Doug Allen has been ratified as the new Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Railway Express by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), according to Virginia Railway Express Chairman Wally Covington.
Allen replaces Dale Zehner, who served as VRE's first CEO from 2004 until his retirement on June 30, 2012.
Allen is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas.
“The Operations Board felt that Mr. Allen’s background and his previous experience made him a perfect fit for moving VRE ahead in the years to come,” said Chairman Covington in a press release.
According to the release, one of Allen's priorities will be to maintain VRE’s customer-driven philosophy. He said one of his goals will be to implement the Phase 2 Long-Term Strategic Plan as adopted by the Operations Board, which calls for the commuter rail agency to explore new and innovative ways to expand service into areas including Gainesville, Haymarket and Spotsylvania County.
"What stood out to me about VRE is their approach to service," said Allen. "It became quickly apparent that the Board’s focus is on their riders, and that is something that I am very passionate about as well."
