On October 24, DMVMoves gathered about 100 area leaders and transit officials at Union Station to discuss opportunities for greater transit connectivity and better regional passenger rail service across the National Capital Region.
The meeting occurred as part of the regional initiative to develop a unified vision and sustainable funding model for public transit in our region and ahead of the October 29 DMVMoves Task Force meeting to review the final DMVMoves report and recommendations.
Union Station
Following welcome remarks by Charles Allen, DMVMoves Co-Chair and COG Board Vice Chair, and Paul Smedberg, DMVMoves Co-Chair and Metro Board Vice Chair, the meeting began with an overview of recent and planned updates to Union Station. Doug Carr, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation President & CEO, and Gretchen Kostura, Amtrak AVP, Commercial Development & Major Stations, highlighted new amenities, as well as numerous operational improvements, including a ticketed passenger waiting area and updated lighting and signage throughout the station.
Virginia
Next, attendees heard from DJ Stadtler, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) Executive Director, about several Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) projects. The VPRA is an independent political subdivision created by the Commonwealth to address highway travel demand and congestion by advancing the growth of passenger rail. It partners with Amtrak and VRE to operate passenger and commuter rail services.
Noteworthy is the construction of a new Long Bridge now underway, which will increase capacity by separating passenger and freight services, as they currently share a single bridge. Its completion in 2030 will unlock additional Amtrak and VRE service in both directions throughout the day as well as at night and on weekends.
Dallas Richards, Virginia Railway Express Acting CEO and Chief Engineer, also spoke about his organization’s goals for 2050.
“2030 is part of the plan. It’s what we envision will happen once the Long Bridge project is done. But 2050 is the mission. It’s how we’re thinking for the future. We want to change VRE from a reliable commuter service to a reliable regional service.”
Maryland
Darrell J. Smith, Maryland Transit Administration Director of Statewide Planning, outlined MARC’s plans for growth and service. He noted potential extensions into Virginia, Delaware, and western Maryland; more equitable, frequent, all-day service; and improved system connectivity with other MTA services, Amtrak, VRE, SEPTA, and Metro.
Metrorail and Bus Connectivity
Randy Clarke, Metro General Manager & CEO, reiterated the region’s desire for an integrated transit network. With these expected improvements, transit officials should think about how maps can clearly identify connectivity points and how a rider can purchase one ticket for their entire journey, instead of dealing with multiple apps and systems, he said.
Closing
“The Long Bridge project is a big deal,” said Nick Donohue, DMVMoves Facilitator, in closing, “It and other challenging construction projects will make coordination possible, but capitalizing on the opportunities they unlock will be the hard part. We have five years to figure it out.”
After the meeting, participants were invited to attend guided tours of Union Station and a MARC Train.
Visit the event page for more information and presentations.