Ursinus Student Proposes Passenger Rail Project Across Montco

An Ursinus College senior says he may have a solution to Phoenixville’s ever-worsening traffic situation: trains, according to a report in the Times Herald.

Chris Hoops, 21, wants to bring the Phoenixville Industrial Track freight railroad line back in service as a passenger line, the report states.

Hoops would extend the rail, which runs from Phoenixville to Paoli, to eventually connect to Pottstown, according to the report.

“It’s not just a good idea,” he told the Times Herald. “This is something that needs to happen.”

In order to advance his idea at all, however, his project, spawned by Ursinus’ Bear Initiative competition, needs about $2 million to complete the necessary environmental impact study and a detailed feasibility study, the report states.

His project is called “The Greenline” according to Ursinus, and he won $500 for his initial presentation.

An initial feasibility study was done on a similar proposed project in 2008, but grant money could not be obtained due to the economic recession, according to individuals previously involved with the Citizens for the Train project.