Project patch reviews
Petitions from citizens, pleas from local lawmakers, and even proposals by college students relating to a Phoenixville area rail have been swirling over the past few years. That plan could potentially be complicated by right-of-way issues, as the greenline would likely need to pass through private property along Route 29. While the second Phoenixville-Paoli proposal would not be immediately implemented, officials said consideration of its creation is important now because the new Paoli Transportation Center project is currently underway, and that Center needs to be designed in a way that could handle the potential greenline from Phoenixville. After two years, if successful, officials said the service offerings would grow. Organizers said that the rail would initially operate in a "demonstration" phase for two years, during which the train would run during weekday peak-periods only, in order to show its viability. In their announcement outlining the proposal, the DeMutis Group pointed to "institutional issues" which could complicate access to the Norfolk Southern tracks, meaning that it's no sure thing that access to existing stations, parking areas, and even the tracks themselves would be granted. Developers propose connecting Phoenixville to the Manayunk/Norristown line via both the existing non-electrified Norfolk Southern freight track, and via SEPTA's electrified track through the Center City Connector Tunnel.