Issue Position: Restoring Passenger Train Service

Issue Position

Everyone who has driven along Route 422 during rush hour (as Joe does on his daily commute to Philadelphia) knows that our region has a major transportation problem. After rail service between Philadelphia and Pottstown ended in 1981, our region saw an explosion in population growth, putting a large strain on local roads and highways. Passenger rail service would provide valuable relief to our infrastructure, taking thousands of cars off our highways and providing a regional link that would revitalize our boroughs and boost local economies.

Our region provides a significant amount of revenue to the state in general income/sales taxes, transportation gas taxes, and Turnpike toll fees. For too long, that money has been diverted to fund projects in the rest of the state, with our region being neglected. Joe Ciresi will fight to make sure that the 146th district and western Montgomery County has a strong and loud voice in Harrisburg, and that we get our fair share of funding for the state. One of his top priorities will be making sure that passenger rail service restoration between Pottstown and Philadelphia becomes a priority for the state, and he will stand strongly against any proposal that would involve tolling Rt 422.

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