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10/3/2023
Two transportation agencies are soliciting public input on proposed changes to transit-rail fares and service.
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is seeking comments on fares and other components of the rail service’s preliminary fiscal-year 2025 budget through Nov. 16.
VRE's draft fiscal-year 2025 operating budget totals $119.9 million, 10% increase over the approved FY2024 operating budget. The budget includes increases to fares of 5% and the jurisdictional subsidy of 14%. VRE’s last broad-based fare increase was 3% in FY2020.
The proposed budget provides for the first-ever operation of VRE weekend service, VRE officials said in a press release.
Comments will be accepted at public hearings to be held Oct. 16, Oct. 18 and Oct. 26; and via mail, email, telephone or fax.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is holding public hearings this week to gather input on proposed rail and bus service changes, as well as proposed rail fare increases. The biennial state budget adopted earlier this year included a funding increase for CTtransit bus service in Connecticut and a funding reduction for MTA Metro-North Railroad and CTrail Shore Line East (SLE) passenger-rail service, to align with current commuting habits more closely, CTDOT officials said in a press release.
The first hearing was held yesterday; one hearing is being held today and two more will be held tomorrow.
Proposed rail service changes include:• decreased Monday through Thursday service on the New Haven Line from 239 trains to 237 trains;• decreased Friday service on the New Haven Line from 241 trains to 233 trains;• decreased weekday service on the New Canaan Line from 41 trains to 39 trains; and• decreased weekday service on the Danbury Line from 28 trains to 26 trains.
The proposed schedule changes for Shore Line East would not take effect until after the Amtrak Fitter Interlocking Project is completed and it differs from the construction schedule that took effect Sept. 5.
Proposed rail faire changes include an increase for Metro-North fares in Connecticut, Shore Line East fares and Hartford Line fares, excluding monthly school passes. Metro-North fares in Connecticut have not increased since January 2018, while Shore Line East fares have not increased since 2016. Hartford Line fares have not been adjusted since the launch of the service.
"Commuting habits continue evolving following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these proposed changes reflect this ‘new normal’ by prioritizing morning and evening peak train service and introducing bus service changes to meet a new demand," said CTDOT Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer.