SEPTA Needs to Restore Full Service to the Bethlehem Branch

[glennk419]

It's being reported that Bieber Bus Lines has shut down leaving Lehigh Valley commuters with no public means of getting into Philadelphia. It's too bad that the railroad isn't still there to fill that void.

[Maverickstation1]

https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc- ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ken

ADMIN: added fair-use quote per forum policy

...
On Friday, many riders were left stranded when the company announced an immediate but temporary shut down, which was followed a few hours later with a notice that it had closed for good. Among those caught off-guard were Easton Area Middle School students on a Blue Mouintain ski trip Friday.
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[mcgrath618]

Allegedly funds have been allocated towards a feasibility study of returning to Quakertown... probably won't go far though. And that's coming from someone who thinks that the return to Phoenixville has a chance.

[glennk419]

Allegedly funds have been allocated towards a feasibility study of returning to Quakertown... probably won't go far though. And that's coming from someone who thinks that the return to Phoenixville has a chance.

The proposed park-n-ride in Shelly would have been an excellent solution.

[JeffK]

Allegedly funds have been allocated towards a feasibility study of returning to Quakertown... probably won't go far though. And that's coming from someone who thinks that the return to Phoenixville has a chance.

The proposed park-n-ride in Shelly would have been an excellent solution.

AFAIK the ROW above Shelly has been severed. If that memory is correct, full restoration to the Allentown area is highly unlikely. But yes a park-n-ride at Shelly would be a good option.

[glennk419]

I know that the rails have been pulled at least to Coopersburg and possibly as far south as California Road. Certainly anything above Lansdale would require an almost full rebuild anyway for commuter service. I believe the only place where the ROW was severed was at the Lutron facility when they built their driveway over the ROW, allegedly illegally. That could easily be rectified if the railroad were ever restored.

[JeffK]

I believe the only place where the ROW was severed was at the Lutron facility when they built their driveway over the ROW, allegedly illegally. That could easily be rectified if the railroad were ever restored.

Thanks, Glenn. A bit of welding in my brain gaps is always welcome

[lvlocal]

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Long Range Transportation Plan is open for public comment until September 23. Of course, the draft doesn't mention passenger rail at all. Might be a good opportunity to tell these folks that rail transit should be in Bethlehem's future: https://www.lvpc.org/futurelv.html

[Train60]

If people want passenger rail to Bethlehem now is the time to speak up en masse in support of rail. If this project doesn't get listed in the the Regional Long Term Transportation Plan then odds are very small that the project will move forward. It's my understanding that federal dollars cannot be used for transportation projects that are not in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) of the Regional Long Term Transportation Plan, and most states won't fund rail projects without significant federal dollars.

[rcthompson04]

If people want passenger rail to Bethlehem now is the time to speak up en masse in support of rail. If this project doesn't get listed in the the Regional Long Term Transportation Plan then odds are very small that the project will move forward. It's my understanding that federal dollars cannot be used for transportation projects that are not in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) of the Regional Long Term Transportation Plan, and most states won't fund rail projects without significant federal dollars.

I think getting anything north of Quakertown is unlikely, which is probably 3rd on the list of restoration targets (with Phoenixville and West Chester ahead of it).