Lower VRE Rider Parking Fee Approved At Franconia-Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, VA — The $8.95 parking fee for non-Metro riders isn't going away, but frequent Virginia Railway Express riders will no longer have to pay it. Metro and VRE reached an agreement to allow VRE riders with multi-day passes to pay the regular Metro parking fee of $4.95.

The offer applies to commuters with monthly, 5-day or 10-ride tickets for VRE. According to VRE, qualifying commuters will be issued a SmarTrip card with the VRE Rider Parking Pass.

The SmarTrip card will be good for the $4.95 parking fee through the end of the calendar year, but eligibility must be confirmed on a monthly basis. New cards will be issued to eligible VRE Riders at the beginning of each year. Riders can sign up to request more information from VRE.

The higher $8.95 parking fee was introduced in February 2018 for people parking in Metro lots but not using Metrorail or Metrobus. Riders can pay the regular $4.95 parking fee with the SmarTrip card used within two hours of the start of their last Metro trip. The higher fee drew criticism from Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, who argued the Franconia-Springfield garage doesn't fill to capacity.