48-520: The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C. to Bristow, Virginia . The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992, the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&;P Subdivision ) and Norfolk Southern Railway (the Washington District ). The line south of Alexandria, Virginia ,
96-572: A Quebec mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2008. VRE operated 13 Kawasaki bi-level cars between 1999 and 2008, after which they were sold to MARC (these cars were originally procured as an option on MARC's larger order). Starting in 2001, VRE also operated a number of second-hand Pullman-Standard gallery cars from Metra in Chicago . These were all replaced by new Sumitomo / Nippon Sharyo gallery cars from 2006 to 2017 as some cars returned to Metra and others went to
144-411: A new Fairfax Regional Library, more than 45,000 square feet (4,200 m ) of retail and restaurant space, more than 70,000 square feet (6,500 m ) of office condominiums, and 85 upscale residential condominium units. In May 2009, Fairfax was rated as No. 3 in the "Top 25 Places to Live Well" by Forbes Magazine. Forbes commended Fairfax for its strong public school system, high median salary, and
192-424: A rate of sole proprietors per capita that ranks it in the top 1 percent nationwide. According to the magazine, "These factors are increasingly important in a recession. When businesses and jobs retract, as they have nationwide, municipalities with strong environments for start-ups, and those that offer attractive amenities, are better suited to recover from economic downtimes, as there are more business activity filling
240-484: A review of "multiple internal control issues", including reports of corruption and favoritism, that "call into question the management of the Virginia Railway Express". For example, VRE managers disregarded warnings by a former employee, later borne out, that trains would hit the new Broad Run platform. Fairfax, Virginia Fairfax, Virginia ( / ˈ f ɛər f æ k s / FAIR -faks ),
288-525: Is a mile northeast of Fairfax. CUE Bus and Metrobus operate in Fairfax, and Virginia Railway Express 's Burke Centre station is located three miles southeast of Fairfax. George Mason University , located in unincorporated Fairfax County along Fairfax's southern border, is the largest public university in Virginia with 40,185 students as of 2023. Fairfax was founded on land originally occupied by
336-539: Is an independent city in Virginia and the county seat of Fairfax County, Virginia , in the United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 24,146. Fairfax is part of both the Washington metropolitan area and Northern Virginia regions. It is located 14 miles (23 km) west of Washington, D.C. Fairfax is served by Washington Metro 's Orange Line through its Vienna station , which
384-449: Is owned and operated by Amtrak, including the station tracks. VRE's trains were initially run by Amtrak. On November 5, 2009, VRE awarded a five-year, $ 85 million operating and maintenance contract to Keolis . The change in operations took place on July 12, 2010, two weeks later than planned, to allow Keolis employees to learn how to run VRE trains. Ridership on VRE increased an average of 13% each year from 2000 to 2005, but fell 2% in
432-473: Is suspended or reduced on some holidays. Through a cross-honoring agreement, VRE and the MARC Train allow passengers to transfer to trains on the other system that are going in the opposite direction of the rush-hour commuters. VRE operates on lines owned and maintained by Amtrak , Norfolk Southern , and CSX Transportation . In December 2019, the state of Virginia agreed to purchase large portions of
480-664: The American Civil War . The first Confederate officer battle casualty, John Quincy Marr, occurred on the grounds of the courthouse. The first meeting of the Fairfax Court was held April 21, 1800. The oldest two-story building in Fairfax, the Fairfax Public School was built in 1873 for $ 2,750. In addition to elementary school use, the building has also housed special education, adult education, and police academy training. On July 4, 1992,
528-551: The Commonwealth of Virginia . Local governments (such as counties and cities) within each commission's geographic area are members of each commission. The service will undergo expansion as the result of a December 19, 2019 deal brokered between former Virginia governor Ralph Northam and rail company CSX Transportation . Discussions about commuter rail service in Northern Virginia had occurred as early as 1964 at
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#1732780488172576-485: The Iroquoian Native American tribe. The city derives its name from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron , who was awarded 5,000,000 acres (20,000 km ) of land in northern Virginia by King Charles. The area that the city now encompasses was settled in the early 18th century by farmers from Virginia's Tidewater region . The town of "Providence" was established on the site by an act of
624-663: The MBTA . Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt the locomotives from EMD GP40s at a total cost of $ 5.9 million. Mafersa built the coaches new at $ 24.7 million, or $ 600,000–$ 700,000 per car. During Summer 1998, SEPTA leased some VRE Boisie Budds for the Regional Rail services. VRE sold 33 of the Mafersa coaches to the Connecticut Department of Transportation in 2004 for its Shore Line East service. QIT-Fer et Titane ,
