Mitch Landrieu, a White House senior advisor, was in Conshohocken on Apr. 21 to hear firsthand about the job-creating potential of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA). David Kostival reported his presence for WFMZ 69 News.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean was instrumental in getting Landrieu here. She saw value in the meeting, considering his role as implementation coordinator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Also in attendance was Scott France, an SRPRA member and director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

France led the roundtable discussion, which included Landrieu and Berks County Commissioner Lucine E. Sihelnik. Her press conference following the session included comments on the value of restoring passenger rail service to the Schuylkill River corridor.

Also as part of the SRPRA gathering, France made an announcement that augments the rail project’s good news for Pottstown.

The borough has been selected for the Thriving Communities Program, a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative.

“It’s not a grant so much as a program and opportunity,” France explained. “Roughly $5 million goes toward 14 communities [collaborating on grants for infrastructure projects that include passenger rail].”

The next SRPRA phase is its acceptance into a federal development program that would enable additional planning. That decision is due in September.

More on Mitch Landrieu in Montgomery County is at WFMZ 69 News.

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A 2021 update from White House advisor Mitch Landrieu on infrastructure projects across the nation.