(The following article by Paul Nussbaum was posted on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on June 21.)
PHILADELPHIA — Proposals to extend PATCO passenger rail lines along the Philadelphia waterfront and deeper into South Jersey have moved a step closer to reality with new funding to analyze five possible routes.
PATCO has hired two engineering firms for $2.1 million to examine the possible routes, John J. Matheussen, president of PATCO and chief executive officer of the Delaware River Port Authority said yesterday.
“The reality is closer than ever before,” Matheussen told business leaders at a gathering sponsored by the business development group Penjerdel. He acknowledged that completion of any extension was still six to 10 years away.
Proposals to extend the PATCO High-Speed Line, which now runs 14 miles between Center City and Lindenwold, have been around almost since the creation of the rail line 38 years ago.
The current five options include three proposals to extend the line deeper into South Jersey and two to extend it along Philadelphia’s growing waterfront. The engineering firm STV Inc. has been hired for $1.5 million to assess the three Jersey options, and the engineering firm Parsons-Brinckerhoff has been hired for $645,000 to analyze the Philadelphia options.
The analyses are expected to take 18 to 24 months, Matheussen said.
“This is the first step toward being able to apply for federal funds,” Matheussen said yesterday. Examination of the current plans could result in new options being offered, he said.
The Jersey proposals are:
Camden to Williamstown. A new rail branch would begin in Camden and travel on the median or the side of I-676 to Route 42 and then follow Route 42 and the Atlantic City Expressway to Williamstown, for a total of 19 miles. Estimated cost: $1.5 billion.
Camden to Glassboro-Millville. A new rail branch to follow I-676 and Route 42 to Route 55. A 24-mile extension to Millville would be added as a second phase. Estimated cost: $1.4 billion (Camden/Glassboro only).
Camden to Glassboro-Millville. This proposal would use an existing 18.5-mile Conrail right-of-way to Glassboro, with a possible 22.5-mile extension to Millville as a second phase. Estimated cost: $1.8 billion (Camden/Glassboro only).
The Philadelphia proposals are:
Old City to Pier 70. A light-rail or trolley route would run from the Franklin Square station (which is currently closed) to Spring Garden Street, then down Columbus Boulevard to the Pier 70 shopping plaza. Later extensions could be made to the stadium complex and to the Navy Yard. Estimated cost: $700 million (to Pier 70 only).
Eighth and Market to Pier 70. This would extend the Market-Frankford El under Market Street to Front Street, where it would cross over I-95 and travel along the median of Columbus Boulevard, north to Spring Garden Street and south to Pier 70. Later extensions could be made to the stadium complex and to the Navy Yard. Estimated cost: $1 billion (to Pier 70 only).