READING, Pa. — Two Pennsylvania counties have agreed to create a passenger rail authority to support restoration of service between Reading and Philadelphia, leaving just one more county needing to approve formation of the authority.
The Pottstown Mercury reports commissioners in Berks and Montgomery counties approved creation of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority on Thursday, following public hearings. Chester County is scheduled to vote on the proposal next week.
Proponents say the authority is needed to help pursuit of competitive infrastructure funding, and to work with Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and other agencies.
The proposal would create a nine-member board including members of the county commissions, planning commissions, other agencies, and local mayors. Commissioners in both counties voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.
The Reading-Philadelphia route is among those included in Amtrak’s “Connects US” plan for possible additions to state-supported passenger service. The Amtrak report on that plan envisions three daily round trips between Reading and New York via Philadelphia.
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