8 Mar 2006

County to endorse plan for rail service to Philadelphia 
The proposed Schuylkill Valley Metro line shouldn't end in Chester County, commissioners say. 

By Mary E. Young
Reading Eagle 

  
Berks County support will be needed to build the proposed Schuylkill Valley Metro rail service to Philadelphia, the county commissioners agreed Tuesday.
Commissioner Thomas W. Gajewski Sr. said he would prepare a resolution for approval next week on the commissioners' endorsement of the project.

Gajewski said the statement is needed because U.S. Reps. James W. Gerlach, Joseph R. Pitts and Charles W. Dent are concerned that federal funding for the project could be lost if an application is not filed soon.

They also are looking for information on the number of potential riders from Berks, Gajewski said.

“This is a project the county generally supports, so I think we should go on record with it,” he said. “Subsidies will be determined in part by ridership. The committee is working on that right now but doesn't have an answer yet.”

At a breakfast meeting Monday, the congressmen all Republicans who represent parts of Berks indicated that the proposed rail line from Philadelphia would end in Phoenixville, Chester County, based on the funding now available, Commissioner Judith L. Schwank said.

She said a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on Monday through heavy traffic on Route 422 and the Schuylkill Expressway convinced her that the rail service needs to serve Berks.

“If we don't lobby proactively now, we will be forgotten in the process,” Schwank said. “What's important to remember is we're building for the future. The (traffic congestion) problem can only get worse.”

With high gas prices and the cost of parking in Philadelphia, riding the train would probably be cheaper than driving, Commissioner Mark C. Scott said.

But Berks likely would be asked to contribute millions of dollars to the project because it would have the least number of riders, who would ride the longest distance, he said.

“I'm in favor of the project, and the subsidies may be worth it,” Scott said. “But I think we need to go into it with our eyes wide open.”

Separately, Schwank said county emergency management staff will be participating in Department of Health regional and statewide meetings to discuss preparation for a possible avian flu pandemic.

“We're following this very carefully,” Schwank said. “It's a great concern to us.”

Contact reporter Mary E. Young at 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com