Fare-Free Virginia Railway Express Proposed During Metro Shutdown

ALEXANDRIA, VA ? A fare-free Virginia Railway Express could be considered as Metro riders look for travel alternatives during the Metro shutdown in Alexandria this fall.

Rich Dalton, the CEO of VRE, presented the fare-free proposal to the VRE Operations Board Friday. Under the proposal, VRE would offer free fares throughout September. In addition, free fares would be offered in fare zones 1, 2 and 3 during October.

VRE's board was scheduled to consider the fare-free proposal in July.

"It allows us to thank our passengers for sticking with us and gives an opportunity for folks that are making choices out there to come experience VRE and hopefully make what we feel is the high-value choice," he said.

VRE expected more federal agencies and private employers will transition from completely remote work after Labor Day. The commuter train service will also target riders affected by the fall Metro shutdown.

From Sept. 10 to Oct. 22, Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport will be closed as Metro prepares a cutover of tracks to the new Potomac Yard Metro station. Closures will include the Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations.

From Oct. 23 through May 2023, stations will reopen but will be served only by the Blue and Green Lines because of work on the Yellow Line bridge and tunnel between Pentagon and L'Enfant Plaza.

See Also: Travel Alternatives Announced For Metro Shutdowns In Alexandria

VRE's fare-free proposal in zones 1, 2 and 3 would apply to travel between Backlick Road, Franconia-Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant and Union stations.

VRE can apply for a Department of Rail and Public Transportation program to cover about 80 percent of lost fare revenue due to the Metro shutdown, Dalton said. Depending on what ridership would be like, the fare-free initiative could also be covered by VRE's federal CARES Act funds.

The fare-free measure would be a promotion and not permanent, officials said.

"What we're talking about is giving people an option during the upcoming shutdown and taking advantage of this opportunity to attract new riders and promote VRE," said James Walkinshaw, the vice chair of the VRE Operations Board and Braddock district representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

He added: "I'm thinking there's a possibility that if this is successful, and we do attract a significant number of new riders, that it's something we could look at actually doing annually; maybe it's just a couple of weeks to attract new riders each year."