King of Prussia Rail Project
www.septa.org
King of Prussia Rail Project
Ms. Liz Smith, SEPTA Project Manager
c/o
PORTFOLIO ASSOCIATES, INC.
510 WALNUT ST., SUITE 1411
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-9965
An Extension of the Norristown High Speed Line
Fall 2016 | Newsletter | Issue 5
NHSL
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Scheduled for Release
3 Public Hearings to be held
Publication
of Draft EIS
End of
comment
period
COMMENT PERIOD
This winter, the King of Prussia Rail (KOP Rail) project
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) will
officially be released. The document will describe the
project’s purpose and need, the impacts of the project
on the environment, and will provide an overview of the
various alternatives studied. It will also describe how
SEPTA and FTA arrived at the recommended Locally
Preferred Alternative (recommended LPA).
Visit the project website to learn more:
www.kingofprussiarail.com.
What’s Next?
Staying Informed
Upcoming activities:
There are many ways for the public to stay informed about the
KOP Rail Project.
• The Draft EIS is scheduled to be
released for public review and
comment this winter.
• As part of the document’s release,
SEPTA will hold three Public
Hearings in early 2017.
•
The project website (www.kingofprussiarail.com), includes a
newly updated FAQ document, provides up-to-date news and
information, and the opportunity to submit comments.
•
Project documents as well as presentations and display
materials from all public meetings are available on the website.
•
You may sign-up for the project email list to receive
information about upcoming events and project updates.
Scheduled for release this winter, the Draft EIS will be
available for review as part of a formal comment period.
During that time, all comments and questions received
will be considered formal testimony on the document
and reviewed by SEPTA and FTA. SEPTA and FTA will also
hold three (3) Public Hearings at different locations in
the region: Upper Merion Township, the Municipality
of Norristown, and Upper Darby Township. The Public
Hearings will provide an opportunity for all interested
parties to review the document, view project materials,
and attend a presentation. Public Hearing attendees may
provide testimony publicly or privately, and all comments
will be recorded by a stenographer. Testimony may also
be submitted in writing at any time during the comment
period.
The Draft EIS will be available on the project website at
www.kingofprussiarail.com. Printed copies will also be
made available at local and county government offices
and libraries.
We value your opinions on how SEPTA’s public outreach/public
participation process can be improved. Please feel free to share
your ideas with SEPTA!
Contact Us | Got a question? Need more information?
Email Us: [email protected] | Visit Us: www.kingofprussiarail.com | Follow Us: www.twitter.com/KOPRail
An artistic rendering of the street level view with KOP Rail traveling along 1st Avenue
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www.kingofprussiarail.com
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Why King of Prussia Rail?
The KOP Rail project proposes extending the
existing Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) to King
of Prussia, providing a direct ride from either the
69th Street Transportation Center or the Norristown
Transportation Center. The extension will provide
a convenient, reliable, and efficient transit service
to destinations throughout the region, and provide
improved access for communities along the current
line. All stations will be fully compliant with the
Americans with Disability (ADA) Act, and the project
will support increased walkability in Upper Merion
Township, as well as help reduce overall travel
times. Once complete, the project will promote and
strengthen regional growth, and support multimodal
transportation improvements (such as sidewalks,
crosswalks and bike lanes) for residents, commuters,
shoppers, students and visitors.
Recommended LPA Design
Options
In an effort to minimize impacts to
residents, SEPTA is exploring different
design options within the recommended
LPA. For example, two of the additional
design options being explored are
within the Pennsylvania Turnpike rightof-way. The map to the right shows the
North/South side option crossing over
U.S. Route 202. This option shifts the
proposed rail facility away from residential
neighborhoods along the south side of the
Pennsylvania Turnpike. More information
regarding the design options will be
posted to the project website.
Recommended LPA | North/South Aerial Option
Funding for KOP Rail
Major transit projects like KOP Rail are typically funded through
multiple sources of capital, including both public and private funds.
SEPTA anticipates the largest source of capital funding will be received
via FTA’s New Starts program – a Federal program initiated to help transit
agencies build or expand their transit lines. Specific criteria in the FTA
New Starts program are designed to fund the projects that most
effectively satisfy existing mobility needs and demonstrate the most
potential for future ridership, environmental benefit and economic
development.
Additional funding could come from state, county, local or
private sources. A combination of funding sources will likely be assembled
to meet the total construction cost.
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New FAQ
The list of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) has been
updated and posted on the
project website. Please check
www.kingofprussiarail.com
for more information.
Community Working Group
In an effort to keep the community informed and
involved throughout the development of the Draft
EIS, SEPTA established a Community Working Group
for the KOP Rail project. The group is comprised
of nine residents from Upper Merion Township
who are serving as participants in the project’s
planning process. Additional members have been
identified to represent various township groups
and local organizations. Members of the group
have committed to meet once a month through the
completion of the Draft EIS.
The goals of the Community
Working Group include:
Educate and inform representatives
from various communities and
neighborhoods in the study area.
Foster a constructive dialogue
among SEPTA, the project team, and
community members
Discuss popular topics related to the
project through the completion
of the Draft EIS
Regional Planning Partners
Valley Forge Homes Neighborhood Visits
Increased rail transit has been identified as a long-term
solution for improved local and regional mobility. The
King of Prussia Rail project has been an integral part
of Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s
(DVRPC) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
for several decades. DVRPC is the region’s federally
recognized transportation planning authority.
The comprehensive plan for Montgomery County
recognized KOP Rail as a priority public transportation
project. Upper Merion Township’s comprehensive plan
recognizes the need for increased transit and mobility.
In response to requests from residents in the Valley Forge
Homes community, SEPTA participated in a series of
backyard visits to answer questions and listen to concerns
regarding potential impacts related to the project. The visits
resulted in SEPTA exploring additional design options for the
recommended LPA.
The Township continues to attract major employers,
retailers, residents and institutions, further increasing
auto traffic on local and regional roadways. Similar
communities from around the country are facing
many of these same challenges, and are working to
integrate multimodal transportation investments as
a way to keep up with land use changes and planned
development.
The KOP Rail project will help meet the demand for
increased mobility and access by providing more
transportation options, and supporting the overall
economic growth of the King of Prussia area.
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