Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority Awarded $500,000 in Federal Funds for Reading to Philadelphia Intercity Passenger Rail

Federal Railroad Administration funding is next major step in the return of passenger rail service to Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties

READING, PA – (December 8, 2023) – The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) received confirmation today from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that its application to participate in the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program (CIDP) has been accepted.  Acceptance enables SRPRA to access  federal funds to advance the return of passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia – and beyond – including the initial $500,000 announced today.

The $500,000 CIDP grant will fund the first of three steps in the CIDP, and complements approximately $1 million committed to-date by the Berks, Montgomery and Chester Counties as well as $750,000 in Congressionally Mandated Funding previously awarded to Berks County that will support consultant preparation of elements of the Service Development Plan (SDP) for the project. While the Corridor ID Program itself only encompasses the pre-construction development of selected corridors (which includes planning, environmental review, preliminary engineering, and other corridor development activities), selection of the SRPRA for the Corridor ID Program makes it likely that the FRA will continue to support the advancement of the Reading to Philadelphia Intercity Passenger Rail project.

“Receiving this grant is great news for the SRPRA, and importantly, for the residents and businesses along the proposed SRPRA corridor,” said Christian Leinbach, Chair of the Berks County Board of Commissioners, and Chair of the SRPRA.  “The number of applicants for this grant program far outweighed the funds available, but ours is a compelling project, and truly matches the Corridor Identification and Development Program’s purpose to develop sustainable intercity passenger rail corridors across the country.  It’s our pursuit of an intercity passenger rail solution proposed to be operated by Amtrak, rather than a commuter rail transit service, that makes the current effort different from previous ones and more likely to succeed.”

According to the SRPRA, restoring passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia opens a strong network of economic opportunities, not just to the City of Reading, but to the planned stops along the route in Pottstown and Phoenixville. Studies have shown that, over 30 years, the rail line is estimated to create significant economic and environmental benefits including more than $1 billion in new property developments, tremendous job creation, and reduction in vehicle congestion, specifically along the Route 422 corridor.

How does this relate to IMAGINE Berks?

Outlined in the IMAGINE Berks plan is a focus on restoring passenger rail to Berks County. This is the next step in re-establishing passenger rail and one of the first hurdles to overcome on that journey. The potential impact of passenger rail restoration would not only be an incredible asset to the City of Reading, it would enable new possibilities for workforce and housing opportunities for people throughout the region.

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) was incorporated in 2022 by the Pennsylvania Counties of Berks, Montgomery, and Chester to facilitate restoration of passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia, and ultimately to New York.  SRPRA is governed by a nine-person board, consisting of three members from each county. Details of the Authority’s plans and accomplishments, as well as its organization and history, may be found on the SRPRA website at www.GoSRPRA.com