Transportation officials held a ribbon cutting for a newly expanded Quantico Station in Virginia with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 1, 2024. The upgraded train station serves Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express customers in the Town of Quantico, now accommodates longer trains, improves accessibility, and adds grade-separated pedestrian access for the adjacent Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ).
Key enhancements include a 550-foot platform extension, a new 840-foot island platform, and three elevator towers connected by pedestrian bridges. STV designed the necessary track improvements and a 714-foot retaining wall to support a third track, minimizing disruptions to MCBQ. This project, part of a long-standing partnership between STV and VRE, reflects collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Amtrak, and CSX Transportation.
Press release:
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As the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) heads into 2025, its proposed budget reflects its challenges and opportunities in a post-COVID world. The budget discussed at the October 18, 2024, Operations Board meeting outlines plans to support ridership recovery, maintain reliable service, and position VRE for future growth as a regional rail provider.
VRE, like many public transit systems, saw a significant decline in ridership during the pandemic. However, the 2025 budget aims to address passengers’ slow but steady recovery by investing in enhanced service offerings and critical infrastructure projects. These efforts are intended to transform VRE from a commuter-focused system to a broader regional transportation network.
Ridership Recovery Post-COVID
Ridership recovery has been gradual, with VRE reporting an 8% year-over-year passenger increase as of October 2024. The Fredericksburg and Manassas lines have both seen this growth, though levels remain below pre-pandemic numbers. The shift in work patterns, with many commuters embracing hybrid or remote work models, has altered the demand for peak-hour train services.
In September 2024, the VRE saw an average daily ridership of 6,662 passengers, increasing from 6,031 in August 2024 to 6,316 in September 2023. This reflects a positive trend in ridership recovery post-COVID, with the total monthly ridership for September 2024 reaching 133,247 passengers, up from 126,328 during the previous month.
The system saw 20,000 riders per day before COVID-19.
“We’re seeing some recovery in ridership, but not the big step increases we had hoped for,” said Rich Dalton, VRE’s CEO, during the meeting. “Instead, it’s been a gradual climb, and we need to adapt to this new normal.”
In response, VRE’s 2025 budget will focus on maintaining existing services while expanding into new markets, including off-peak and reverse-commute services. This move is part of VRE’s long-term strategy to attract new riders beyond traditional commuters, particularly those traveling for leisure or reverse commutes into Northern Virginia.
Expanding Service, Supporting Infrastructure
A key component of VRE’s strategy for ridership recovery and growth is service expansion. The 2025 budget proposes investments in improving infrastructure to support these new service offerings. Projects such as the Long Bridge expansion, the addition of a fourth track at key locations, and upgrades at several stations, including Quantico, are designed to increase capacity and improve service reliability.
“We’re not just looking to return to pre-COVID ridership levels,” Dalton explained. “We’re looking to expand and serve new communities, ensuring VRE becomes a key part of the regional transportation network.”
These infrastructure improvements, including track upgrades and station enhancements, will be critical in supporting VRE’s push to offer more flexible services. For example, the Quantico station upgrades, set to be completed in November 2024, are part of a broader effort to modernize key stations and improve passenger experience.
Budgeting for Growth
To fund these initiatives, VRE is using a mix of federal pandemic relief funds and local contributions. However, these funds are set to run out by fiscal year 2028, adding pressure on VRE to secure new funding sources. The proposed budget includes approximately $30 to $40 million in pandemic relief funds for the next few years. Still, as these resources are exhausted, VRE will need additional support from state and local jurisdictions.
The Operations Board discussed the need to continue advocating for state and federal funding through programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and finding creative solutions to meet future funding needs. VRE is also participating in discussions as part of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s ongoing study (SJ 28) to explore sustainable funding solutions for the state’s transit systems.
“We can’t rely on local jurisdictions alone to cover the gap once the relief funds run out,” said Mark Schofield, VRE’s Chief Financial Officer. “We’re actively engaging in conversations at the state level to ensure that transit funding solutions are identified and implemented in time to avoid service cuts.”
Looking Forward
As VRE continues to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, the 2025 budget reflects the system’s dual priorities: stabilizing operations and preparing for future growth. While ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels, VRE’s focus on expanding services, improving infrastructure, and securing long-term funding will be critical to ensuring its success in the years to come.
The 2025 budget proposal will be refined in the coming months before final approval by the Operations Board, with ongoing adjustments made to address both ridership trends and funding opportunities. As Northern Virginia continues to grow, VRE is positioning itself as an essential part of the region’s future transportation landscape, ready to adapt to changing demands and serve a broader range of passengers.
VRE provides commuter rail service from the Northern Virginia suburbs to Alexandria, Crystal City and downtown Washington, D.C., along the Interstate 66 and I-95 corridors.
In November 2024, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of significant improvements to the Quantico Station, a key hub on the Fredericksburg Line. This project marks a major milestone for the region’s rail infrastructure, promising enhanced service and increased convenience for commuters and travelers alike.
