Katie Choe Named New CEO As Virginia Railway Express Pushes Into Next Phase Of Expansions

By Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury

December 9, 2025

Virginia Railway Express will soon have new leadership at the helm, with Katie Choe stepping in as its next chief executive officer as the system accelerates its shift from a commuter-focused rail service to expanded operations beginning in January.

Choe’s appointment comes as VRE — which connects Northern and Central Virginia with Washington, D.C. — continues advancing its modernization plans outlined in the system’s long-term strategy, aimed at adapting to changing travel patterns, maximizing daily ridership and adding non-peak and weekend service.

Choe was appointed last week by VRE’s governing bodies — the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission — replacing Rich Dalton, who served the agency for 16 years.

“I am honored to join VRE at such a significant moment for regional mobility,” Choe said in a statement. “VRE plays a critical role in connecting communities and supporting economic growth across Northern and Central Virginia and the greater Washington region.”

Choe joins VRE after holding several senior roles, most recently serving in Massachusetts as chief of staff to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, chief engineer for Boston Public Works and program manager at the Massachusetts Port Authority.

She has overseen major infrastructure projects focused on safety and quality and was named WTS-Boston’s Woman of the Year in 2022.

Choe has worked in program management and safety oversight leadership in the transportation sector for 25 years.

Choe will take the helm as VRE prepares for a series of infrastructure projects scheduled over the next five years, including the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s Long Bridge improvement project. The expansion will add new rail capacity for freight and passenger service between Washington, D.C. and Virginia, easing the longstanding bottleneck that has slowed travel times across the region.

“The VRE Operations Board believes Ms. Choe is uniquely qualified as VRE’s next CEO,” said VRE Operations Board Chair and Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley in a statement. “Her record of delivering transformative results for organizations through innovative, safety-oriented, and people-first leadership reflects the core values held dear at VRE.”

This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.