However, two unexpected events took place that are causing me to finish my part in this project prematurely and invite new blood in here at R3 West Chester. I took a new job in August- one that took me away from any conveniently-placed mass transit hubs like 30th Street or Suburban Station. As a result of that, I went back to commuting to work with my trusty Honda, crammed onto an over-congested Schuylkill Expressway with thousands of other unlucky motorists. I’m now moving to Ardmore in an effort to shorten my new commute - effectively ending my ties with the borough of West Chester as well. Who better to blog about mass transit in West Chester than someone who doesn’t ride the train or even live in town anymore, right?

I’m still very enthusiastic about the concept of the R3 West Chester line coming back to the borough, but I firmly believe that there are others out there, some of whom maybe haven’t even found this blog yet, that would be better fit to pick up this cause and run with it. I’ve worked in this town since 2000, gone to school here since 2002, and I’ve lived here since 2006 - and I know this place is full of some of the most engaged, dedicated public servants in the entire region. I am confident that someone will answer my call here and continue the work of documenting history and pushing for the future of rail transit in West Chester, PA.

So: bloggers wanted. I’ve got the site all set up and ready to go for you, and I’ll always be around to lend some technical support and the occasional guest post. Are you a train nerd, living or working somewhere between West Chester, Media and 30th Street? Want to write or contribute photos and help build a cause? Shoot me an email and we’ll help get you set up.

More where that came from at this thread on railroad.net. Neat.

To help ease overcrowding on Regional Rail lines, SEPTA plans to lease eight used railcars from NJ Transit.

The cars, to augment SEPTA’s existing fleet of 348 cars until new Silverliner V cars begin arriving in 2009, are to be put into service next month if the $10,000-a-month lease is approved by the SEPTA board tomorrow.

As gasoline prices rise, SEPTA rail ridership is up 14 percent this year, and many rush-hour trains are packed with standing passengers, straining the system’s capacity.

The leased cars, which are being retired by NJ Transit as new double-decker cars come on line, must be used with SEPTA locomotive because they are not self-propelled like most of SEPTA’s fleet.

Looks like SEPTA is finally doing something to accomodate this surge of new riders. Good on them. Keep it going, people - the price of gas isn’t going down anytime soon….

This has more to do with the R5 than anything else, but increased rail ridership in Chester County is important news for those hoping for a rejuvenated R3 line. While Amtrak had the best year in their 37-year history last month, they are still struggling to pay for crucial repairs to the Northeast Corridor tracks they share with SEPTA.

From the Inquirer:

Throughout the Philadelphia region and much of the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is struggling to maintain old bridges, tunnels, retaining walls and other infrastructure. Chronically short of money, Amtrak has put off an estimated $5 billion in needed repairs and upgrades nationwide, and most of that is along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington.

That could be both hazardous and expensive.

“In addition to increasing the risk of a major failure on the system, the deteriorated condition of Amtrak’s rolling stock and infrastructure may contribute to higher operating costs and reduced reliability of service,” the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a study last year. “…The cost and extent of the needed improvements remain a significant burden to the financial viability of the existing intercity passenger rail system.”

Amtrak engineering officials say the aging infrastructure remains safe, but much of it needs to be replaced as soon as money is available.

“Do not confuse not-in-good-repair with not being safe,” chief engineer Frank Vacca said. “We are insuring rider safety all the time. The nice-to-do things get deferred, but that has no direct impact on safety.”

Operation Iraqi Freedom costs roughly $1 billion every week or so. So you would think Congress could take a second look into the checkbook to find the funds to properly fund Amtrak and the other services that share the infrastructure before a disaster occurs. Or maybe they just need a suggestion from one of their constituents? Click here to tell your representative to give rail service the money it needs to operate safely.

Update: Will Bunch over at Attytood has a go at this - and he really lets John McCain and the GOP have it. That’s not necessarily a viewpoint I totally agree with, as I see Democrats being complicit in this, too.

