The borough of Narberth masterfully uses its great ‘walkability’ to blend small-town charm with big-city convenience, a dynamic under threat with potential SEPTA cuts, writes Denali Sagner for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
SEPTA’s proposed cuts include eliminating the Paoli/Thorndale Line, a backbone for the Main Line communities anda pillar of transit-oriented development.
For towns like Narberth and Ardmore, where revitalization efforts are centered around walkable downtowns and easy transit access, the looming loss could upend years of planning and investment.
Officials say the model works. Narberth, Lower Merion, and Ardmore have welcomed new housing, retail, and restaurants thanks, in large part, to their train connections.
But without trains, planners warn that progress may stall. “A lot of people moved there because that was part of the equation,” said Montco Planning Commission Director Scott France.
While debates over density and development continue locally, the broader question looms: Can transit-oriented communities survive the loss of public transit?
Read more about the effects of the potential SEPTA cuts in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