672-823: The Manassas Line from Broad Run station in Bristow, Virginia . In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,537,000, or about 6,300 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. Service to Manassas began on June 22, 1992; the Fredericksburg service started on July 20, 1992. VRE is owned by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). The NVTC and PRTC are governmental entities that were created by
720-725: The North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina . Trains currently comprise one and on some occasions two MPI MP36PH-3C locomotives that pull their fleet of Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo gallery cars. As of 2018, train lengths usually range from at least four cars to a maximum of eight cars. V30 owned by Amtrak(AMTK 403). When lease was up, it was returned to Amtrak and received its original number. V31 sold to another operator. V32 sold to Metra renumbered 217. V33 sold to AMT and then LTEX renumbered 330. V34-V36 sold to LTEX and V35 displayed at
768-833: The North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina . VRE also operated a pair of EMD F59PHI locomotives and 18 high capacity Bombardier BiLevel cars leased from Sound Transit from 2002 to 2008; they have been returned to Sounder and replaced by locomotives V50–V69 and the Sumitomo bi-level cars. * with restroom † Eight cars ordered in February 2012 with options for 42 more. As of 2018, 21 further cars had been procured from these options. On January 5, 2006, at 6:45 am, Fredericksburg line train No. 304 bound for Washington, D.C. , derailed at Possum Point , just north of Quantico . Four people, including
816-428: The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission , but died in the face of opposition by the freight railroads whose tracks offered ready access to core employment areas. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments eventually commissioned a regional feasibility study by R.L. Banks and Associates, Inc., and planning began in earnest for VRE in 1984. In the meantime, Washington Metro extended its service to much of
864-506: The U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km ), of which all but 0.04 square miles (0.1 km ) is land. While the city is the county seat, a small portion of the county comprising the courthouse complex, the jail, and a small area nearby is itself an exclave of the county within the city. Fairfax County's Government Center is west of the Fairfax. Old Town Fairfax has undergone an extensive redevelopment, which began in 2005. The redevelopment added
912-471: The gallows at the old courthouse. In 1752, the courthouse was moved to Alexandria , which offered to build the new courthouse at their own expense. The reason the courthouse was moved from the Tysons Corner location was because of "Indian hostilities", as noted on the stone marker at the northwest corner of Gallows Road and Route 123 . The courthouse operated there until 1790, when Virginia ceded
960-573: The 19 stations grouped into zones. The two lines diverge at Alexandria Union Station in Alexandria . The Manassas Line runs east–west along trackage owned by Norfolk Southern. Amtrak's Crescent and Cardinal , as well as Northeast Regional trains bound for Roanoke , also use this line. VRE studied an extension of the Manassas Line west to the communities of Gainesville and Haymarket , but chose instead to pursue added service on
1008-422: The 2023 election, the city will lie within the 37th Virginia Senate district and the 11th House of Delegates district. Federal elected officials who represent the Fairfax include the U.S. President , U.S. Vice President , two U.S. Senators (six-year terms), and one U.S. Representative , 11th District (two-year term). On August 4, 2016, then-Mayor Scott Silverthorne was arrested in a sting operation conducted by
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#17327804881721056-555: The Fairfax County Police Department. After receiving a tip that he was involved in drugs-related activities online, a police detective engaged Silverthorne on an online website "...used to arrange for casual sexual encounters between men." The detective then arranged a meeting with Silverthorne and two other men, in which they agreed to exchange methamphetamine. At the meeting in Tysons , detectives performed
1104-545: The Fairfax Regional Library in Fairfax. The library includes the Virginia Room, a collection of books, photographs, and manuscripts related to Fairfax County history, government, and genealogy. The intersection of U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 29 is located in the northeast corner of the city. The two major highways join to form Fairfax Boulevard for approximately 2.8 miles (4.5 km) through
1152-672: The Revenue for four-year terms. Other elected officials who serve the city elected by city and Fairfax County voters include the Sheriff (four-year term), Commonwealth's Attorney (four-year term), and Clerk of the Court (eight-year term). State elected officials who represent Fairfax include the Virginia Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Virginia Senator (34th District), and Virginia Delegate (37th District). Starting with
