3-County Philly To Reading Train Authority Gets Green Light

NORRISTOWN, PA —Montgomery County commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the incorporation of a nine-member Schuylkill River Passenger Authority with Berks and Chester counties to restore passenger train service from Philadelphia to Reading.

The authority will consist of three members from each county, and several transportation experts from each county to provide input on what is necessary.

The commissioners’ approval follows a hearing Wednesday in which 36 residents favored restoring the passenger train service and four opposed the project.

The preliminary plan calls for stops in Norristown, Phoenixville, Pottstown, and Reading.

Limerick township officials expressed an interest during the hearing Wednesday in having a stop in Linfield, testifying that the village is in the midst of a revitalization project.

The Berks commissioners also voted Thursday in favor of creating an authority. The Chester County commissioners are hosting a public hearing Wednesday followed by a vote.

Scott France, director of the Montgomery County planning commission, said the initiative began in March 2021 with a committee of representatives from each county assessing the feasibility of restoring passenger service.

“Now is the time to do it,” France said. “We will work with the federal government to get funds for this."

France said the county received support from 17 state representatives and 11 state senators have endorsed the project.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, commissioners chairwoman, said representatives of all three counties are thankful of the bipartisan support of President Biden’s infrastructure bills providing funding for improvements.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our community,” Arkoosh said. "We are thankful to the bipartisan infrastructure bill to proceed with this."

Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., vice chairman of the board, said that he worked with a committee of representatives from each county on the project. Lawrence thanked France for taking a leadership role on the project.

The Federal Railroad Administration was allocated $66 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year to restore the service.

France said Amtrak has informally agreed to provide bus service along the route until the train is ready to open.