DVRPC and Atglen Borough are currently touting the potential of Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) along the Amtrak Harrisburg
Line in Chester County should a SEPTA Regional Rail station be constructed within the Borough. On the surface, it sounds
like a "green idea".
However, what DVRPC does not state in their studies is that Commuter rail is not the kind of service that
spurs TOD, because it is only used for travelling to and from work, not to all the other things in life.
What is certain is that the proposed commuter service (with commuter defined as a Monday thru Friday, 9 to 5
rider) will place tremendous strains on SEPTA's operating budget and spread existing financial resources
much thinner than they are now. With a potential 2-hour, one way commute from Atglen station, it remains
very questionable how many riders will utilize this service.
Extending SEPTA regional rail frees up some freeway space for other users, but does not cure congestion
or have a significant impact on road usage. The end result under DVRPC's plans will be total land development
in the Atglen Borough area.
Resources
Summary of documents and studies on the current feasibility study of restoring passenger train service to Atglen Borough, Chester County.