During the October 18, 2024, VRE Operations Board meeting, it was announced that invitations have been sent out for the event, with all necessary travel details, including train schedules, provided to ensure smooth participation. The excitement surrounding the completion of these upgrades was evident, with board members and VRE staff expressing their enthusiasm for what the improvements will mean for the station and the surrounding community.
“I’m very excited about the upcoming ribbon-cutting at Quantico. This project has been in the works for quite some time, and we’re thrilled to see it finally come to fruition,” said Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who sits on the VRE Operations Board.
The Quantico Station improvements are part of a broader effort to modernize the VRE system, ensuring it keeps pace with the growing demand for public transportation in Northern Virginia. These upgrades include enhancements to the station’s facilities, making them more accessible and efficient for commuters, and improvements to the track infrastructure to support better service and reliability.
Quantico plays a crucial role in the VRE network, serving military personnel from Marine Corps Base Quantico as well as residents in surrounding communities. With the station’s upgraded facilities, VRE hopes to provide a smoother, more comfortable experience for the thousands of passengers who rely on the Fredericksburg Line.
The improvements come as part of a larger project that includes the Arkendale to Powell’s Creek third track, a $1.2 billion initiative in Stafford County to expand capacity along the corridor. The Quantico upgrades are essential to this project, with VRE board members emphasizing the significance of these efforts, particularly in terms of improving service reliability and reducing delays.
“The Quantico station has faced numerous challenges over the years, especially with the growing demand for rail service and the complexities of the surrounding infrastructure,” said Micheal McLaughlin, a VRE board member. “This ribbon-cutting marks not only the completion of these much-needed improvements but also a milestone in VRE’s ongoing commitment to serving this community.”
The race will be the kickoff event for Red Ribbon Week — which runs from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 — a nationwide drug prevention and awareness initiative. Nationwide, Young Marines will begin a week of activities to prevent the use of drugs with National Family Partnership, the founders of Red Ribbon Week in 1985.
The 5K commemorates the death of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was killed in Mexico in 1985 in his quest to get drugs off America’s streets.
“Through the Go Red for Red Ribbon Week initiative, we are reaching out to community and state leaders to encourage the lighting of public landmarks in red to raise public awareness and promote a drug-free lifestyle,” Col. William P. Davis, USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines, said in a press release. “Now, more than ever, we remain steadfastly committed to our drug prevention and resistance efforts within our program and sharing it with everyone across the U.S. It is a vital part of our overall mission.”
The race starts at 8 a.m. Registration before Saturday is $25, and registration on race day is $30 and is required. Participants must arrive approximately one hour before the race to register. Live race results will be available.
Several other events will be happening across the country to commemorate Red Ribbon Week by the Young Marines.
Sanctuary jurisdictions typically have regulations that limit cooperation with ICE, impacting the enforcement of immigration laws. These measures may include refusing ICE detainers, restricting agency interactions with ICE, or hindering the sharing of information about incarcerated aliens.
ICE uses detainers as a key mechanism to detain aliens involved in criminal activities, ensuring their custody transfer for deportation. These detainers provide details about the individual’s criminal and immigration history, highlighting their public safety or security risk.
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center, expressed concern over the growth of sanctuary policies. “It is alarming to see the continued proliferation of sanctuary policies, especially in places like Virginia, where ICE has had to use its scarce resources to re-arrest violent gang members and rapists in our communities who were set free by local jails, when they should have been transferred directly to ICE custody for a plane ride home,” Vaughan stated.
The proliferation of sanctuary policies raises concerns, particularly due to the necessity for ICE to reallocate resources to apprehend dangerous criminals who are released by local authorities rather than being transferred to ICE. Vaughan emphasizes the need for legislative action to foster cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, and to address non-compliance.
The newly updated map introduces 170 new sanctuary regions across the U.S., including counties and cities. Some of these jurisdictions are in states with laws against sanctuary policies. The report highlights significant increases in sanctuary designations in states like Virginia, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, and Minnesota.
This update, derived from ICE’s internal tracking and a Freedom of Information Act request, points to over 10,000 deportable aliens being released back into communities over the years due to sanctuary policies, with many reoffending.
The news comes as Virginia State Senator Tara Durant (R) revealed reports of two additional intrusions at Quantico Marine Corps Base following the arrests of two men from Jordan who were in the U.S. illegally. Potomac Local News broke the story and told you the men were arrested after allegedly posing as Amazon delivery drivers and ramming the front gate of the military installation on May 3, 2023.
Durant said the additional incursions occurred on May 3, the same day two Jordanian nationals in the U.S. illegally posed as Amazon delivery men.
Brown says the town took to Facebook on Saturday, Feb. 10, to express its frustration. The town posted a photo of a train stopped on the tracks, blocking Potomac Avenue, the town’s entrance.
“Lives are being put at risk due to the closure of the Broadway Street Gate (Gate 3) and lack of access to the Martin Street underpass. Unsat. Not Semper Fidelis. RR blocked for over 30 mins,” a town staffer posted on Facebook.
