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VRE proposals are good, but they could be better

VRE proposals are good, but they could be better

Date published: 1/2/2005

The Fredericksburg line riders of the Virginia Railway Express will welcome Gov. Mark Warner's December 2004 transit proposals, which provide $20 million for new railcars. But this falls short of VRE's true needs.

On the Fredericksburg line, cars overflow some parking lots, riders frequently must stand for long periods of time, and commuters frequently have to use 40-year-old refurbished railcars.

The Fredericksburg line has statistics that show a need for additional funding. Ridership has slowed from years of double-digit growth to only 5 percent in 2004. On-time performance averaged only 77 percent from July to November 2004, but drivers have found that the reliability of nearby Interstate 95 is much worse.

The railroad's systemwide safety record continues to be a tremendous bright spot--no fatalities or serious injuries in all 12 years of operation.

Our governor should propose state funding for a station and parking facilities in Spotsylvania County, expanded parking facilities at other stations, and more triple-tracking to improve on-time performance.

VRE's on-time performance and safety attracts riders who work for organizations that prevent terrorist attacks on targets in Virginia and in the rest of the country. Our state needs to create a first-class rail infrastructure in Northern Virginia to support the work these important people do.

Virginia's recent budget surplus should be tapped for these worthwhile rail projects. Let's call it the "Transportation Security Act of 2005."

Dick Peacock

Manassas

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Date published: 1/2/2005