1200-541: The VRE Master Agreement and became participating jurisdictions in 1992. Spotsylvania County joined in February 2010 to allow construction of Spotsylvania station , which opened in November 2015. Rail service operates Monday through Friday during rush hour in the peak direction, with trains traveling toward Washington in the morning and toward either Manassas or Fredericksburg in the afternoon. Service
1248-472: The assistant conductor, suffered minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the derailment was intimately related to CSX 's maintenance practices: a switch point had been repeatedly identified as deteriorating, but CSX failed to replace it. Eventually, the excessively worn and chipped point caused the lead truck of a passenger car to derail—the fourth car on train 304. On October 3, 2012, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell launched
1296-676: The building became the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center. Joseph Edward Willard built the town hall building in 1900 then gifted it to the then town in 1902. The Old Town Hall now houses the Huddleston Library and the Fairfax Art League. Fairfax is located close to the geographic center of Fairfax County , at 38°51′9″N 77°18′15″W / 38.85250°N 77.30417°W / 38.85250; -77.30417 (38.852612, −77.304377). According to
1344-439: The charter. The present charter was granted in 1966. An exclave of Fairfax County is located within Fairfax. In November on even-numbered years, city voters elect a Mayor, six at-large Councilmembers, and five at-large School Board members to serve two-year terms. These offices are non-partisan and at-large, and there are no term limits. City voters also elect the two city constitutional officers: Treasurer and Commissioner of
1392-575: The city is Fairfax City Public Schools. The public schools in the City of Fairfax are owned by the city but administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system under contractual agreement with Fairfax County. This arrangement began to be in place in 1961. Fairfax schools include Fairfax High School , Lanier Middle School, Daniels Run Elementary School, Providence Elementary School, and Fairfax Academy. Schools within
1440-555: The city that are not owned by the city government include the Boyd School, Gesher Jewish Day School, Kellar School of Inova Kellar Center, Lee Highway KinderCare , Little Flock Christian School, Northern Virginia Christian Academy, Oak Valley Center, Paul VI Catholic High School (moved in 2020-2021), The Salvation Army University View Child Care Center, Saint Leo The Great School, Trinity Christian School , and Truro Preschool and Kindergarten. George Mason University ,
1488-442: The county seat. In 1904, a trolley line connected Fairfax with Washington, D.C. The former Fairfax County Courthouse is the oldest historic building in Fairfax. The first Fairfax courthouse was established in 1742 near present-day Tysons Corner , and is the namesake for Old Courthouse Road. It intersects with Gallows Road, which today is a major commuter route, but at the time was the road where condemned prisoners were led to
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1536-486: The exchange and then arrested Silverthorne along with the two other men. He was charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He announced his resignation on Monday, August 8, 2016, in a letter to the City Council. Silverthorne maintains that he was not distributing methamphetamine for sex, and he was not tried for any sexual crimes. The school division for
1584-719: The existing line to Broad Run. The Fredericksburg Line runs north–south along trackage that was once part of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad and is now part of CSX. Amtrak service to Richmond, Virginia , and points south (the Silver Service , Palmetto , Carolinian , and Northeast Regional runs to Hampton Roads ) also uses this line. An extension to Spotsylvania opened in November 2015. Virginia Railway Express commenced operations in 1992 with ten EMD RP39-2C diesel locomotives, 38 Mafersa coaches , and 21 remanufactured Budd Rail Diesel Cars from
1632-619: The fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. VRE said passengers affected by track maintenance and heat restrictions were taking other forms of transportation. The trend reversed in the summer of 2007, with ridership up nearly 2% in June and 4% in July compared with the corresponding months in 2006. As of October 2016, VRE transports an average of 19,400 passengers per day. In 2015, VRE extended its contract with Keolis for five years, with an additional option for another five-year extension in 2020. That option
1680-484: The inner ring of Northern Virginia, including the independent cities of Alexandria , Fairfax and Falls Church and Arlington and Fairfax counties, which are members of the NVTC. By 1986, it became apparent that Prince William and Stafford counties and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park could not reach agreement on how to support VRE by joining NVTC, so the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
1728-463: The jurisdictions participating in the VRE project agreed to fund it according to a formula that weighted ridership by jurisdiction of residence with a factor of 90% and population with a factor of 10%. Arlington and Alexandria agreed to contribute to the project and have paid each year approximately what their formula share would be. The cities of Fredericksburg and Manassas Park joined PRTC in 1990 and signed
