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VRE ALTERS DISCOUNT POLICY

September 19, 2009 12:35 am

BY KELLY HANNON

WOODBRIDGE

But other policy changes discussed yesterday by VRE's governing body could frustrate senior, disabled and youth passengers.

VRE staff want to eliminate the 50 percent youth fare discount for 11- to 21-year-olds, citing low ridership in that age group, crowded trains and a need to save money in an upcoming budget year that's expected to be difficult.

Also, due to action taken by the VRE Operations Board yesterday, senior and disabled passengers will no longer be able to purchase tickets discounted 50 percent in person at stores in the Fredericksburg area.

Instead, those customers must purchase discounted tickets over the phone or online through CommuterDirect, or in person at vendors near VRE stops at Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station.

Only full-fare VRE tickets can be bought from machines on train platforms.

The changes will limit the fraudulent purchase of senior and disabled tickets, said Dale Zehner, VRE's chief executive officer.

"In the past year, we've noticed that discount ticket sales have gone up substantially. Looking at that, we're finding people are buying discounts that should not get those," Zehner said, addressing the Operations Board in Woodbridge.

To purchase a discounted senior ticket, a rider must show a vendor proof that he is at least 65 years old.

A rider with disabilities must show the vendor a government-issued ID that indicates he is disabled.

A one-way trip between Fredericksburg and Union Station in Washington costs $10.30 without the discount.

Zehner said some of VRE's 11 vendors are relaxed about policy enforcement.

At convenience stores with high staff turnover, some clerks will sell discounted tickets to anyone who verbally claims to meet the standard, even if he has no documentation, Zehner said.

Locally, VRE tickets are sold at the 7-Eleven at 905 Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg, the 7-Eleven at 327 Deacon Road in Stafford County and the Coffee Club Cafe at the Quantico train station.

The five vendors that will continue to sell tickets at senior and disabled fares were chosen for their experience with documentation. "These are our best vendors in the sense they understand our policies, and by centering those discount sales there we think we can manage it better," Zehner said.

Stafford supervisor George Schwartz, a member of the VRE Operations Board, said disabled and senior riders will be inconvenienced by not having a Fredericksburg-area vendor.

"So a senior down in Fredericksburg needs to buy a full fare to get to the des- tination vendor?" Schwartz asked.

For passengers who do not buy tickets in advance through CommuterDirect, the answer is yes, Schwartz was told by staff.

Changes could be coming to youth fares as well.

Board members will consider a staff recommendation to do away with the 50 percent fare discount for 11- to 21-year-olds.

Currently, children 6 and younger ride VRE for free, and 7- to 21-year-olds can ride using discounted tickets.

VRE staff recommends changing the policy to allow children 10 and younger to ride free, but require everyone older to pay the full fare.

A public hearing in Alexandria will be scheduled on the youth fare change. After the hearing, the Operations Board would vote on a youth fare policy.

Fraud has also crept into the youth ticket program.

An increasing number of adult passengers are buying tickets at the youth fare purportedly for a son or daughter, then using the cheaper tickets themselves, Zehner said.

Changing the youth fare policy will cut down on fraud, and could free up space on popular trains that are frequently full.

"We have adults that are standing, and youth that are sitting," Zehner said.

School field trips could still receive discounted tickets through VRE's group sales program. VRE tickets are discounted 50 percent for groups of 10 people or more riding together.

But regardless of a ticket's price, if a VRE train is more than 30 minutes late, the railway will now hand out a voucher giving passengers a free future ride.

The change should cheer longtime riders who recall getting the vouchers more frequently.

Currently, VRE waits until a train is 60 minutes late before giving out the vouchers. That time limit was established in 2007, when the VRE Operations Board raised the trigger time.

Before that, VRE had always given out the certificates when trains were at least 30 minutes late.

"Since then, our delays have come down 60 percent," Zehner said.

Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde said riders will be happy, since going back to the 30-minute threshold was the No. 1 request he heard from passengers.

Then again, VRE may not need to give out the vouchers as often anymore.

During July and August, Fredericksburg Line trains arrived on time 91 percent and 86 percent of the time, respectively, and only six trains were delayed longer than 30 minutes.

Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com