Oh, and hey - look who else got blogged about! (Hint: it’s us)

Regional rail trains used to roll out to West Chester. They stopped in 1986. Now, folks are clamoring to get them back. And with ridership continuing to increase, it looks like they might have a shot.

If you don’t have your subscription to SEPTA Watch yet, better get it now while it’s hot. It’s an excellent site keeping you up to date on everyone’s favorite transit agency.

On behalf of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, I am submitting this letter in support of extending SEPTA’s R3 train link to West Chester.

At present, West Chester University is served by SEPTA Bus #104 from the 69th Street terminal. However, the addition of passenger rail service would be a significant enhancement to public transportation in the region. The train connection from Philadelphia to West Chester via Media would provide a faster and more reliable link, and also would connect West Chester with Media and points in between, where many faculty, staff and students reside.

Rail transportation has significant advantages over commuting by automobile. Sky-rocketing gas prices, the cost of parking and its limited availability, insurance expenses, and traffic congestion are all good reasons to choose rail service over the automobile. In addition, passengers are able to study and/or prepare for classes while commuting. Just as important, however, the restoration fo rail service to West Chester would provide valuable long-term benefits for the environment.

West Chester University is committed to assessing the impact of the University on the environment, and is working to lighten that impact wherever possible. To that end, we are monitoring the commuter population at the University, and are implementing various practices meant to reduce the amount of traffic to and from West Chester and to raise the environmental consciousness of our students, faculty and staff. The University’s committment to work towards a more environmentally-sustainable future compels us to pursue even the most long-term goals in the hopes that our community will be enhanced by our efforts.

On behalf of West Chester University, we are willing to join with county officials and neighbors in support of SEPTA R3 service returning to our area. Please let me know how we can assist in bringing this issue to public consciousness and reality.

Sincerely,

Madeleine Wing Adler

President

Dr. Adler will resign from her post as President effective June 30, 2008. Please make sure to thank her and the university for their support.

SWARTHMORE – Council approved a resolution supporting the extension of the SEPTA R3 regional rail service to West Chester.

The resolution will now go to local and state-level officials.

The Chester County and Delaware Valley Regional planning commissions are spearheading the effort.

Borough resident John McKinstry has been providing council with information on the efforts.

As a staff member at Westtown School, he is also positioned to speak to the potential advantages for service beyond the Elwyn station where the R3 now terminates. Extension would serve his educational institution and Williamson Trade School, as well as Cheyney and West Chester universities.

McKinstry said the multimillion-dollar project would be expected to take about three years. Although tracks still exist between Elwyn and West Chester, upgrades to meet current standards and maintenance would be necessary.

To optimize use, parking at stations would like have to be greatly increased.

An online petition states that Chester County is the only one in southeastern Pennsylvania without rail service to the county seat (West Chester).

It can be viewed and signed at www.petitiononline.com/railtowcetition.html.

Welcome aboard, Swarthmore! Our project continues to build up a good head of steam.

Today, Joseph Gambardello rehashes last week’s statistical snooze-fest with the tales of some folks that are having difficulty finding places to sit down on their trains now that ridership is up 11%:

Although Spanier, 25, a social worker, had to park in an outer lot yesterday, his 8:30 a.m. trip from Westmont to 10th and Locust Streets was not as crowded as it has been on some other mornings.

One factor was that the train before his was an express between Woodcrest and Ferry Avenue. Then there was the possibility the stifling heat prompted some rail riders to forget the cost and drive to work in air-conditoned vehicles.

Still, Spanier said, there have been days when he has had to stand.

“The trains are definitely filling up,” he said. “But it hasn’t gotten to the point where people are on top of each other.”

“It has to be the cost of gas,” he said.

As annoying as these repetitive examinations of the cost of transportation are getting, they are good for SEPTA passengers. There is something to be said about the news media going on and on about this, and essentially taking SEPTA to task each week about how to serve their customers. The stories are different, but the message is always the same: the cost of driving isn’t going down anytime soon, so get ready for a continuing boom in ridership.

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Thanks,

TJ