Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
EXTON TRAIN STATION RENOVATED
Officials cut ribbon to celebrate ADA improvements
WEST WHITELAND » It was a bright, sunny Monday for SEPTA, Amtrak and Chester County officials as they cut the ribbon celebrating the completion of phase one of the modernization of the Exton train station.
SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards cited ADA improvements to the station which include construction of high level boarding platforms and ramps, an accessible station building, new platform canopy, open air shelters, light and signage upgrades and bike parking.
The improvements at Exton were part of a settlement with Disability Rights Pennsylvania, a group which sued Amtrak over the lack of handicap access at the Paoli and Exton stations in 2014.
Money for the $27 million dollar taxpayer funded project, came from the Federal Transit Administration and PA Act 89, which was signed into law in 2013 to fund road projects, bridge repairs, and public transit.
Richards said future improvements will include a bus circulation loop with customer waiting shelters to promote intermodal access and parking expansion program.
“Exton represents all of the
things SEPTA seeks to accomplish as a mobility provider for our five-county region,” Richards said. “Investments in our stations play a critical role in driving the economy of our region. Studies have already demonstrated that proximity to SEPTA Regional Rail service is one factor that enhances the value of residential real estate, and is often a key consideration for businesses when they make decisions where to locate, relocate or expand their operations.”
“More people using our service for daily commenting means fewer cars on the road and cleaner air for everyone,” she added.
Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator, Terry Garcia Crews,also noted the new station which is on Septa’s busiest regional rail route, with it’s handicap improvements.
“This particular station greatly enhances the modifications that is necessary for the American with Disabilities act,” Crews said. “My team and I actually came in on the line and it was so incredibility convent, I applaud the benefits and amenities that have happened here.”
George W. McAuley Jr., PennDOT, Executive Deputy Secretary, pointed out that the partnership between local state and federal officials helped produce a successful outcome.
“This is just one example of the improvements we are making along the Keystone corridor. Gov. (Tom) Wolf and his administration are committed to building transit ridership as it contributes to the economic vitality of the region,” McAuley said. He pointed out that Amtrak ridership is growing at Exton, which sees a ridership of 140,000 passengers per year, a 20-percent increase in the last five years. He also called for continuing the work on the Parkesburg, Coatesville and Downingtown train stations.
“A robust public transportation network is critical to the needs of our community; the Exton station helps us to achieve this,” said Chester County Commissioner Marian Markowitz. “We’re excited about the current work to improve pedestrian access to the Exton Station, the commercial and residential core, and welcome the Chester Valley trail crossing of Route 100 which will be safer and more direct and the high level handicap accessible platforms. We’re looking forward to the expanded parking, full bus access, more frequent service and a Chester County trail connection which will make the Exton train station truly multimodal.”
“We know that creating any new infrastructure, especially within the state and federal government sometimes takes a long time, so we are grateful to see this particular station done,” said state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, as he pointed out, only half jokingly that the sign in the parking lot estimated the project would be done in 2018. “In the government one and a half years is doing pretty well, is the way it works.”
With that, Dinniman, D19th, pointed to a number other forms of progress he would like to see on the rail line.
“Let’s get some Sunday service to Exton and Downingtown,” he said. “I had to take a group of people who wanted to go to the Flower Show just yesterday, we had tog o to Malvern to catch the SEPTA train. We’ve grown this township; it’s growing by 15 percent.”
Dinniman went on point out that the Downingtown station is not ADA compliant, forcing them to come to Exton to get the train where they have to pay extra.
“What I’m trying to get at is we welcome the ramps, we welcome what’s going on here, but we still have work to do, right? And I wouldn’t be Andy Dinniman if I didn’t try to urge to get better and do more.”
Dinniman went on to urge Amtrak to continue with the work on the three stations to the west of Exton: Downingtown, Coatesville and Parkesburg.
He said work at Coatesville is supposed to start by this year, but urged officials to make sure it does. At Parkesburg, he credited Amtrak for paving the parking lot and dealing with stormwater runoff but pointed out the station was not ADA compliant.
Dinniman went on to discuss the Downingtown station, where he said millions of dollars in development has begun on homes around where the new station will go, but work on the station has not gotten out of the design phase. He urged Amtrak to move forward with the project.
Dinniman said there will be a meet later this month between elected officials and PennDOT and Amtrak, which are the major stake holders on the three other stations.
After the ribbon cutting, Dinniman said that if progress is not seen, another ADA lawsuit may be called for to get work moving to make public transit for all a reality.
“Thank you to all the people who helped put this beautiful facility together,” said a West Whiteland Supervisor Theresa Santalucia. “Our commuters are going to be incredibly happy to learn that more than two cars can stop here and let people on and off.”
Exton resident Bob Hall was thrilled with the pedestrian access efforts which will provide safe access from the township building
“We have a lot of people who ride SEPTA out to here, and then they have to take their life in their hands to get to work at Main Street,” he said. “That has been one of the efforts for a long while. This is going to be a big enhancement.”