Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is proposing a 4 percent fare increase for FY 2014.  If adopted, the higher fares would take effect the first week of July 2013. 

VRE has scheduled seven public hearings in March to solicit comments the first of these being in Burke today at 7 p.m. and Wednesday in Stafford.

The public hearing closest to Manassas Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 28 at the Manassas City Hall at 9027 Center Street in the Council Chamber Room.

Here are the dates, addresses and times for the other hearings:

• Burke - 7 p.m. Tues., March 5 at the Burke Centre Conservancy
  "The Commons" Community Center 5701 Roberts Pkwy., Burke.

• Stafford - 7 p.m. Wed., March 6 at Stafford County Government Center Board Chambers 1300 Courthouse Rd., Stafford.

• Arlington - 12 p.m. Tues., March 19 at Crystal City Marriott 1999 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington.

• Woodbridge - 7 p.m. Wed., March 20 at PRTC Board Room, 2nd Floor
  14700 Potomac Mills Rd., Woodbridge.

• Washington, DC - 12 p.m. Thurs., March 21 at Holiday Inn (L'Enfant)
  Discovery 1 Ballroom  550 C. St. S.W. Washington, DC.

• Fredericksburg - 7 p.m. Wed., March 27 at Rappahannock Regional Library Theatre Room 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg.

Written comments will be accepted through Friday, April 5, via mail, email or fax:

• Mail to the attention of Anna Gotthardt 1500 King St., Suite 202, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
• Email to publiccomment@vre.org
• Fax to (703) 684-1313.

The public hearings are being conducted in locations accessible to persons with disabilities, VRE said. Any individual with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, should send an e-mail to publiccomment@vre.org or call Anna Gotthardt at (703) 684-1001 or TTY (703) 684-0551 at least ten business days prior to the public hearing in order to make the necessary arrangements.