A defunct commuter train line with stops in Montgomery County that once connected Philadelphia and Reading is one step closer to being restored after officials in Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties agreed to establish a transportation authority to oversee plans for its reestablishment, writes Maggie Mancini for the Philly Voice.

The authority will be called the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority.

While its formation does not guarantee that the project will come to fruition, leaders in all three counties are hopeful that, in combination with federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it will help make the passenger line a reality.

The last commuter rail service between Philadelphia and Reading was removed in 1981 when SEPTA shortened the route to Norristown.

Efforts to restore this service have been ongoing and popular, but they have never come so close as with the most recent formation of the SRPRA.

The authority has nine members, three from each of the counties, which include commissioners representing all three counties and members of the planning commissions in Montgomery and Chester counties, among others.

Read more about Montgomery County and the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority in the Philly Voice.