Click to enlarge - This is a preliminary sketch. Updated sketches will be available at the March 19th Borough Council meeting.
Bob Garrett of PennDOT visited borough council’s work session last night and told council PennDOT is recommending Parkesburg’s future train station be built at the site of the existing train station.
The announcement came as a surprise to at least one councilperson who asked why there and not in the space between Borough Hall and Rocco & Anna’s.
Garrett replied they had been back to town several times in the months following the August 2011 workshop and concluded the historical value of the existing station and surrounding area was too significant to overlook.
Highlights of the phased station project, an undertaking 100% funded with federal monies, Garrett announced last night are:
- 500 foot platforms on both sides of the track stretching from the existing station pavilions to East Bridge Street.
- Rehabilitate the East Bridge Street bridge into a pedestrian walkway providing a way for train passengers and residents alike to safely cross the tracks.
- 250 shared parking spaces would be built in several small parking lots lots stretching from the 200 block of Main Street on the north and First Avenue on the south to the 500 block of both streets. The shared spots would be available to passengers riding the trains as well as visitors and customers to nearby businesses, churches and Wilde Funeral Home.
- A path linking the various parking lots with the train station would be built in the railroad right of way. The pathway would give train passengers parking in and around the borough building a short one or two block walk to the train station.
- Build a fence between the tracks running the entire length of the Borough preventing pedestrians from walking across the tracks, something that happens frequently today.
- The Culvert Street sidewalk would be improved but not widened. Widening the sidewalk to be ADA compliant would make traversing the underpass all but impossible for car and light truck traffic.
Mr. Garrett estimated the new station and supporting infrastructure including parking lots and walkways will cost of between $10-12 million to build and stated the plans won’t be finalized until after environmental studies are done in 2015 .
He went on to state that it isn’t likely that construction would begin much before 2018.
A formal announcement and presentation of PennDOT’s train station plans will be made at Councils regularly scheduled council meeting at 7:00 PM on March 19th.
For a complete history of the project up to this point visit PennDOT’s “Plan The Keystone” website here.
I know the concept map is for discussion purposes, but I can’t help but notice that the parking lots cover already existing home and business properties. Was there any discussion of eminent domain?
Caleb, eminent domain was not mentioned. Instead, I got the impression that individual property owners would be or already had been contacted. Its a long process for sure. If PennDot hasn’t contacted property owners yet I’m sure they will.
3 years just to do environmental studies, then 3 more years to build a small train station? No wonder this country is going down the tubes! IMHO, this project should happen (much sooner), but never will – the fed’s will (have to – we’re broke!) pull the funding long before anything happens.
There’s the local zoning and planning commission approval process in there too Brent. For a project this size those two approval processes usually take 18 to 24 months. Nothing happens quickly in Pennsylvania.
Great! A 5 minute walk for me to the train station, but it’s a half an hour walk for me to to work from the Downingtown station. I really wish trains were set up to allow passengers with bikes. Then I would certainly make use of the rail system. Maybe things are different with SEPTA?
Bikes are definitely allowed on SEPTA Regional Rail. http://www.septa.org/policy/bike.html
folding bikes are allowed on amtrak. per septas site theu do not allow bikes on rush hour trains. to be sure 2018 is a long time but i beleive mt joy is underway and middletown is next. hopefully theyll knock a few minutes off the trip as well
I take the SEPTA regional rail from Thorndale to Merion 5 days a week, during rush hour, with my folding bike. It’s a great ride. Non-folding bikes are banned from rush hour trains, but folding bikes are not. The SEPTA website might not be too clear on this, but I have been commuting this way for 2 years now.
Happy riding!
I’m glad to see the train station is getting a make over, and it was long over due in my opinion. Some of the residents in the area are actually looking forward to giving up their properties to help with the process. I don’t see eminent domain being any problem here to solve that question, although i don’t see Mr. Wilde giving up his refreshed looking garage that he just painted up, which by the way looks great!
I hope the Borough Council members agree to keep the station where it is because I don’t want to see the traffic jams up on route 10 and 372 when the construction equipment rolls in and messes up that whole area of town for 2 years or more. I think that would be enough to push most of the residents out of town leaving it for dead…
Assuming that any property owners involved are satisfied with this new proposal I would be excited to see the pedestrian bridge as well as the parking spaces. We would be able to open up to having events that could bring revenue to local businesses such as historical themes summer events, or food, music or cultural events. Parking spaces would be valuable for the town. Also, Parkesburg is historically a rail town. It would be nice to see more rail possibilities for commuters here. With this and possible revitalization of the shopping center at the end of Main Street starting with the news about the Point, perhaps Main Street and 1st Avenue can become easier to access and more enjoyable for pedestrians as well? We do have some wonderful businesses still working and believing in the town down there.
Any update on the timelines of this project?
We are still waiting for the Septa extension from Norristown to Reading that was to be called the Schuykill Valley Metro. This was something that fast eddie Rendell promised us to get our vote not once but twice and still no movement. Does anyone who know about this venture that could shed some light on it. Thanks