If and when the VRE Haymarket extension is built, should Broad Run Station close? (Norfolk: 2015, how much)

[Joke Insurance]

Source: VRE to Haymarket, Gainesville could close Broad Run Station Potomac Local

The Broad Run Station is the first stop on the Manassas commuter rail line on weekday mornings and the last each weekday afternoon.

And it could become a thing of the past.

Virginia Railway Express is conducting a study of a proposed 11-mile extension of the system’s Manassas line to Gainesville and Haymarket called the GHX. If service is expanded, trains will travel along what’s known as Norfolk-Southern’s “B line” from Haymarket to Gainesville, to Innovation Park at George Mason University Science and Technology Campus, and then travel the main line through Manassas onto Washington D.C.’s Union Station.

The 2-year GHX study will indicate how much it would cost to expand the state’s only commuter railroad, and identify any impacts to the environment that could be caused by an expansion. Up to two additional tracks could be needed to accommodate the extra passenger trains — up to two an hour during peak periods – as well as the existing freight traffic that currently uses the line.

Extra trains would mean VRE needs more placed to store them. An existing storage yard at the Broad Run / Manassas Airport station in an obvious choice. That yard would need to be expanded, leaving little room left for the rail station.

“We’re up against the airport on one side, and a flood plain on another,” said VRE CEO Doug Allen. The two-lane street Piper Lane leading to the station is often flooded out after rains when Broad Run spills its banks.

The study will examine whether or not to move the station further east along the line, to somewhere near the Prince William Chamber of Commerce building on Capital Court, or further west of the airport. The study could also suggest closing the station altogether, and that would mean those who use the station today would need to drive about three miles north to a new station that would be built at Innovation Park.

The Broad Run station is popular with not only Prince William County and Manassas residents but also those who drive in from neighboring Fauquier County and points west to access the VRE system. VRE would need to negotiate land deals for the three new stations. The commuter railroad would most likely need to buy land in which to build the stations.

Allen said a spur off of the B line into Innovation Park would be necessary to make the station more convenient for riders to access. That would allow riders to walk to nearby destinations like the University, Freedom Aquatics and Fitness, and Hylton Performing Arts centers, as well as the many life sciences labs and offices popping up in the area.

If reverse commuting service from Washington on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines is implemented, trains could bring students and employees to Innovation Park, increasing the need for walkability.

VRE on November 16 opened up it’s first new station since the original commuter rail system opened in 1992, in Spotsylvania County. It sits on 22 acres of land — most of which is used for riders who park their cars during the day and catch the train to work.

“It’s big,” said Allen, of the Spotsylvania property.

The Gainesville-Haymarket study will determine how much land would be required for the three new proposed stations on the B line. Those stations could be the same land footprint as the Spotsylvania station.

[chazas]

No!

[VRE332]

If the Broad Run-Airport station closed, that's a minimum of 885+ parking space that would need to relocate to the other stations, not including the kiss-and-riders, bikers, walkers, etc. Also the train yard got remodeled recently, so I think it's highly unlikely the station would close.

There is a possibility the reduction in service would occur at Broad Run-Airport because of the location of the "B" line intersects before the station. Meaning less trains would terminate at Broad Run-Airport because of the location where the B line intersects.

[chazas]

If you look at the materials from the most recent meeting, it looks like they're prepping us for Broad Run closure, which would suck for me because I live closeby and commute most days.

http://www.vre-ghx.org/site/wp-conte...al-5-18-16.pdf

[gomason]

Originally Posted by chazas

If you look at the materials from the most recent meeting, it looks like they're prepping us for Broad Run closure, which would suck for me because I live closeby and commute most days.

http://www.vre-ghx.org/site/wp-conte...al-5-18-16.pdf

It's just an option. Either have 11 trains go to Haymarket and 11 go to Broad Run or have all 22 go to Haymarket. Theres plenty of room at the Innovation station for tons of parking. Either way it would be exciting to have trains go every 20 minutes. An hourly shuttle to Alexandria would be fantastic too.

[chazas]

Well, all I know is that having to go to the new Innovation Station would add time to an already long commute. Hopefully, if they build it, they'll just split service.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by gomason

It's just an option. Either have 11 trains go to Haymarket and 11 go to Broad Run or have all 22 go to Haymarket. Theres plenty of room at the Innovation station for tons of parking. Either way it would be exciting to have trains go every 20 minutes. An hourly shuttle to Alexandria would be fantastic too.

The VRE has to store the trains at night, and have a place for maintenance, repairs, fueling, cleaning, and staff hangout. I don't think they would relocate any of that. I would imagine if they do, noise will be a concern.

[chazas]

They distributed a rider survey this week that asked, if the extension is built, would you (a) use one of the extension stations, or (b) not ride the train? It said that there has been no decision made as to whether the extension will be built and Broad Run closed, with no mention of any possibility of both building the extension and keeping Broad Run open.

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by chazas

They distributed a rider survey this week that asked, if the extension is built, would you (a) use one of the extension stations, or (b) not ride the train? It said that there has been no decision made as to whether the extension will be built and Broad Run closed, with no mention of any possibility of both building the extension and keeping Broad Run open.

13 years ago when I used to ride the VRE, the Broad Run-Airport station was not even full, but over time it became a gigantic cluster of vehicles. I think however the new stations are played out, eventually will bring new customers

[Movingtomanassas619]

No. Manassas is hard enough to commute from without reducing the options. At least until 2022 when 66 beltway construction is completed please leave open