Coming out of a recent strategic direction meeting, our new group has two immediate goals in mind: 1.) developing this site, and 2.) drumming up support from local government officials. After the jump, the letter that’s been sent out to a number of Chesco / Delco pols.

If you’re down with it, help us out. Email these reps and let them know you support the initiative to bring rail service back to West Chester.

Chester County Commissioners:

Carol Aichele / Kathi Cozzone / Terence Farrell

7th District, U.S. House of Representatives

Joe Sestak

9th District, Pennsylvania State Senate

Dominic Pileggi

Dear Carol Aichele,

The Board of Trustees of Westtown School urges you, our elected officials at the federal, state, county and local levels to act as quickly as possible to restore regular, frequent and convenient rail service out to the Borough of West Chester, with stops at West Chester University, Westtown, Cheyney, and Williamson School.

We do so for a variety of reasons related to our position as a member of the community of Chester and Delaware Counties, as a school, and to our beliefs as a faith community.

First, as a member of this community, we believe that rail service would be beneficial to both counties, and for the many schools along the West Chester part of SEPTA’s R3 rail line (Williamson School, Cheyney University, Bayard Rustin High School, Westtown School, and West Chester University). We know that this service is greatly needed from our own experience and from the testimony of many people at other schools. We know that the demand for good rail service is very clear, especially given that by 7 in the morning, there are no available parking spaces left at the Paoli, Exton or Elwyn train stations. We also know that congestion on roads in Chester and Delaware counties has become severe, reducing productivity, wasting energy and causing increases in pollution. Moreover, parking is a great problem in West Chester, especially around the University. If the faculty and students, and the people of the area had alternative transportation, there would not be so many cars.

Also as a member of the community, we are aware that the price of energy is becoming burdensome and promises to become even more burdensome in the future. The production of oil in the world is very likely at or near its peak, and the decline in production combined with growing global demand for oil will cause petroleum prices to skyrocket, severely affecting the local, national and world economies. Providing this alternative transportation option will relieve the burden for so many people.

As a school, rail service would be especially beneficial for our students who travel from afar, including students who commute from Delaware County and Philadelphia, and for our classes wishing to travel to Philadelphia.

Finally, as a faith community, we have a great concern for peace and the environment. It is well established in the scientific community that climate change due to high carbon dioxide production is advanced and that it is necessary to take very drastic action to reduce our carbon dioxide output. It is also true that our nation’s dependence on oil can drive our foreign policy in ways that are not peaceful. This rail line will help in our corner of the world to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Thus, for all of these reasons, we hope that you will act as quickly as possible to restore regular, frequent and convenient rail service out to the Borough of West Chester.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Bruce Haines, Clerk
Westtown School, Board of Trustees