Spotsy, VRE Are No Closer
By Dan Telvock, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.
Jan. 10–Spotsylvania supervisors decided to forward a list of questions and one commendation to the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board after a short discussion during last night’s meeting about the commuter rail service.
But some supervisors said the board isn’t any closer to joining VRE.
The impasse between the VRE and Spotsylvania supervisors continues over contract terms requiring a 2 percent gasoline tax and a lifetime membership.
With lengthy train delays at times and rider complaints, some supervisors are hesitant to join for the life of the service.
The gas tax increase concerns some of the more conservative supervisors, such as Chris Yakabouski.
The VRE has offered some changes to its contract terms–one that some supervisors applauded and another they criticized.
The Operations Board is agreeable to expand its voting membership proportionate to ridership. Supervisors believed this would add another local member to the Operations Board if the county were to join, giving it more voting strength.
The Operations Board believes this change could attract new members, chiefly Spotsylvania County.
Supervisor Hap Connors said the Operations Board should be commended on the proposal to change its membership based on riders in the locality. He said if Spotsylvania County joins, it would most likely have a strong presence on the board.
The Operations Board also is agreeable to change its allocation subsidy formula to make it based 100 percent on ridership. Currently, local government subsidies are based 90 percent on ridership and 10 percent on population. With an estimated 800 riders living in Spotsylvania, the county would be the fourth-largest member and would pay the fourth-largest subsidy.
Stafford County has about 1,200 riders and pays a $917,247 subsidy. Stafford would pay almost $1.3 million if the subsidy formula changes.
Supervisor Jerry Logan said his calculations show VRE gets $1,200 per rider from the local government subsidies.
A higher local subsidy is troubling, Connors said. He blamed the state for not providing enough funding for transit options.
“The state has not invested enough money into VRE and has cut 30 percent or more of its investment in transit across the state,” Connors said.
He doesn’t want the VRE to turn into a “social club” he compared to FRED, the regional transit service, which he said could happen if the state continues to lower funding.
“It could be a major solution to our transportation problem and that should be of interest to the state,” he said.
Connors said the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, on which he serves, passed a resolution to urge the state to invest more in VRE and transit in general. Spotsylvania supervisors asked County Administrator Randy Wheeler to pass that message to the VRE Operations Board.
Yakabouski also asked that Wheeler get a more precise figure from VRE on how much it would have to contribute to join. Supervisor Vince Onorato suggested that when VRE increases local government subsidies, it should also increase rider fees. VRE did raise local subsidies this year, but did not increase rider fees.
If most users are federal government employees, Onorato said, they all get a cost of living pay raise. “That’s all a part of your cost of living adjustment to your salary,” he said in supporting a VRE fare increase. “I urge [VRE] that every year when their expenses go up to raise their fares.”
After the meeting, Yakabouski said the subsidy formula change doesn’t help the VRE’s chances of attracting Spotsylvania County.
“It would cost the county even more,” Yakabouski said. “That’s just an awful lot of money to subsidize a commuter rail route.”
Logan made similar comments after the meeting. He said the change in membership based on riders is good, but it’s just not enough.
“I don’t see them giving Spotsylvania County any significant advantage or further incentive to join,” he said.
Connors said he’s still hopeful that supervisors will eventually agree to join. He urged supervisors who are concerned about the subsidy and gas tax to lobby the General Assembly.
“We’re not finished yet,” he said.
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