[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by DudeGuy

This may be an unpopular opinion on this forum, but I really wish SEPTA would scrap any plans to build a NHSL extension to King of Prussia. I don't see a scenario in which this whole effort doesn't turn out to be a boondoggle. As someone who has spent a good amount of time in Tyson's Corner, VA (a pretty close approximation to KoP), it's incredibly difficult to turn an auto-oriented location into one that is conducive to taking public transit and walking. Tysons, to be blunt, really sucks as a pedestrian. Unless the landlords in KoP are planning on reorienting their developments to be pedestrian friendly (i.e. unfriendly to autos), this whole project is going to be underutilized.

The money spent on this project would be far better utilized expanding transit in the city, such as extending express BSL service to South Philadelphia, burying the trolleys along Lancaster Avenue, creating a Ridge-avenue spur of the BSL, etc.

Transit and land use are the same issue, and KoP is auto-oriented from top to bottom. An extension of a seldom used high speed trolley isn't going to change that.

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

^
KOP is auto-oriented, but a very strong case has been made for the NHSL to KOP for that and other reasons. KOP has grown leaps and bounds, with the the KOP mall, town center and all the recent residential and commercial developments. I76 to and from KOP is in gridlock. Lots of people reverse commute from the city to KOP, lots of people work at the mall from the city, and vice versa. I think there's a real benefit to building out the NHSL. I hope they find federal and state funding to make this happen. It will be a giant lift from local, state, federal folks and Septa and everyone behind the scene.

Originally Posted by Skintreesnail

I'm not against the kop nhsl spur, but I think the billion dollar price tag would have been better spent extending the regional rail out to at least Phoenixville (eventually out to reading) with a stop in the kop area. A lot of those towns are pedestrian friendly with the old stations still in place. It would take a lot to change kop into something walkable. They are making some changes like town center, but a lot of business based there is kind of sprawled, the roads are massive and sidewalks missing. That would need to change for folks to be able to depend on the nhsl for commuting to work.

I have watched KOP grow over the years and I pass the bus stops on 202 frequently, always packed now. With stops around the mall/town center/casino I can't see this rail extension being underutilized or a failure; lots of service jobs and people who need to get to them efficiently. I know that it can be the chicken/egg argument because it's hard to figure out if people drive because they want to or because they have to but in this case I have been seeing more evidence of it being a have to.

I do think that there could be a cheaper alternative, though, and put light rail down the median of 202 or something (I am only half serious because I know the logistics of this can be tough but I don't think this project needs to be that expensive and there may be some cheaper alternatives).