Virginia Railway Express names Choe CEO

Virginia Railway Express today announced that Katie Choe will become the new CEO effective Jan. 20, 2026. She succeeds former CEO Rich Dalton, who retired in early October.

The appointment was made by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission, VRE’s joint governing bodies, at the commissions’ respective board meetings yesterday.

With 25 years of program management and safety oversight leadership in the transportation sector, Choe brings a wealth of experience closely aligned to VRE’s mission, VRE officials said in a press release. Most recently, Choe served as chief of staff to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. She also served as chief engineer for Boston Public Works and as a program manager at Massport, the Massachusetts Port Authority.

In those roles, Choe delivered numerous major infrastructure projects with an emphasis on safety and quality. In 2022, she was named WTS-Boston’s Woman of the Year.

"[Choe's] record of delivering transformative results for organizations through innovative, safety-oriented, and people-first leadership reflects the core values held dear at VRE," said VRE Operations Board Chair Sarah Bagley.

Choe takes the helm of VRE at a pivotal point for the organization, VRE officials said. For over 33 years, VRE has served northern and central Virginia as a commuter-rail service.

Now, following the adoption earlier this year of VRE’s 2050 Service Plan and Vision, and a multibillion dollar investment in the region’s rail infrastructure through Virginia’s Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, VRE is preparing to increase service to expand beyond commuter rail and position itself as a regional rail network, they said.