WASHINGTON – Virginia Railway Express riders could be paying more to ride the trains in the future.

VRE proposes a 3 percent increase in fares, 30 cents more per trip, to cover its proposed $88.7 million budget.

The hike would generate $3.9 million in revenue. VRE would use the money to offset rising costs and brace itself for cuts in state and federal funding.

It also is seeking almost $485,000 more from the Northern Virginia jurisdictions that fund the railway.

If approved, it would be VRE’s first fare increase since 2009. Any increase would begin next July.

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