COATESVILLE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA officials announce they're bringing regional rail service back to Coatesville after they stopped service in 1996, ending the line at Thorndale station.
“An average of $10,300 per home from people’s willingness to pay more to live near SEPTA stations near the Paoli/Thorndale line, gonna have to change that name," said SEPTA general manager Jeff Knueppel.
READ: New SEPTA bus line connects Strawberry Mansion to Gray's Ferry
County commissioner Terrence Farrell announced $1 million to kick-start the parking garage. As he points out, Coatesville has Amtrak service to New York and is classified as an opportunity zone.
“An opportunity zone is a state designation, it encourages investors to come in because it decreases taxes for a number of years," Farrell said.
Planned future home of a parking garage and @SEPTA station in Coatesville. Septa stopped service to Coatesville in 1996 due to low ridership but will be back once new station is completed. @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/lpb122V8el
— Jim Melwert (@JMelwert)
March 7, 2019 The new station and parking garage is primarily a PennDOT project, but Knueppel says he hopes to see SEPTA service back in Coatesville within a few years.
There is a current court battle over whether or not money generated by the Turnpike can be used on public transit. Knueppel says that could affect this, but he remains optimistic.
