(The following story by Paul Nussbaum appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on November 20, 2009.)
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA took another step toward restoring rail service to Wawa in Delaware County with approval yesterday of nine property easements necessary for the construction.
SEPTA plans to spend about $100 million to extend the R3 line three miles from Elwyn to Wawa and to build a new railcar storage yard. The new Wawa station will have a parking lot with 600 spaces; it is designed to ease overcrowding at the Media and Elwyn stations.
Service to Wawa, which was halted in 1982, is expected to be restored by the end of 2013. Population growth in western Delaware County and southern Chester County prompted the project.
The SEPTA board yesterday authorized $47,315 for easements on private property adjoining the rail line. The land will be used during construction.