Local and Regional Leaders Aligned on Station Planning
At the April live meeting of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA), held at Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown, community members and local officials gathered to discuss the future of passenger rail—and Pottstown’s pivotal role in that future.
The Borough of Pottstown is currently evaluating potential sites for a new passenger rail station as momentum builds toward restoring service between Reading and Philadelphia. A standout candidate is the historic Charles W. Dickinson Transportation Center, the original Reading Railroad station built in 1928, which remains structurally intact and centrally located.
Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller addressed the public during the meeting, emphasizing the borough’s commitment:
“Although this may not be happening as quickly as we’d like, we want to ensure that when passenger rail returns, we’re ready to embrace the opportunities it will provide.”
Supporting the borough’s study is the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), which is leading a comprehensive station area analysis. Andrew Svekla, DVRPC’s project manager, presented at the meeting, outlining plans to evaluate infrastructure needs, potential station sites, and the surrounding development opportunities:
“We’re looking at how much parking might be needed, whether the historic station can play a role, and how to support a shared vision for the area around it.”
The DVRPC study will include a robust community engagement effort throughout the summer, culminating in a station area vision plan by summer 2026.
This local initiative complements SRPRA’s ongoing coordination with Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). A $500,000 grant from the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program in late 2023 continues to fuel progress toward passenger rail service that would link Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Norristown to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station using existing Norfolk Southern rail infrastructure.
With more than 100 people in attendance at MCCC, the meeting showcased how collaboration at the local, county, and regional levels is moving the vision forward. SRPRA is proud to support these efforts and to help ensure that communities like Pottstown are prepared for the opportunities that restored rail service will bring.
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