Regional Day: The Future of Regional Rail

Reimagining Regional Rail

For Greater Philadelphia and Tri-State Access

Mpact Transit + Community’s Regional Day program focuses on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine regional rail for Greater Philadelphia and the Tri-State Area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, including service operated by SEPTA, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak. During this afternoon program, start with an overview of SEPTA’s regional rail master plan along with best practices and recent innovations in other regional rail systems. Then, join breakout sessions focused on tools and programs to advance transit-oriented communities in the tri-state area, including two corridors along the Schuylkill River.

Regional Day will be a one-stop shop for getting up to speed about the future of regional rail. The program is from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, with a reception to follow. Scroll down for details.

Please note: You do not have to be registered for the conference to attend Regional Day. A small separate fee is required. Register here. Under “I am attending” choose “Regional Day.”

Market rate housing at Willow Grove Station

Regional Day

Reimagining Regional Rail: For Greater Philadelphia and Tri-State Access

Sponsored by PNC Bank

Welcome

Soledad Alfaro, Chief Operating Officer, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Leslie S. Richards, CEO and General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

Setting the Stage Together

Part 1: The Future of Regional Rail: SEPTA’s Reimagining Regional Rail Master Plan

2:10 pm – 2:50 pm Freedom Ballroom

SEPTA’s regional rail network was created through a century of infrasructure investments and mergers. In this overview of the new regional rail master plan, we’ll hear about the state of the system post-pandemic, the Network Vision for the future, and how it will be implemented. Created with input from planning partners, customers and diverse perspectives from the region, the master plan outlines potential benefits across the region. SEPTA’s project team will recap the effort to transform SEPTA’s Regional Rail. A Q&A will follow, including a transit advocate’s perspective and audience participation.

Ryan Judge, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Joe Clemens, AICP, Manager, Strategic Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Christof Spieler, PE, AICP, Vice President, Director of Planning, Huitt-Zollars, Houston, TX
Madeleine Pelzel, Planner, Huitt-Zollars, Houston, TX
Connor Descheemaker, Coalition Manager, Transit Forward Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Part 2: Passenger Rail Best Practices and Recent Innovations

3:00 pm – 3:50 pm Freedom Ballroom

Learn about Germany’s S-Bahn “Regional Rail” service model and recent US innovations in regional rail, from Boston’s MBTA and Chicago’s Metra, two legacy commuter rail systems. Both MBTA and Metra are implementing aspects of the  Regional Rail model, including more daytime and bi-directional service, new fare products, and marketing to increase and diversify ridership in the post-pandemic era.
Moderator: Christopher Kopp, AICP, National Practice Consultant, HNTB Corporation, Chicago, IL
Paul Lewis, Principal, DB E.C.O. North America, Inc., Washington, DC
Alistair Sawers, Head of Rail Modernization, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
Michael Rooks, Chief Railroad Officer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston, MA
David Kralik, Director, Planning and Programming, METRA Commuter Rail, Chicago, IL

Breakout Sessions – Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC)

4:00 pm – 4:50 pm
Choose from 1 of 3 Breakout Sessions

Breakout 1: Greater Philadelphia TOC Opportunities

Freedom Ballroom

The TOC program at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) plays a crucial role in supporting local municipalities and the region, providing research, tools and station area plans. Learn about these DRVPC resources and how you can tap into them.  Similarly, SEPTA’s TOC program, with new Guidelines and Station Area Concepts, is promoting people-first places, multi-modal connectivity, and economic opportunity. By collaborating with municipalities, SEPTA is enabling more people to live and work near transit. Presentations will be followed by small group discussions about overcoming municipal barriers to TOC.
Karin Morris, AICP, Director of Community Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
Andrew Svekla, AICP, Manager, Office of Smart Growth, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer Dougherty, AICP, Manager, Long-Range Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Kenny Starr, Manager, Joint Real Estate Development, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

Breakout 2: New Jersey TOC Best Practices and Opportunities

Philadelphia South

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)created its Transit Village Initiative over 25 years ago to spur TOC planning and development. NJ TRANSIT created a Transit-Friendly Planning Guidebook to inform municipalities about how to apply TOC practices to its stations. Rutgers University created a free Transit-Friendly Planning data application (www.transitfriendlydata.org) for users to identify TOD opportunities near transit facilities. Hear from public and academic leaders about how these initiatives have spurred TOC development and ridership, then join a discussion about best practices.
Jelena Lasko, Senior Transportation Planner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, Ewing Township, NJ
Megan Massey, AICP, PP, Assistant Director of Transportation Friendly Planning, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), Newark, NJ
Jon Carnegie, Executive Director, Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Breakout 3: Schuylkill River Corridor Plans and TOC Opportunities

Philadelphia North

With its Regional Rail Master Plan complete, SEPTA is conducting a Manayunk/Norristown Corridor Study to model higher frequencies and new infrastructure. At the same time, the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) is evaluating the proposed Reading to Philadelphia passenger rail project. Get to know more about the project development process for these rail corridors. Then provide “open house” input on TOC planning and multi-modal connectivity, including how to engage elected officials on projects. There will be open house style displays for group discussion and one-on-one input.
Thomas Frawley, Executive Director, Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, Reading, PA
Joe Clemens, AICP, Manager, Strategic Planning, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Pankaj Jobanputra, AICP, Planner / Project Manager, Simone Collins Landscape Architecture, Norristown, PA
Howard Brown, Senior Program Officer, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, Pottstown, PA
Matthew Popek, AICP, Transportation Planning Assistant Manager, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Norristown, PA

Closing Remarks: Reimagining Greater Philadelphia

4:55 pm – 5:00 pm Freedom Ballroom

Jody Holton, AICP, Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA

Ariella Maron, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Philadelphia, PA

Networking Reception

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Freedom Foyer

Click the map for a larger image.
Regional Rail Master Plan map of underlying demand for regional rail service. Credit: SEPTA