Rail Stations & Transportation Centers

Rail stations and transportation centers serve as the intermodal hubs of the public transportation system in Chester County. They are the primary locations for where Chester County residents access either SEPTA or Amtrak services along the central commuter rail spine of the Keystone Corridor, or from where transit users may board one or more or transfer between the bus routes that serve the county and beyond.

This design element focuses on rail stations and transportation centers and the amenities they may provide to improve the built environment for transit users and their experience using the public transportation system.

The quality of a public transit ride is defined by all aspects of a rider's experience, from the time of departure to arrival at the destination. Beyond a rider's experience in the transit vehicle, there are two additional significant components to a "full" transit ride: the connection between a transit stop and one's origin/destination; and the experience waiting for the arrival of the transit vehicle. In this context, the amenities at rail stations and transportation centers have significant roles regarding the quality of public transit in Chester County.

Rail Stations

Rail Station
A stop along a commuter rail line where trains load or unload passengers.

There are two passenger rail providers that serve Chester County. Amtrak provides regional and intercity service on the Keystone Corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg with additional intra- and interstate connections. SEPTA operates the Paoli/Thorndale commuter rail service on the same rail line extending between Philadelphia and Thorndale with regional connections in Philadelphia. This rail right-of-way is owned by Amtrak and extends on an east/west axis through the central portion of Chester County.

There are twelve existing passenger rail stations in Chester County (listed below from east to west). Two are served by Amtrak only, seven are served by SEPTA only, and three are served by both agencies:

Rail Stations

* serviced by both SEPTA and Amtrak
** serviced by Amtrak only

The passenger rail service along the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line, particularly SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale service, is the backbone of all public transportation in Chester County. The Paoli/Thorndale is the County's most heavily used public transportation service. The condition and accessibility of the stations along this rail line are key factors in drawing new riders and retaining existing riders.

Transportation Center

A hub served by multiple transit routes that provides multimodal options and transfer opportunities for transit users.

Transportation Centers

There are three (3) transportation centers providing bus service connections located in Chester County:

The Public Transportation Plan identified a number of critical issues applicable to both rail stations and transportation centers. The most common issue to be addressed is parking availability. Limited parking at rail stations and to a lesser degree transportation centers limits the ability for people to access the public transit system. This limitation essentially places a cap on ridership. The majority of people that use public transit in Chester County typically drive from their homes to the rail stations so that they may use the commuter rail system. If no spaces can be found at the station of choice, potential transit users either choose to drive to another station, or in most cases decide to complete the trip in their automobile.

The lack of first mile (home to transit) and last mile (transit to destination) connections creates a significant barrier to public transportation use in Chester County. These first mile/last mile connections can be addressed through the provision of a drop-off (kiss'n ride) loop and/or additional shuttle bus parking. Another potential solution is the installation of car shares and/or bike shares at or near the station sites.

Bicycle, pedestrian and/or shared use facilities described in this handbook should be improved within and around rail stations and transportation centers to provide for better connectivity between adjacent neighborhoods and the public transportation system. Bicycle parking is an amenity that if securely provided may attract additional riders who would access the stations/centers via bicycle rather than by car.

Recommendations

References

View a PDF of this Design Element.

View a PDF of the entire Multi-Modal Handbook.