Recent Articles
PA-TEC publishes both independent articles and also provides commentary and links to external sources covering newsworthy events.
Our elected officials had committed to service.
9/24/2016 - Reminders of Resolutions Past
These townships promised us rail service, but are now consivering building out a trail. Please contact your elected officials and remind them about these resolutions and the commitment to restore rail service on our line.
Wrightstown Resolution
Upper Southampton Township Resolution
Makefield Resolution
Newtown Resolution
Newtown Borough Resoltuion
Middletown Resolution
Southampton residents want to stop a train
11/16/2012 - Rails-to-Trails group eyes Newtown Regional Rail Corridor
A collection of NIMBYs in Upper Southampton have mounted a campaign to place a trail on SEPTA's railroad to prevent an invisible train from going through their backyards.Read More
Upper Southampton recognizes need for rail service
12/20/2011 - Upper Southampton Board of Supervisors reaffirms R8 Resolution
On a recommendation from the township's Environmental Advisory Council, the UST Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming the township's support for reactivating regional rail service between Fox Chase and Newtown.Read More
Deon memory lapse includes pledge to restore Newtown rail service
11/04/2011 - SEPTA Chair Pat Deon to hand off Newtown Rail Station
Bucks County SEPTA Board Member Pat Deon is expediting the process of converting the dormant regional rail station to basketball courts for a candidate for political office. Mr. Deon was appointed to the SEPTA board by then county Commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick (now a U.S. Congressman).Read More
SEPTA's buses can't manage Second Street Pike Gridlock
09/20/2011 - "Planners" mired in 422 while Upper Southampton suffers in gridlock
While outgoing Montco Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and DVRPC try to sell tolling on 422 to fix traffic problems, Philadelphia suburb Upper Southampton faces growing daily gridlock with no relief in sight. SEPTA currently runs empty buses along Second Street Pike to present the illusion that the area is served by transit, rather than do what taxpayers have been asking for, for years. Train service.Read More
Readers want trains
08/04/2010 - Readers react positively to Newtown Rail Line restoration
Warrington Township Bucks County, plagued by traffic on PA-611, from residents flocking to Warminster's overcrowded train station, supports investment in regional rail to Newtown.Read More
Bucks County lagging in rail service
07/30/2010 - Warrington Township supports Newtown Rail Line
Warrington Township Bucks County, plagued by traffic on PA-611, from residents flocking to Warminster's overcrowded train station, supports investment in regional rail to Newtown.Read More
Newtown Bypass a problem in Middletown
07/14/2010 - Middletown lobbies for SEPTA Newtown service
Following a presentation by PA-TEC, Middletown Township Bucks County unanimously adopted a resolution in support for the reactivation of the Fox Chase-Newtown line.Read More
Warwick Township, unanimous support for Newtown rail service
06/23/2010 - Warwick joins growing chorus supporting reactivation of Newtown rail line
Recognizing the problems with Warminster station, the Warwick Township Board of Supervisors passes a unanimous resolution in support of reactivating the Newtown Line.Read More
Greg Vellner, Staff writer, Montgomery Media
06/09/2010 - From the Staff: It's time to reopen old train line
Montgomery News editorial in support of reactivating the Fox Chase-Newtown LineRead More
Upper Moreland Township supports passenger train service
05/19/2010 - PA-TEC Gives Presentation to Upper Moreland Township
The coalition came before the board earlier this month asking it to pass a resolution supporting studies to move forward with the project.Read More
SEPTA CFO Rich Burnfield, unable to locate Newtown feasibility studies
05/13/2010 - Newtown Borough jumps on board R8 reactivation bandwagon
The Newtown Borough Council voted unanimously to approve two resolutions supporting an effort to bring regional rail service back to the R8 Newtown-Fox Chase line. The proposal faces challenges, the biggest of which is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), which said so far studies have not shown reactivation to be a viable alternative in terms of cost and ridership, despite not being able to produce any studies that confirm their position.Read More
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Faye Moore Memorial Parking Garage, Norristown PA
05/05/2010 - Residents question need for proposed SEPTA parking garage
Showdown between SEPTA and Cheltenham Township residents who turned out in droves to denounce SEPTA's plans to build an 850 spot parking garage and transportation center and replace the classic Jenkintown-Wyncote railroad station. SEPTA would never return to Cheltenham to speak with residents on the subject.Read More
04/14/2010 - Newtown Borough Council hears pitch to reactivate R8 rail line
Newtown's Voice hosts PA-TEC's public presentation to area residents on the proposal to restore commuter rail service on the Fox Chase-Newtown Line.Read More
Newtown strongly favors restoration of train service
02/17/2010 - Town hall gives Newtown a voice on R8 rail line
Newtown's Voice hosts PA-TEC's public presentation to area residents on the proposal to restore commuter rail service on the Fox Chase-Newtown Line.Read More
SEPTA Warminster Station, not a problem says DVRPC
10/2/2009 - Restoring Bucks Rail Service a hard sell
In an interview with PlanPhilly.com over the need to restore passenger train service through the densely developed Newtown rail corridor, DVRPC's Greg Krykewycz talks about smart cards, while Leo Bagley of Montgomery County says money is better spent on the now maxed-out Warminster & West Trenton Lines.Read More
Leo "the King" Bagley,
Montgomery County, PA "Planner"
Montgomery County, PA "Planner"
09/28/2009 - Emerging Alternatives to Jenkintown-Wyncote & Glenside Parkades
In Stark contrast to Leo Bagley's fantasy that his county and Bucks County residents can park their way to a sustainable future, the concept of re-using an existing SEPTA commuter rail line emerges as Leo's worst dream come true--taxpayers demanding an end to the senseless collection of parking centers, and the reactivation of existing train stations that citizens can walk to. (Say it ain't so Leo!)Read More
Bobby Wachter,
Abington Commissioner, to be buried under rail line
07/25/2008 - Montco Steels Rails on SEPTA's Newtown Commuter Rail Line
Montgomery County converts 2.5 miles of SEPTA's Newtown Line to a jogging trail in violation of SEPTA's enabling legislation. County gets a "steal" by cashing in the steel rails with a metal scrapper to build Abington's Pennypack fair-weather trail-to-nowhere. Abington Commissioner vows trains will only roll over his dead body.Conversion is sanctioned by DVRPC's "Connections 2035 Plan", which does not include rail service on a corridor paid for with public funding
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