She’s Got a Ticket to Ride: Using Technology to Make Travel Easier at VRE

VRE operates a barrier-free commuter rail system serving Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. VRE wanted new technology for ticketing and parking to better serve its customers. A new mobile system facilitated onboard ticket validation and provided data to drive operational decisions based on ridership, and to better meet customer demand. A new parking system provided real-time, parking space availability data at each facility, enhancing customer convenience and VRE revenue.

LTK performed a major role in VRE’s deployment of a mobile ticketing system including defining functional and operational needs, developing requirements, and reviewing procurement documentation. In addition, LTK prepared a parking assessment study for operations at 13 facilities. The study provided a technology assessment and an outline for parking availability data that VRE and its customers can see using real-time data on an entry sign at each facility.

The mobile ticketing system was successfully launched in 2015 and fulfilled the agency’s goals within one year.