Citizens for the Train
"Citizens for the Train" was established through the efforts of the Main Street Community Development Corporation. The corporation reviewed the current public transportation linking Phoenixville with the other parts of Chester County. It was determined that there was a need to increase the level of transportation service to enable the citizens to more connect with Chester County.
The initial idea was to connect underutilized networks of transportation, reviewing railroad right of ways and lines currently active for freight. Through a series of meetings with government, planning and practitioners it was determined there was little interest by any existing group to take the lead in this kind of rail project. It appeared that there was great popular interest for rail service connecting to the R-5.
On one first Friday, in downtown Phoenixville, people visiting the Community Development Corporation office proposed the citizens for the train. An organizational sign-up sheet was established and the loosely confederated group was formed. There have been two correspondences (newsletters) to the citizens interested. The first asked for comment on the study criteria. Hearing no comments the Main Street Community Development Corporation arranged for private funding for the initial market study.
Citizens for the Train is an advocacy group, seeking change in the current transportation options. The Main Street Community Development Corporation has assigned Barry Cassidy as staff for the project. The Main Street Community Development Corporation has also established a line item in the special projects fund for the Citizens for the Train. The Main Street Community Development Corporation is a 501 C-3 organization.
Resources