Virginia Railway Express

Virginia DPRT Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl will retire at the end of June.
  • News

DeBruhl to Retire as DRPT Executive Director

Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl will retire at the end of June, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report.

(VRE Photograph Courtesy of BLET)

BLET Ratifies Keolis/VRE Agreement

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new five-year contract with Keolis Rail Services Virginia. The contract ratification vote took place in November. The new agreement runs

BLET, Keolis Reach Tentative Agreement

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced Nov. 7 that a contract ratification vote is under way for the union’s members who work with Keolis Rail Services Virginia. According to

A $12.4 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation will go toward GCRTA’s Rail Car Replacement Program. In July, Siemens Mobility was contracted to replace the agency’s Red Line fleet with 24 S200s. (Rendering Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

Transit Briefs: GCRTA, NCTD, SEPTA, VRE

Ohio’s Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) receives a $12.4 million state grant for railcar replacement. Also, California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) is awarded state funding for a climate vulnerability and needs assessment; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rolls out contactless payment technology; and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) seeks public comment on fare changes proposed in its preliminary fiscal year 2025 budget.

The Virginia CTB has approved new policies that change the way VRE is funded and reform from the governance and funding of WMATA.

Transit Briefs: TTC, NYMTA, VRE/WMATA, ATP, Brightline

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) proposes new investments in customer service, community safety and security initiatives. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Construction & Development (C&D) achieves insurance costs and risk assessment savings of nearly $400 million; Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) policies; Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) approves $190 million spending plan for fiscal year 2024; and Brightline announces Orlando transportation partners.

New York MTA and union officials are testing “no standing” zones at Harlem’s 125th Street and Lexington Avenue subway station to help prevent rider assaults on conductors. (Screen Grab From Spectrum News NY1 Video)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Sound Transit, VPRA, WMATA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is testing “no standing” zones on New York City Transit (NYCT) subway platforms to help eliminate rider assaults on conductors. Also, Seattle’s Sound Transit is beginning simulated service on the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension; Jacobs will deliver general engineering consulting services for passenger rail under the Transforming Rail in Virginia infrastructure program; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) mulls expansion options.

The “Browse, Borrow, Board” program provides MBTA riders free access to digital news and e-book content during the nearly two-month-long closure of Boston’s Sumner Tunnel, which is being repaired. (MassDOT Photograph)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, REM, VRE

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) riders will have free digital access to newspapers, magazines, audiobooks and e-books during the closure of Boston’s Sumner Tunnel. Also, CDPQ Infra announces the launch date for Réseau express métropolitain’s (REM) South Shore branch service; and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) selects Hill International, Inc., to provide consulting services for its capital improvement program.

For first-quarter 2023, Virginia Railway Express commuter rail ridership rose 113.90% from first-quarter 2022. (VRE Photograph via Twitter)

APTA Releases 1Q23 Public Transportation Ridership Report

The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) first-quarter 2023 Public Transportation Ridership Report finds that the light rail/streetcar, commuter rail and heavy rail (rapid transit) categories were up by double-digits over the prior-year

than $20 million through the 1-395/95 Commuter Choice program. (VDOT photo)

Transit Briefs: Northern Lights Express, VRE, Houston Metro, TTC

Legislature dedicates $195 million for Northern Lights Express (NLX). Also, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will receive more than $20 million for two projects; the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston, Tex., Metro) partners with on-demand childcare platform TOOTRis; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) resumes data collection activities.

LOAD MORE