Joint Board Matter with Chairman Bulova
May 22, 2012 

Prohibiting Smoking on VRE Platforms

Madame Chairman,

As you are aware, at last week’s VRE Operations Board meeting that Board considered a motion to prohibit smoking on train platforms. Currently, smoking is permitted in an area of 100 feet or so at the end of the platform. With increased ridership, this often means that non-smokers must share, or stand close to, the smoking section. 

The Operations Board agreed to delay further consideration of a smoking prohibition until its next meeting, allowing members the time and opportunity to discuss the issue with their local jurisdictional bodies. We believe that all VRE riders would be best served by a VRE policy prohibiting smoking on all train platforms. We ask for this Board’s concurrence in that position. 

Fairfax County would still be authorized to establish smoking stations along parking areas or in other non-platform areas of its stations. Smoking, of course, would still be permitted on public sidewalks and in other public outdoor areas as stated under current law. We ask the Board’s consent to vote to convey this position as the Fairfax County position at the next VRE Operations Board meeting.