SEPTA awards 7 million for first part of KOP rail

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Pennsport

It would certainly be ideal to rely on homegrown companies, but I don't know if we have the time for that. Even with all the great advances Philly is making, we're still a city mired in poverty with sub-par schools and a broken city government. None of these issues will make dramatic leaps forward until we get some serious tax dollars and some new blood in town. We're losing generations of kids while we slowly try to pull ourselves out the quicksand from the last several decades. I am a huge proponent of local companies and our incredible entrepreneurial spirit, but I don't see why we can't have both continued local growth while luring one or two more big companies to the city. Both causes help one another, and ultimately, the city itself.

I don't think the situation here is so dire that we might collapse next year should we not get more revenue in, AND

I see growing evidence that the schools may actually be only as good or as bad as the parents who send their kids to them want them to be. IOW, children with the right kind of support and resources will do very well in a "bad" school too. The evidence I have on this so far is largely anecdotal, but there's an emerging body of research that backs this up.

[rowhomecity]

I think the ideation to extend the NSHL to KOP is noble and smart but the lack of planning and incorporation from the land use planning side of this is a MAJOR LACK OF VISION.

This project has major potential as KOP is a major employment center and the nexus of the region by all means.

But the biggest disappointment is this line ends at the Valley Forge Casino? Insane disappointment.

Tyson's Corner is KILLING it with this incorporation of Land Use Planning and Public Transit investment.


This is a total blah blah. Not bad. Not good. Just. Blah.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I don't think the situation here is so dire that we might collapse next year should we not get more revenue in, AND

I see growing evidence that the schools may actually be only as good or as bad as the parents who send their kids to them want them to be. IOW, children with the right kind of support and resources will do very well in a "bad" school too. The evidence I have on this so far is largely anecdotal, but there's an emerging body of research that backs this up.

Well, not dire at this moment, but one more recession could put Philly in a bad way. Avoiding this is ultimately something we should all want to progress as soon as possible. Regardless the reason, our schools are still a mess, and, without a huge amount of funding to improve this situation, it's going to be a long time to city school improvement.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Norfolk Southern, which owns the ex-Reading main line west from Philadelphia, has historically been cool towards the idea of sharing its tracks with local passenger trains.

I have, however, heard that they are willing to discuss letting regional passenger trains use its tracks to provide service to Phoenixville. That opens a window if true.

I wouldn't hold my breath in regard to Norfolk Southern.

[Jeanie Beanie]

OK, so this is what's been on my mind rail-wise:

For 30+ years there has been talk of restarting passenger service from Wyomissing to go into Center City. Berks County industry funded studies but the initial enthusiasm collapsed, exhausted, after a couple of years of frustration. (Yes, Norfolk Southern is NOT amenable to letting passenger trains use their tracks; their money is built on freight, not passengers.) Still, there is a desire to get back rail service to Berks County. I may be a "Berks County Booster", but I've gotta give it to Lancaster City - they have an updated Amtrack station that sends trains to 30th Street Station several times a day in a 1-hour trip. I wish Berks had a train link. Sigh.

Here's the thing that's eating at me - The beloved Vanity Fair Outlet Complex is being downsized, rightsized and re adapted to the Age of Amazon, with businesses and doctors offices taking over much of the complex. In fact, across the railroad tracks from the complex a large underused tract of land is about to become a Surgical Training Center for Drexel University. The "Tower" of the Reading Hospital/Phoenixville Hospital/ Pottstown Hospital etc. merger is 4 blocks from the VF Outlet Complex. Over the next 2 years a teaching facility will be built and there are already plans for new streets and commuting improvements.

I just can't help thinking about how that railroad line in Wyomissing runs directly to Drexel University in Philadelphia. Fantasy? Maybe. For goodness sakes, why is it taking so long to get a line to KoP? Anyway, if infrastructure is the economic engine for the next decade, like the Eisenhower interstate highway system of the 50's (and TVA and other electric and water projects then), maybe we could revive a moribund mass transit.

Let me tell you, when I was a teen I used to take the train to Philly and.... oh, never mind...

Thoughts?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Jeanie Beanie

OK, so this is what's been on my mind rail-wise:

For 30+ years there has been talk of restarting passenger service from Wyomissing to go into Center City. Berks County industry funded studies but the initial enthusiasm collapsed, exhausted, after a couple of years of frustration. (Yes, Norfolk Southern is NOT amenable to letting passenger trains use their tracks; their money is built on freight, not passengers.) Still, there is a desire to get back rail service to Berks County. I may be a "Berks County Booster", but I've gotta give it to Lancaster City - they have an updated Amtrack station that sends trains to 30th Street Station several times a day in a 1-hour trip. I wish Berks had a train link. Sigh.

Here's the thing that's eating at me - The beloved Vanity Fair Outlet Complex is being downsized, rightsized and re adapted to the Age of Amazon, with businesses and doctors offices taking over much of the complex. In fact, across the railroad tracks from the complex a large underused tract of land is about to become a Surgical Training Center for Drexel University. The "Tower" of the Reading Hospital/Phoenixville Hospital/ Pottstown Hospital etc. merger is 4 blocks from the VF Outlet Complex. Over the next 2 years a teaching facility will be built and there are already plans for new streets and commuting improvements.

I just can't help thinking about how that railroad line in Wyomissing runs directly to Drexel University in Philadelphia. Fantasy? Maybe. For goodness sakes, why is it taking so long to get a line to KoP? Anyway, if infrastructure is the economic engine for the next decade, like the Eisenhower interstate highway system of the 50's (and TVA and other electric and water projects then), maybe we could revive a moribund mass transit.

Let me tell you, when I was a teen I used to take the train to Philly and.... oh, never mind...

Thoughts?

Norfolk Southern has been stonewalling the rail division of NCDOT & has been adamant that passenger use of their lines are a no go. However. . .there's a private company, BrightLine, in Florida that wants access to the Norfolk Southern train line between Atlanta and Charlotte to run high speed diesel. Richard Branson is involved, so there's big money. If Norfolk Southern is wavering, they might think that they can get a big chunk of money out of SEPTA. Still, I wouldn't hold my breath. If they do a deal with SEPTA, NCDOT will go back to them, looking for a deal. . .