[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 18 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1194-S1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SCHUYLKILL VALLEY METRO LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM

  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I have sought recognition for two 
reasons:
  First, to comment about the Schuylkill Valley Metro Light Rail 
System, which I visited this morning. It is a very fine example of what 
can be accomplished with light rail, for many purposes. It seeks to 
establish a light rail commuter line from city hall in Philadelphia to 
Reading, Pennsylvania, a stretch of some 72 miles, which would be 
enormously helpful in transporting people from the inner city to the 
surrounding counties in the Philadelphia area where there is a labor 
shortage, to move people from areas where people need jobs to areas 
where employers need people to fill jobs. This line would further be 
enormously helpful, to take pressure off of the Schuylkill Expressway, 
an alleged high-speed line in the

[[Page S1195]]

Philadelphia area which is more frequently a parking lot as opposed to 
a high-speed line. It would further be enormously helpful on the 
problems of air pollution, as a tremendous stream of traffic moves from 
the suburbs over the Schuylkill Expressway and U.S. route 422.

  The cost of this light rail system would be $720 million, with the 
Federal share being $576 million. Congressman Jon Fox joined me today 
at the area where we took a look at the proposal, and I think it is 
really a very, very useful use of ISTEA funds. It is my hope that, as 
we move ahead with the so-called ISTEA legislation, we will make a very 
substantial investment in infrastructure and that the higher figure 
will be adopted by the Senate, by the House, and by the conferees as we 
move through this important legislation.
  I have joined over the years in efforts to take the highway trust 
fund off budget so it will be used for the specific purpose for which 
it was intended. I know in my State there are an enormous number of 
important projects which could be funded if the highway trust fund were 
to be used for highways, bridges and mass transit. I have confidence 
that the same exists around the country.

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