🚀 go-pugleaf

James Fenimore wrote:
> "Racist Ignoramuses Next Seek Return To School Segregation!"
> 
> 
> 
> On top of that scary new law, ex-governor George "Macaca" Allen's
> disciple ROBERT McDONNELL is running for Virginia governor!
> 
> A true Jesus-Freak in fraud's clothing!
> 
> Come November 3, it could mean citizens are carried back to "Ol'
> Virginny."
> 
> ==============
> "Virginia Railway Express to Allow Guns on Trains, Looks to Adjust
> Discount Fares"
> 
> By Jennifer Buske
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Thursday, September 24, 2009
> 
> 
> 
> Virginia Railway Express riders will be able to carry firearms aboard
> trains operating in Virginia because of a policy adopted by the
> commuter rail service's operations board.
> 
> During a meeting Friday, board members changed the transit agency's
> policy to match Virginia code, which allows people without a criminal
> record to carry weapons in plain view and those with a permit to carry
> concealed weapons. VRE spokesman Mark Roeber noted that guns remain
> banned once trains, which run from Manassas and Fredericksburg to
> Washington, cross the Potomac River into the District.
> 
> "When we looked at making the current [policy] changes, this was an
> issue hanging out there," Roeber said, noting VRE already made
> "hundreds" of exceptions for riders who need to carry weapons for
> their job. "It made sense to make the [policy] uniform with the
> language that existed in the code of Virginia, so that's what we have
> vouched to do."
> 
> Also at Friday's meeting, the board worked on other policy changes,
> including those related to its discount fare programs.
> 
> Students who ride VRE might get slapped with higher fares as rail
> officials look to adjust a youth discount program that officials say
> adult riders are abusing.
> 
> VRE allows children 6 and younger to ride free with a fare-paying
> adult. Riders ages 7 to 21 are offered a 50 percent discount on
> tickets, which can cost as much as $10.30 for a one-way ride.
> 
> Although VRE does not know how many people are abusing the fare
> policy, Roeber said, the number of youth tickets being sold does not
> match the number of students on the trains.
> 
> VRE is looking to discontinue the youth discount program and instead
> allow riders 10 and younger to board for free when riding with an
> adult.
> 
> The transit agency is also modifying the discount program it offers to
> seniors and riders with disabilities. Riders 65 and older or with
> disabilities can still buy half-price tickets, but only through
> Commuter Direct or vendors at VRE's "destination stations," within the
> Capital Beltway.
> 
> VRE will also require new documentation from disabled riders. Those
> qualifying must have a doctor fill out a form similar to the one used
> by Metro. In turn, VRE will create a photo identification card
> disabled riders can present at the ticket booth.
> 
> "We're not trying to eliminate our discount programs," Roeber said.
> "We are just putting safeguards in place so only those eligible can
> use the programs."
> 
> VRE officials said that by changing the discount fare programs, they
> expect to generate an additional $150,000 to $300,000 in revenue
> yearly. About 60 percent of the transit agency's $47 million operating
> budget comes from fares.
> 
> The VRE Operations Board has authorized a public hearing on the youth
> fare changes. Although a date has not been set, the meeting will be
> held in Alexandria in the next few weeks.
> 
> Another policy change, which does not need to go to a public hearing,
> affects the VRE's Free Ride Certificate Program. Since the commuter-
> rail service opened in 1992, it has offered riders a free ticket
> anytime a train is canceled or delayed. The original program gave
> tickets to riders who were delayed 30 minutes, but in July 2007, VRE
> changed that threshold to 60 minutes as program costs rose -- reaching
> up to $60,000 annually -- because of poor on-time performance.
> 
> VRE officials said Friday that they are moving the threshold back to
> 30 minutes because trains have been operating more efficiently over
> the past two years. In fiscal 2009, the annual on-time performance of
> the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines was at 89 percent, up from 84
> percent in fiscal 2007.
> 
> "We're the only commuter-rail service that does this, as far as I
> know," Roeber said. "It's one of those things where you are trying to
> generate a ridership base and give them something different than what
> most people are offering."
> 
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092204518.html

What are you afraid of?