, Chief Financial Officer of VRE.
“We’re not trying to get that whole amount back,” Schofield told WMAL News.
As well as increasing fares by 5 percent, VRE is considering offering weekend service.
“We are looking to potentially starting to offer service on the weekends for the first time,” Schofield said. “And we would anticipate that a lot of families would want to ride on the weekends.”
In order to look more attractive to families, VRE is also proposing to let children under the age of 18 to ride for free.
VRE is taking public comment on the changes until November 16th.
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