Candidates Differ on VRE Funding

The four candidates running for chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors answered six questions by email for Patch.  We will feature one question each day, with the unedited answers by each of the candidates.

Incumbent Democrat (website, Facebook, Twitter)

Independent (website, YouTube)

Independent (Facebook, YouTube)

Republican (website, Facebook)

Question #3 - Virginia Railway Express CEO Dale Zehner says the system is at capacity, and money is needed to "maintain the service levels we have today in cleanliness, customer care and mechanical maintenance, while at the same time working toward adding more cars to the trains and more trains to the system."  How will Fairfax County support VRE's maintenance and expansion?  Explain.

Sharon Bulova

As a founder of the VRE I am pleased to be faced with the challenges associated with its enormous success! Once considered a “pilot” project likely to fail, the VRE has become one of the most successful and fastest growing commuter rail systems in the nation.

As Chairman of the VRE Operations Board, I convened a Board Strategic Planning Retreat/Session this summer to discuss this very subject.  Participants included elected officials from the VRE jurisdictions who share in the operating and capital costs of the system.  We also receive significant funding from the State and from federal grants.  Our strategy for future growth is to continue to invest in projects and equipment that will give us additional capacity for growth.  Having a fleet of all bi-level cars and stronger new locomotives have allowed us to add passengers.  We are also working to resolve storage issues.  Adding express trains for farther-out jurisdictions will free up space on some of our crowded trains, as has a partnership with AMTRAK which allows VRE riders seats on AMTRAK trains. 

Fairfax County has been, and will continue to be, a solid partner in making commuter rail one of the transportation options for our region.

Christopher DeCarlo

Fairfax County should not provide transportation subsidies that only benefit a small percentage of the residents.  It is a financial burden for the private sector to fund continued maintenance and expansion of these programs that are not independently sustainable.  All commuters would like transportation subsidies and in the case of VRE, subsidies also benefit non-Fairfax County residents that board trains at Fairfax County stations.

Will Radle

These are great challenges to savor and to overcome together as a region.  Carrying 17,000 to nearly 20,000 commuters on rail lines from Fredericksburg and Manassas to Washington daily remains vital.  We need dedicated tracks that enable more trains, more railcars, more often.  We need light rail in neighborhoods to carry more passengers.  We need electronic signs informing car drivers of opportunities to board trains.  Our investment means a greater quality of life and effective traffic mitigation.  As Fairfax County Chairman, I will be a team leader ensuring our partners have the resources necessary to succeed in moving forward.

I want to acknowledge Donna Boxer and the entire team at VRE for their great leadership.  Virginia Business Magazine recognized VRE’s Donna Boxer as CFO of the year 2011 in the small non-profit/government organization category.  Because of her exceptional management of VRE finances, Donna acquired capital and grant funding for 71 new railcars and 20 new locomotives.  She has skillfully managed and improved the financial condition of VRE.  As a candidate for Fairfax County Chairman, I look forward to working with Dale Zehner, Donna Boxer and the entire VRE team.

Michael "Spike" Williams

The VRE would be required to justify its need just as any public project would under my leadership. The current chairman has a history of not wanting to see the numbers if she suspects they will not support her agenda. For instance when Pat Herrity requested that an economic impact study be performed in the Dulles corridor so that the board could operate from real numbers in their negotiations with MWAA to limit the tolls, the current Chairman would not allow it to come to a vote. Fairfax County Taxpayers deserve to have their leaders looking at the impacts of the decisions they make. If VRE can stand up to scrutiny of its economic viability then we will do what we can afford to along with Prince William County, Stafford County and Spotsylvania County to support it and petition the state and federal government to chip in if necessary. The future for Fairfax County under my leadership would prioritize efficient spending for transportation as one of the core functions and as a result of this prioritization more money will be available for the core functions.

Following are the links to the previous and subsequent questions and responses.

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