Since the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 2, 2020, access to the town has been restricted to only those who live and work in the town. Last year, Potomac Local told you Quantico town officials had asked their neighbors on Quantico Marines Corps Base to reopen multiple streets that were closed after Solemani’s death; the Marine Corps ratcheted up security and required everyone entering the base to have a military ID or get special clearance.
Drivers must pass through the base to get to the town, which predates the base’s 1917 opening.
Brown told Potomac Local the town has not received a response from the Marines since posting to Facebook last weekend. Multiple requests for comment about this issue since the town made its post have also gone unanswered.
Potomac Avenue is the town’s main entrance and exit. It is a street with a view of the river that shares its name, and most town shops are on it.
Brown said he’s also trying to rally federal help from Senator Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the town’s congresswoman.
The railroad track at the town’s entrance carries Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express, and freight trains. The base is putting the finishing touches on improvements to the passenger train station.
Brown told Potomac Local last year that when trains stop on the tracks for extended periods, that spells problems for residents, preventing them from leaving. Brown said stalled trains also prevent emergency vehicles from entering to render aid promptly.
Before the restrictions, drivers could also enter the town on Broadway Street or use a railroad underpass on Martin Street.
Last year, base spokesman Capt. Michael Curtis told us Base Commander Col. Michael L. Brooks continues to work with the town and federal officials to ensure access to the town. While it’s not like it used to be before 2020 when civilians could show a Virginia license at the main gate and drive to town, the Marine Corps is working on a solution to fit the needs of residents and Marines.
About 600 people live in Quantico town.
The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (OmniRide) endorsed a new list of projects that could enhance transit service in our area.
The commission sat for its monthly meeting Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Woodbridge.
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The base sent us photos of the event.
Quantico: “Marine Corps Base Quantico is partnering with Prince William County to conduct a full-scale exercise on the base on May 25 that will simulate a train derailment on main side. The exercise, which is expected to be the largest conducted here in more than a decade, will test the ability of the base and Prince William County to react and work together in a multi-faceted emergency that affects the base and local community.”
“This exercise is one of a kind,” said Jason Terry, the Exercise Director and Emergency Operations Manager for Marine Corps Base Quantico. “The amount of planning and coordination that went into this exercise beginning last summer has been great and has already allowed Quantico and Prince William County to build what is already a strong partnership,” he further explained.
“According to Terry, this exercise also speaks to the importance that both Quantico and Prince William County place on readiness and working together through any emergency. Having a shared understanding of emergency operation tactics, techniques, and procedures enhances both the partnership and emergency response capabilities of Prince William County and Quantico.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Kevin Brown told us no one from the base or county government included the town in the planning exercises for the May 25 event. Quantico is the only civilian town sitting within the borders of a U.S. military installation.
OmniRide: “At the June meeting, the [Northern Virginia Transportation] Commission will be asked to approve the adoption of the I-395/95 Commuter Choice FY 2024-2025 Program of Projects shown in Table 1 (attached) and refer it to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) for consideration and final action later in June, contingent upon comparable action by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC). The action also commits to completing the funding awards for two larger capital construction projects in the FY 2026-2027 Programs of Projects as permitted under adopted program policy.”
“The proposed program includes 13 projects that support the I-395/95 corridor improvement goals of moving more people and creating viable, effective transportation options, as well as NVTC’s program administration and oversight activities for the two (2)-year period. The resolution will authorize the NVTC Executive Director to execute the Standard Project Agreements for the selected projects following CTB action. The NVTC-PRTC Joint Commission Working Group (JCWG) endorsed the recommended Program of Projects in April, both full Commissions received briefings on the program last month, and the public comments received broadly support individual projects included in the program.”
“OmniRide Route D-200 Service Enhancement: Dale City to Ballston (Continuation) OmniRide ($304,626) — This project would continue two (2) of morning and two (2) of evening trips provided by OmniRide’s D-200 commuter express route between Dale City and the Pentagon, Rosslyn, and Ballston. The route serves three (3) commuter lots, including Horner Road, Telegraph Road, and Dale City, allowing commuters to travel efficiently and avoid some of the most congested parts of the I-395/95 corridor.”
“OmniRide Prince William Metro Express Service Enhancement: Dale City to Franconia-Springfield Station (Continuation) OmniRide ($671,678 — This project would continue fare-free, expanded peak-period service between Woodbridge, Potomac Mills, the Horner Road commuter lot, and Franconia-Springfield Station. The route is one of the busiest in the OmniRide system and links commuters traveling to and from the Potomac Mills area with Metrorail, Metrobus, Amtrak, Fairfax Connector, Virginia Railway Express, and other OmniRide bus services.”
“OmniRide Route 1 Local Service Enhancement: Quantico to Woodbridge Station (Continuation) OmniRide ($755,020) — This project would continue fare-free, expanded peak-period local bus service along U.S. Route 1 in eastern Prince William County. This route connects key residential and employment areas along the corridor to OmniRide express buses, Virginia Railway Express commuter rail, and Amtrak trains.”
