The County Commissioners in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties have authorized the creation of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) to oversee and implement the restoration of passenger rail service in an efficient manner, between Reading and Philadelphia.

Montgomery County held a public hearing to consider the creation of the passenger rail authority and the county approved resolutions to create the authority.

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority will be sustained with representation and funding from all three counties, starting with a $100,000 investment from each county.

The creation of the SRPRA is not a guarantee that passenger rail will return, but it is a crucial next step to continue the long process of research and planning.

The Committee is a nine-member group comprised of one County Commissioner from each County and other local leaders:

• Christian Leinbach, Berks County Commissioner
• Marian Moskowitz, Chester County Commissioner
• Kenneth Lawrence Jr., Montgomery County Commissioner
• Jim Gerlach, President of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
• Eddie Moran, Reading Mayor
• Brian O’Leary, Director of the Chester County Planning Commission
• Peter Urscheler, Phoenixville Mayor
• Scott France, Director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission
• David Zellers, Director of the Montgomery County Commerce Department

The Committee is confident that passenger rail service in places like Pottstown and Phoenixville could potentially generate more than $1 billion in new property development and existing property value increases, which translates to thousands of jobs and the expansion of local and federal tax bases over the next 30 years.

Information about the initiative and the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority can be found here.