By Leda Hinkle

Faculty Mentor: Jackie Gallagher

Abstract

Caroline County’s growing population and high commute times are reasons for the VRE to consider expanding service to the area. The construction of a new VRE rail station is proposed for the Carmel Church area in Caroline County. StreetLight origin-destination analyses, census data, and VRE’s 2050 System Plan Update establish the existing market for expanded transit services. A network analysis evaluates both the geographic extent and populations to be served by two possible station locations. Existing conditions reveal that Caroline County has a high population of individuals commuting by car. Average commute times in certain census tracts reach as high as 52 minutes. Origin-destination analyses identify a population of several thousand people who currently commute by car into VRE’s service area. Each rail station location would expand VRE’s service area to between 40,000 – 60,000 people. There is a market for expanded VRE service into Caroline County.