Residential properties near SEPTA’s rail lines could lose combined $20B in value
SEPTA’s proposal for massive service cuts could lower property values in nearby communities, reduce tax revenues for public services and slow the economy, according to a recent economic impact analysis. On July 1, the transit agency will face a $213 million budget shortfall. Philadelphia-based consultancy Econsult Solutions calculated what it would mean if the “death spiral” continued. SEPTA has proposed shuttering the Cynwyd, Chestnut Hill West, Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton and Wilmington/Newark rail lines, and cutting service by 45% across the five-county area. There are about 682,000 single-family homes and about $73 billion of commercial property value within a three-mile radius of the five Regional Rail lines on the chopping block. If there are no trains running, the collective value of those homes would drop by nearly $20 billion. That means less tax revenue for local schools and municipalities. Many commercial corridors along transit routes rely on foot traffic, so fewer riders means fewer sales and business taxes paid to the state. According to the analysis, office space vacancies are expected to increase if daily commutes are longer. Read more at PlanPhilly.
Source: PlanPhilly; 4/18/2025

Suburban chambers say SEPTA cuts would derail economic growth and workforce mobility
The leaders of three local chambers of commerce — in Chester County, Delaware County and the Main Line — released a joint statement on the impacts of proposed SEPTA cuts. They stress the importance of public transit for the suburban counties, with thousands relying on SEPTA daily to commute to Philadelphia for work. “SEPTA is the thread that binds together our regional workforce,” according to the statement. “The proposed cuts would rip that thread apart.” Major employers like Comcast, Vanguard and health systems depend on transit-connected employees, they said, and the future of the workforce, housing, small business growth and quality of life in suburban counties is closely tied to transit.
Source: Delco Today; 4/22/2025

Judge allows HUD to cancel fair housing grants
Judge Richard Stearns of the U.S. District Court in the District of Massachusetts has allowed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to proceed with clawing back 78 fair housing grants awarded to fair housing organizations in 33 states. The grants, which are authorized by statute, support fair housing education and enforcement efforts in local communities. The action dissolves a temporary restraining order he had earlier granted directing HUD to reinstate canceled grants in a case brought by fair housing groups. Stearns cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the administration to go forward in terminating billions of dollars in education grants while litigation in that case proceeds. The Supreme Court directed that the proper forum for such cases is the Court of Federal Claims.
Source: NAR; 4/18/2025

Home builders are gloomy over tariffs and economic uncertainty
Home builders are feeling the sting of uncertain trade policies and growing economic concerns that are adding to the challenge of building enough homes to address America’s inventory shortage. Builder sentiment in the market for new homes has been slumping for months and stayed low in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. When asked about the effect of tariffs’ on their businesses, 60% of builders said their suppliers have already increased, or announced increases, on the prices of equipment and materials because of tariffs. Builders are estimating a typical cost effect of nearly $11,000 per home, given how many products from abroad will be hit by the trade war. The gloominess could make it harder for builders to ramp up construction, which many economists say is essential to tame housing costs. Experts say the country is short somewhere between 1.5 million and 4 million homes, and prices for renters and buyers have stayed high largely because there aren’t enough homes to go around. Read more in the Inquirer.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/19/2025

$55K awarded for PA waterways health projects
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Aqua Pennsylvania have provided more than $55,000 in grants for watershed protection and education projects that address invasive species, pollution and other threats to water quality. Grant recipients include:

• Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association, $9,924 for a volunteer adopt-a-buffer program
• Heritage Conservancy, $10,000 for a pollinator meadow project
• Neshaminy Watersheds Association, $5,583 for water quality monitoring
• Pennsylvania Resources Council, $10,000 for residential stormwater management education and project promotion
• Stroud Water Research Center, $10,000 for a watershed health education program
• Willistown Conservation Trust, $10,000 for Save Our Streams report education and outreach

Source: Daily Times; 4/22/2025

Commissioners, local officials speak out on proposed SEPTA service cuts
Bucks County commissioners issued a joint statement regarding the proposed cuts to SEPTA service, saying: “These cuts would come as an enormous blow to thousands of county residents and hundreds of businesses who rely on regional rail and bus service to support their livelihoods. The negative effects would not be isolated to our region. Southeastern Pennsylvania is the economic engine of the Commonwealth, and mass transit is its lifeblood. The economic consequences of these cuts would be as far reaching as they are devastating.” SEPTA’s proposed budget, which includes drastic service cuts and fare hikes, threatens to eliminate the Trenton Regional Rail Line and several key bus routes. Local officials from a bipartisan group of state representatives, to the executive director of TMA Bucks, a nonprofit transit organization, emphasized the vital role of public transportation in the region’s economy. Read more from LevittownNow.
Source: Bucks County; 4/10/2025 & LevittownNow; 4/20/2025 

