Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
RIBBON CUT FOR PAOLI STATION PROJECT
Sen. Dinniman calls for Amtrak to move on other stations
TREDYFFRIN >> Mass transit officials, disability rights groups and local politicians celebrated a major milestone in the evolution of the Paoli train station Monday. After many years of planning and two years of construction, Amtrak and SEPTA marked the completion of the Paoli Station Accessibility Improvements Project with a ribbon cutting.
The $48 million taxpayer funded project upgraded the 66-year-old station with a new center train level platform, a multi-story pedestrian overpass, elevators, ramps and other improvement to make the station fully ADA approved and accessible to all users.
Some 201,572 Amtrak passengers and approximately 740,000 SEPTA passengers pass through the station annually. The Paoli Thorndale line is SEPTA’s most used regional rail line with Paoli being the busiest station on the route and 78 trains passing through a day.
Among those invited to the event was Rocco Iacullo of Disability Rights Pennsylvania, a group which sued Amtrak over the lack of handicap access at the Paoli and Exton stations in 2014.
“Freedom Valley Disability Center in Newtown Square came to us about the lack of accessibility but that’s the old story this is the new story,” said Iacullo waving to the new station. “We reached a settlement to make sure there is access to platforms, restrooms and elevators.”
“Together, SEPTA and Amtrak partnered to make modifications that bring this facility into compliance with Department of Transportation Accessibility standards and the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said State Rep. Melissa Shusterman of Tredyffrin. “These types of projects are what set our district as a leader in Pennsylvania time and time again.”
“This is the start of something big for SEPTA customers, Amtrak riders and the community alike,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeff Knueppel. “There was always a vision for a much improved Paoli station but not always funding. So I am thankful for a federal earmark that allowed SEPTA to jump start the design efforts several years ago. Having that design ready was really key to launch this project quickly. At a time when federal money was tight, this was a critical first step in getting the project to move.”
“This is all changing because of the partnerships you see before us today,’ said Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator Theresa “Terry” Garcia Crews. “Amtrak, SEPTA and PennDOT have all partnered together to make this a fully accessible station.”
Jennie Granger, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation at PennDOT said the Wolf Administration is committed to building ridership on the Philadelphia to Harrisburg train line which she said contributes to the region and the state’s economic vitality.
“It is our pleasure to be part of the revitalization of the five Chester County train stations, not only Paoli but Parkesburg, Coateville, Downingtown and Exton,” Granger said.
State Senator Andrew Dinniman also looked west to the other Chester County stations and called on Amtrak to move forward in Downingtown, Coatesville and Parkesburg.
“This is indeed a good day,” Dinniman said. “Do you see the apartment house being built right behind you, such apartments are being built near the Exton and Downingtown stations as well? It’s about economic development.”
Dinniman then implored the Amtrak officials sitting next to him to action.
“I urge Amtrak with every fiber of my body, get the others done. We waited year after year in Coatesville and Parkesburg and Downingtown. We’re delighted by what’s happening in Paoli, we’ll be celebrating this fall in Exton. But our poorest communities, Coatesville and Parkesburg, have not had anything done. Disabled people are not just here in Paoli, they are not just in Exton, they are not just in the wealthiest of our communities. They are in the poor communities as well.”
“In Downingtown, we will have the apartments and infrastructure done before the train station is even there,” Dinniman said. “I don’t mean to be ungrateful, I am very grateful for what has been done but I’d also not be doing my job representing all my constituents if I did not make this appeal. We need to get it done.”
“We have a commitment to all of our citizens. Do we believe in accessibility or we don’t? Do we believe in economic development or we don’t?” Dinniman asked.
Dinniman pointed out that Act 89 funding, which the station projects depend on, runs out in less than three years and might not be renewed due to concerns about turnpike tolls which is where some of the funding comes from. Act 89 is a Pennsylvania transportation bill signed into law in 2013 by then Gov. Tom Corbett to fund road projects, bridge repairs, and public transit.
“When it (Act 89) runs out, so does the money for these projects,” Dinniman said. “We have the money from Act 89 and the federal government for Parkesburg and Coatesville, but if we don’t make some progress in the next three years, no one knows if that money will be renewed.”
“We certainly appreciate the Senator’s support and his passion for this project and other projects,” said Thomas Mortiz, Amtrak Asst. Vice-President for Infrastructure Access & Investment. “We work closely with SEPTA and PennDOT and federal funding partners. An issue that often comes up is the prioritization of projects. We’re supporting SEPTA in their prioritization of station projects. We’ve had a number of stations both in this area as well as closer to Harrisburg that have been in design and construction for improvements.”
Moritz went on to say that Amtrak is doing their best to advance with those projects, but each has its own issues from funding to design to community issues.
“We’re supportive of all the projects the Senator mentioned” Moritz said. “I do understand his concern about the state funding.”
“This is a fabulous day, I could not be more excited to be here,” said Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline. “I’ve been involved with this for 12 years but it has been going on a lot longer. I see folks here from the Paoli business community. “
Kichline then commended former public officials that were in attendance including former Tredyffrin supervisor Judy DiFilippo, former state Rep. Paul Drucker and former Corbett administration official Stephen S. Aichele for their efforts over the years in moving the project ahead.
SEPTA’s Knueppel said the next phase of the project for Paoli would be the replacement of the North Valley Road bridge. The third phase includes an Intermodal Station Complex complete with an additional high-level platform on the outbound side, passenger amenities, bus depot facilities and a 600plus space commuter parking garage.
Knueppel said Act 89 will be critical for completion of that project.