Philly rail line could be rolling by 2016

A waterfront rail line in Philadelphia moved closer to reality as the Delaware River Port Authority approved a $6.5-million contract for environmental studies and preliminary design, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The work, expected to take about two years, is to prepare the way for a proposed $500-million light-rail line in the middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue.

The line, which could be
operated by SEPTA or PATCO, would be designed to improve transportation and
spur development on the Philadelphia waterfront. It also would provide service
between two casinos planned for the riverfront, Foxwoods to the south and
SugarHouse to the north.

A similar $9-million
contract was approved last year for preliminary design and environmental
studies for a proposed $1.5-billion, 18-mile light-rail extension between
Camden and Glassboro.

The Philadelphia trolleys
could be running by 2016 if federal funding is available, port authority
officials said. A Market Street light-rail line is proposed to connect the
waterfront line to Center City.

The no-bid contract
approved March 17 would allow the agency to pay up to $6.5 million to Parsons
Brinckerhoff, the engineering firm that earlier was awarded a $750,000 contract
to evaluate route proposals for the line.

In other business, the
board approved a $1.6 million contract for repairs to rail switches, signals,
and other equipment in PATCO’s Lindenwold rail yard at the eastern end of the
line. The contract went to the Railroad Construction Co. of South Jersey Inc.