Doylestown Borough asks Central Bucks to abandon closure plans for Linden Elementary
Doylestown Borough Council adopted a resolution asking Central Bucks School District to abandon plans to close Linden Elementary School. The resolution also asks the district to ensure that both Linden and Doyle elementary schools remain open and operational at their current locations. Councilman Ben Bell introduced the resolution calling on the district to take advantage of the recent decision to pause the decision-making process regarding district construction projects and “thoroughly explore alternative strategies for addressing enrollment and facility needs that do not involve the closure of community schools, thereby preserving the integrity of neighborhood education."
Source: Doylestown Patch; 4/22/2025

Bristol Township to expand red light camera program
Bristol Township Council approved an ordinance to expand its automated red light enforcement program. The change will add two intersections along Veterans Highway (Route 413) to the existing red light camera system previously approved for Route 13 at Green Lane and Edgley Road. The new intersections on Veterans Highway are at Western Avenue and Wharton Road. The red light cameras automatically photograph vehicles that pass through an intersection after the light has turned red, and the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a citation by mail. Violators face a $100 fine, as mandated by state law. The township is contracted with Sensys Gatso for the red light camera program.
Source: LevittownNow; 4/19/2025

Newtown and Bensalem shopping centers have sold
Two open-air shopping centers in Newtown and Bensalem have been purchased for $28.9 million. Goodnoe’s Corner, at North Sycamore Street and Durham Road, sold for $15.3 million, and Village Center, 2363 Pasqualone Blvd., Bensalem, sold for $13.5 million. Palladino Development Group recently sold the properties to a joint venture — ShopOne Centers REIT, of New York City, together with London investment firm Pantheon, and a global institutional investor. Meanwhile, Franklin Mall, a 1.6-million-square-foot indoor mall on the border of Bensalem and Philadelphia, remains in receivership and on the market.
Source: The Reporter; 4/20/2025

Telford formalizes parking prohibitions
Telford Borough Council approved an ordinance to formalize multiple parking bans in the borough. The ordinance establishes parking prohibitions on the north side of Penn Avenue between North Third Street and Main Street and on the south side of Penn Avenue between Main Street and Station Alley. Both sections have long been de facto no-parking zones, according to Councilmember Robert Sparks.
Source: Main Line Media News; 4/18/2025 

Downingtown school district plans to sell 240 acres for $64 million
Downingtown Area School District (DASD) has announced a public hearing regarding the potential sale of district-owned property in Uwchlan Township. The 240-acre property is located along Lionville Station Road and is currently home to three dilapidated homes and four deteriorating farm structures. The property is divided between two zoning districts, with about 225 acres in the Planned Industrial Commercial (PIC) District and 15 acres in the Rural Residential (RR) District. DASD is seeking court approval to sell the property to Rockwell Downingtown LLC for a sum of $64 million. The sale is proposed under the terms outlined in an agreement of sale, which will be presented at the hearing. The hearing is set to take place on Thursday, May 29, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W. Market St. in West Chester. More information on the sale of the property, known as the Siemens/Lionville Station Farm land parcel, can be found on the DASD website.
Source: Daily Local; 4/21/2025

Kennett Square Borough seeks public input on community project
The Borough of Kennett Square, in partnership with Square Roots Collective, is preparing to launch Kennett Decides, an initiative to promote civic engagement and seek ideas to develop and fund community projects. The goal is to enlist community input on how best to spend $100,000 in funds allocated for the project. Beginning May 1, the public can suggest ideas for a community project at the Kennett Decides website. The deadline to submit ideas is July 18, and projects will be put on the ballot for a public vote in the fall. A launch event is planned for Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at Kennett Library.
Source: The Kennett Paper; 4/18/2025 and Chadds Ford Live, 4/17/2025

West Chester survey favors re-establishment of passenger rail service
West Chester Borough businesses overwhelmingly want to reestablish passenger rail service between West Chester and Wawa, and then onto Philadelphia, on existing SEPTA tracks, according to a survey. Charlot Barker of the Committee to Reestablish Rail Service (RRC) to West Chester gave a presentation to borough council that showed that 93% of business owners surveyed support the idea. The survey also found 73% of 40 responding businesses expect rail service to increase customer traffic to their businesses and 70% expect rail service to expand the pool of employees.
Source: The Mercury; 4/19/2025

Chester County to host Sustainability Summit & Expo in West Chester
Chester County will host a Sustainability Summit and Expo with presentations from local experts on topics like heat pumps, solar power, rain gardens and micro-gardening. The event is in support of Chester County’s Climate Action Plan, which has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. The expo will take place on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Chester University.
Source: Chester County Planning; 4/22/2025