For Release: October 7, 2015
Contact: Bryan Jungwirth, Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations
bjungwirth@vre.org
(703) 838-5416 office
(571) 238-9084 cell
Alexandria, VA. – The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) announced today that the public is invited to participate in the first community meeting for the Virginia Railway Express Gainesville-Haymarket Extension (VRE GHX) Study. This will be an opportunity for community members to learn about the study elements and meet the project team, as well as share their knowledge of the study corridor and thoughts about a VRE Extension.
VRE is evaluating an 11-mile extension of its commuter rail service along the Manassas Line via the Norfolk Southern Railway B-Line, extending from the City of Manassas through Gainesville to the Town of Haymarket near the U.S. Route 15 and I-66 intersection.
VRE initiated this new study of the Gainesville-Haymarket Extension in July 2015 to advance this important regional transportation initiative. The current VRE GHX study is anticipated to require approximately two years to complete, and is a critical step toward bringing commuter rail service to the Gainesville-Haymarket area. If the analysis supports continued project development, final design and construction would follow. Passenger rail operations could begin in eight to ten years.
The VRE GHX study is being conducted in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Prince William County, Norfolk Southern Railway, and other stakeholders, and will build upon information gained through prior studies within the GHX and I-66 corridors. The study will investigate possible station locations and service plans, identify track improvements to support VRE service, and conclude with the identification of a Locally Preferred Alternative. The study also includes preliminary engineering design for the Extension and an assessment of the environmental effects of station and track construction. Please visit the VRE GHX project website for additional information at www.vre.org/ghx.
Public engagement is a critical part of this initiative. VRE encourages the public to attend this first community meeting to learn about the project and provide their input. The meeting will be held on:
November 10, 2015
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
at
Gainesville Middle School Lecture Hall
8001 Limestone Dr., Gainesville, VA 20155
There will also be a meeting of the VRE GHX Policy Advisory Committee on November 6, 2015 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the Virginia Department of Transportation Northern Virginia District Office Accotink Room (1N-207), 4975 Alliance Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030. The meeting is open to the public.
These meetings will be conducted in locations accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, should call Bryan Jungwirth at (703) 684-1001 or TTY (703) 684-0551 at least ten days prior to each meeting in order to make the necessary arrangements.
About the Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
VRE is the tenth largest commuter rail service in the U.S. and is a transportation partnership of the Northern Virginia and Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commissions. VRE’s mission is to provide safe, cost effective, accessible, reliable, convenient, and customer responsive commuter-oriented rail passenger service. It provides over 4.5 million rides annually in northern Virginia and Washington D.C. and its offices are based in Alexandria, VA. Visit our website at: www.vre.org