1776-532: The land where the courthouse was located for the creation of Washington, D.C. The General Assembly specified that the new courthouse should be located in the center of the county, and was established at the corner of what was Old Little River Turnpike and is present-day Main Street and Ox Road at Chain Bridge Road on land donated by town founder Richard Ratcliffe. The courthouse changed hands repeatedly during
1824-772: The largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia , is located just south of Fairfax's city limits. The university enrolls 33,917 students, making it the largest university by head count in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The university was founded in 1949, and was initially an extension of the University of Virginia named the Northern Virginia University Center of the University of Virginia. Nine years after its founding, in 1958, te Town of Fairfax purchased 150 acres (0.61 km ) for
1872-566: The line on June 22, 1992. In 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast Regional service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and Burke Centre . In 2017, VRE began a $ 2.8 million study of expansion to the Broad Run station and layover facility that would allow additional Manassas Line service. As of June 2024, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is negotiating with Norfolk Southern to purchase
1920-498: The movements of Confederate cavalry chief Jeb Stuart with disastrous consequences for Robert E. Lee at the subsequent Battle of Gettysburg , the Civil War's bloodiest battle, which began several days later. In 1859, Fairfax was renamed the "Town of Fairfax". It was incorporated as a town in 1874. It was incorporated as a city in 1961 by court order . Under Virginia law the city was separated from Fairfax County yet remains
1968-520: The portion of the Washington District between Broad Run and Alexandria used by VRE. Virginia Railway Express Virginia Railway Express ( VRE ) ( reporting mark VREX ) is a commuter rail service that connects outlying small cities of Northern Virginia to Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C. It operates two lines which run during weekday rush hour only: the Fredericksburg Line from Spotsylvania, Virginia , and
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2016-732: The right-of-way and track on the CSX line, as well as the Long Bridge into the District of Columbia. The state will add parallel tracks and make other improvements for increased service on the VRE. Most of the Fredericksburg Line is on CSX tracks, while the portion of the Manassas Line west of Alexandria is mostly on Norfolk Southern tracks. Washington Union Station in Washington, D.C., the northern terminus for most VRE trains,
2064-517: The state legislature in 1805. On June 1, 1861, the first land battle of the Civil War , the Battle of Fairfax Court House , was fought in Fairfax after a Union Army scouting party clashed with the local militia; the outcome was indecisive with neither side gaining advantage. A second battle took place in Fairfax two years later, on June 27, 1863, in which Union troops were defeated, which delayed
2112-672: The university, though the property remained within the county when the town became a city. In 1972, following several name changes, the institution became George Mason University. The university is most known for its programs in economics , law , creative writing , computer science , and business . George Mason University faculty have twice won the Nobel Prize in Economics . George Mason University economics professors James M. Buchanan and Vernon L. Smith won it in 1986 and 2002, respectively. Fairfax County Public Library operates
2160-546: The void." According to the city's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: As an independent city of Virginia, rather than an incorporated town within a county, Fairfax derives its governing authority from the Virginia General Assembly . In order to revise the power and structure of the city government, the city must request the General Assembly to amend
2208-590: Was created for them. Legislation established a 2% motor fuels tax to support VRE expenses and other transportation investments. By 1988, NVTC and PRTC established a VRE Operations Board, consisting of three voting members plus alternates from each of the two commissions, plus a voting representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia (currently a representative of the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation ). The following year,
2256-424: Was exercised in 2020, so Keolis will continue to provide operational and maintenance services through June 2025. Starting in 2015, VRE began a study of extending service to Haymarket via a short branch line from the Manassas Line, but found that ridership would not sufficiently increase to justify the estimated $ 660 million cost and ended further consideration of the line. VRE's fares are based on distance, with
2304-513: Was once owned by Southern Railway , whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and Manassas stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak , the new railroad continued the Crescent service between New Orleans and New York City . In 1984, planning began for a commuter rail service for the area. Eight years later, after many new stations were constructed, Virginia Railway Express began operating trains on
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