Passenger rail plan advances
Next step: Establish a TriCounty Passenger Railroad Authority
The effort to get passenger trains rolling in and out of Reading again is moving forward.
A committee formed earlier this year with representatives from Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties to focus on the restoration of passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia is proposing the creation of an authority that would allow the group to receive federal funding and spend money to develop plans.
And Berks officials say they are excited that the endeavor is progressing.
Berks County Commissioners Chairman Christian Leinbach told his colleagues during an operations meeting Tuesday, Nov. 30, that the committee is about to unveil a resolution that will establish the Tri-County Passenger Railroad Authority. It will need to be approved by the county commissioners in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
Leinbach said that over the last several months the committee has met with municipal leaders in all three counties to explain the need for an authority and answer any questions. They have also met with state lawmakers who represent the region to discuss the possibility of bringing back passenger rail.
But, Leinbach said, the most significant recent news for the project was the signing of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He said there are two particular aspects of the legislation that could help make the restoration of rail service a reality.
The first is a substantial investment in Amtrak, which has unveiled its plan to add a passenger route from Reading to Philadelphia. Amtrak foresees having three daily round trips with stops in Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, King of Prussia, Norristown and Philadelphia. The trip from Reading to Philadelphia would take about 90 minutes.
The second is the allocation of money that targets passenger rail service to regions that are underserved — specifically looking at communities that have large minority populations, high percentages of low-income households and a large population without vehicles.
“Reading checks all of those boxes and is in essence the anchor of this line,” he said. “That’s a very positive step toward getting this completed.”
Leinbach said county officials will be asked to review the resolution forming
the authority by the next committee meeting, which is scheduled to take place in late January. He said establishing an authority will allow the counties to do things that a committee simply cannot, like accept federal funding, spend money or negotiate with operators.
“We have to do this now,” he said.
Leinbach said each county plans to contribute $250,000 to get the authority established. The goal, he said, would be to use that money to do some of the upfront things until earmarked dollars come to the authority.
The resolution would establish a nine-member authority with three appointees from each county who
would be chosen at the discretion of the county commissioners. It would also include the need for reauthorization in three years to give county officials an opportunity to determine if the authority is a worthwhile effort.
“I will tell you we feel pretty positive about where we are in the process,” he said.