PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Dozens of protesters gathered outside Tulpehocken train station in Germantown Wednesday to rally in support of the Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail line.
Without more revenue to fill a $240 million budget gap, SEPTA is preparing to reduce service by about 20% and increase fares by 30%. Riders who use the Chestnut Hill West line fear it could be on the chopping block.
Lilah Bricklyn lives a block away from the Tulpehocken station and was one of dozens who came out to advocate.
“Personally, I have a love affair with Chestnut Hill West,” Bricklyn said. “I’ve been riding it for 60 years and I can’t imagine this community without it. It would derail this community if this line wasn’t running through it.”
With an average of 1,752 daily riders, Chestnut Hill West is among the least used of SEPTA's Regional Rails, ranking in at 11 out of 13. Chestnut Hill East is 12th; the Cynwyd line, which runs 12 times per day, is 13th.
“The whole corridor of the northwest area of Germantown is really important for this train service to be in place and SEPTA knows that; Josh Shapiro knows that,” said Jeff Jones, who uses the Chestnut Hill West line daily.
He says he prefers the train because it is safer than the bus.
Neighbors like Connie feel the same and wonder if the bus could pick up the slack.
“[The train] it’s safer. You know the trains are going to come on time. The buses — not so much,” she said.
Bus 23, which runs along Germantown Avenue connecting Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and Germantown with Center City, is the 4th most used bus route in SEPTA, serving 8,075 people per day.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal includes $161 million for SEPTA, which leaders say would stave off major cuts. Republican leaders in Harrisburg have painted his budget as fiscally irresponsible, as it relies on using a surplus.
Democratic state Representative Art Haywood was at the rally, joining in some passionate chanting. He says the funding is needed and doable.
“Anyone who says we can’t afford it is wrong. We have the money — so this is about priorities. Give the money to the Chestnut Hill line,” Haywood said.
No specific cuts or plans have been detailed yet.