| Date | Development |
| November 18, 2006 |
An article in The Phoenix, "New Rail Line Proposed" by G.E. Lawrence describes an idea to use a Norfolk Southern brach that goes south from Phoenixville to Devault.
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| October 12, 2006 |
There have been some recent news reports on support for some kind of rail service:
|
| August 24, 2006 |
Schuylkill Valley Metro project is officially pronounced "dead", but U.S. Rep. Gerlach (R-6) looks for alternative ways to extend passenger rail service towards Reading. (Daily Local News, Inquirer) |
|
| June 2004 |
SEPTA starts a new feasibility study for the 52nd Street Rail connector, along a corridor from 52nd Street and Lancaster Avenue West Philadelphia to Market East Station in Center City. |
| April 16, 2004 |
The Pottstown Mercury reports that local and state officials met to discuss problems with the SEPTA SVM proposal, including the $2.2 billion price tag and the 80% federal share of funding requested. According to Berks County Commissioner Thomas Gajewski, Senator Arlen Specter is still trying to get the 80% federal share. |
| January 14, 2004 |
New task force convened by State Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler, at US Representative James Gerlach's request, to work on getting the SVM project off the ground. |
|
| November 2003 |
FTA continues to give the SVM project an overall rating of "Not Recommended" primarily due to the greater than 60% federal share of project costs, and lists several other problems with SEPTA's proposal. |
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| November 2002 |
FTA gives the SVM project an overall rating of "Not Recommended" primarily due to the greater than 60% federal share of project costs in SEPTA's proposal. |
| March 25, 2002 |
Public comment period on MIS/DEIS ends. |
| February 8, 2002 |
SEPTA officially releases SVM MIS/DEIS, starting the 45 day public comment period. |
| February 2002 |
FTA gives SEPTA approval to move to the Preliminary Engineering phase, while warning that the 80% federal share in the project budget is higher than the 60% federal share in the FTA guidelines. |
|
| November 2001 |
FTA gives the SVM project an overall rating of "Recommended" and overall justification of "Medium" based on information then available. |
| September 27, 2001 |
SEPTA submits application for federal "New Starts" grant moeny for SVM project. |
| January 22, 2001 |
Norfolk Southern offers to swap existing tracks to Reading in exchange for new freight tracks along a parallel route that is currently abandoned. |
|
| June 22, 2000 |
SEPTA's board of directors approves Metrorail as the locally preferred alternative. |
| April 2000 |
Public meetings held on the "MetroRail" alternative. |
|
| Oct-Nov 1999 |
Public meetings held on the short list of alternatives. |
| September 1999 |
SEPTA narrows down alternatives to short list of six. |
| June 1999 |
Norfolk Southern takes over from Conrail the railroad line between Norristown and Reading being considered for use in the SVM project. |
| April 1999 |
Schuylkill Valley Metro Coalition created to support the SVM project. |
| March 1999 |
Public meetings held on the long list of alternatives. |
| February 1999 |
Public meetings held on the scope of the project. |
|
| December 1998 |
Major Investment Study begins, scheduled to take 21 months. |
| April 1998 |
Draft Final Report of the SVM Feasibility Study released. |
|
| 1997 |
Feasibility Study of SVM using light rail and commuter rail commences. |
|
| May 1994 |
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Draft Transportation Improvement Program FY 1995-1998 includes a reference to the Schuylkill Valley Metro project, as a "Philadelphia to Oaks Area Extension of SEPTA R6 Line to Light Rail." |
