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August 20, 1999

The Fredericksburg railroad station, served by 12 weekday Virginia Railway Express trains and 10 daily Amtrak trains, falls short of meeting passengers’ needs, according to the Virginia Association of Railway Patrons, a volunteer group. The organization recently conducted a station access study and concluded that VRE and Amtrak come up short in several areas.

Number one on the group’s list is parking, which is insufficient for all the passengers who want to ride. The group realizes that VRE is aware of the problem, but emphasizes that capacity must run ahead of ridership growth, not behind it.

Although the rail passengers applaud the Fred bus service, they point out that the three Fred lines that pass near the station run every two hours and do not serve the station before 8 AM, preventing their use by VRE commuters in the morning. The organization notes that more frequent Fred service and schedules during rail commuting hours would greatly improve access to the station and perhaps reduce the need for parking. VRE operations director Steve Roberts said that VRE has approached Fred about running earlier buses; VRE offered to fund earlier runs in exchange for access to the city parking lot, but Fred declined. VRE is willing to examine other arrangements, such as funding earlier bus runs without tying them to parking. Fred should give this serious consideration.

Another problem at the station is pedestrian access. “Traffic movement near the station is virtually unrestricted,” noted Steve Dunham, a VRE commuter from Spotsylvania and member of the Railway Patrons’ board of directors. “The streets in the vicinity of the station are a hazard to pedestrians and would present a positive obstacle if traffic were heavier.” The traffic lights where Lafayette Boulevard crosses Caroline Street and Princess Anne Street are positioned such that pedestrians cannot see the signals from some corners, he pointed out. He added that the light at Caroline Street will not turn green for pedestrians to cross Lafayette Boulevard unless traffic on Caroline Street triggers it. “Both intersections should have exclusive pedestrian lights that require all traffic to stop for at least 10 seconds,” he said.

A one-hour traffic survey conducted by the group during the morning rush hour of June 10 showed 40 vehicles turning without signalling, 21 more turning right on red without stopping, 21 stopping blocking a crosswalk, plus other assorted moving violations. “Traffic enforcement appears nonexistent,” said Dunham.

The Virginia Association of Railway Patrons is also unhappy with the signs at the station. The signs warn of fines for boarding VRE trains without validated tickets, but some riders are not clear on the difference between VRE and Amtrak, Dunham pointed out, and the signs do not explain. Other signs warn that the station is “for the use of patrons and suppliers of Amtrak and RF&P Railroad Co. Trespassing for any other purpose is prohibited.” The rail passenger group wants Amtrak and VRE to install correct and up-to-date signs with information for passengers.

Finally, the organization wants Amtrak to install a system that informs passengers about delays and indicates which platform a train will use. “Amtrak passengers never know which track their train will be on,” said Dunham. “The need to go down, under, and up to the other platform is a major inconvenience and must be causing train delays too.” VRE said it has approached Amtrak about including Amtrak information in the audio and scrolling-text displays at the station.

While the organization noted the station’s good points, such as its downtown location and handicapped access, the rail passengers want to see the station meet its potential. “The rail service on the whole is pretty good,” stated Dunham, “but people still have trouble parking, crossing the street, and knowing which platform to use. In other words, the trains are good, but getting on board can be a problem.”

Virginia Assn. of Railway Patrons Station Access Study: Fredericksburg, VA

In general, the Fredericksburg station, served by 12 weekday Virginia Railway Express trains and 10 Amtrak trains, has good pedestrian access and good access for handicapped patrons. The parking and public transit access are inadequate, however.

There is free parking at several lots near the station, but on weekdays they fill up before 7 AM, leaving no parking places for those riding VRE trains 308 and 310 or Amtrak trains 86, 94, and 80. Additional parking at this station or another in Fredericksburg or Spotsylvania is urgently needed. Three Fred bus lines pass near the station but run every two hours and do not serve the station before 8 AM, preventing their use by VRE commuters in the morning. More frequent Fred service and schedules during rail commuting hours would greatly improve access to the station and perhaps reduce the need for parking. VRE has approached Fred about running earlier buses; VRE offered to fund earlier runs in exchange for access to the city parking lot, but Fred declined. VRE is willing to examine other arrangements, such as funding earlier bus runs without tying them to parking. Fred should give this serious consideration. Another opportunity that should be examined is connecting bus service through King George County to Colonial Beach.

There are ramps and elevators (in addition to stairs) to both platforms, and curb cuts at all intersections adjacent to the station. The station has direct pedestrian access to Caroline Street, Princess Anne Street, and Lafayette Boulevard, plus a bridge walkway from the station to the parking lot for city residents. The station is within walking distance of all of downtown Fredericksburg and is about a mile from the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.

The streets in the vicinity of the station, however, are a hazard to pedestrians and would present a positive obstacle if traffic were heavier. The traffic lights where Lafayette Boulevard crosses Caroline Street and Princess Anne Street are positioned such that pedestrians cannot see the signals from some corners. The light at Caroline Street will not turn green for pedestrians to cross Lafayette Boulevard unless traffic on Caroline Street triggers it. Both intersections should have exclusive pedestrian lights that require all traffic to stop for at least 10 seconds.

Traffic movement near the station is virtually unrestricted. A one-hour traffic survey during the morning rush hour showed 40 vehicles turning without signalling, 21 more turning right on red without stopping, 21 stopping blocking a crosswalk, plus other assorted moving violations. Traffic enforcement appears nonexistent and needs to occur.

Signs at the station do an inadequate job. They warn of fines for boarding VRE trains without validated tickets, but some riders are not clear on the difference between VRE and Amtrak, and the signs do not explain. Other signs warn that the station is “for the use of patrons and suppliers of Amtrak and RF&P Railroad Co. Trespassing for any other purpose is prohibited.” VRE passengers beware. Amtrak and VRE should cooperate and install correct and up-to-date signs with information for passengers.

A hazard and major inconvenience to passengers is the unpredictability of which platform Amtrak trains will stop at. The frequent necessity to go down, under, and up to the other platform is a bane of Amtrak passengers and must be the source of train delays as well. It also prompts some people to cross the tracks rather than use the underpass. Also, Amtrak delays are routine but unannounced. Amtrak should as soon as practicable install an information system that informs passengers about delays and indicates which platform a train will use. Although VRE has approached Amtrak about including Amtrak information in the audio and scrolling-text announcements at the station, Amtrak has apparently taken no action.

Results of the Traffic Survey at the Fredericksburg Station, June 10, 1999, 6:50 to 7:50 AM

21 vehicles turned right on red without stopping; 10 of those did not signal either.

21 other vehicles stopped blocking a crosswalk; 5 of them also turned without signalling.

40 additional vehicles turned without signalling, 4 of those while pedestrians were crossing the street.

5 other vehicles made turns from the wrong lane or went straight in a turning lane.

One car ran a red light and turned left.

One vehicle drove for half a block the wrong way on Princess Anne Street.

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Michael L. Testerman,
President

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Richmond VA 23218