Delaware State News

DOVER — Rick and Tish Schuman of Hartly don’t travel as much as they used to.

Because of higher gasoline prices, the couple finds ways to conserve fuel.

"Our house is much cleaner. We don’t go out because we’re bored," Ms. Schuman said. "We find things at home to do."

If Kent County had commuter train service, the couple said it might travel more.

Amtrak in October reported on its Web site that ridership set a record for the most passengers since 1971 when the National Railroad Passenger Corporation began.

Amtrak ridership in fiscal year 2007 increased to more than 25.8 million riders, marking the fifth straight year of gains.

Train service in New Castle County, too, is on the upswing. In fiscal year 2008, which ran from 2007 to 2008, passengers of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority trains increased 3.8 percent, said Kennard L. Potts, director of development for the Delaware Transit Corp. That’s in addition to the 5.8-percent gain in passengers in fiscal year 2006 and the 16.3-percent increase in passengers in fiscal year 2005 for the train service that runs from Newark and Wilmington to Philadelphia.

As gas prices climb to $4 per gallon and above, is this a time to resurrect rail service and extend it Downstate?

Downstate commuter rail service is a subject that’s close to Rep. Nancy H. Wagner’s, R-Dover, heart.

Ever since she broached the concept a few years ago to offer commuter trains from Dover to Wilmington, she reminds her colleagues in the state legislature each session that she hasn’t dropped the idea. This year she’ll bring up the subject again.

"I think the general public is going to demand it," Rep. Wagner said.

The challenge, however, is going to be the cost to set up rail service from Dover to Wilmington.

"The cost currently will be prohibitive," Rep. Wagner said, "But I think we could continue with the planning, so when the monies do open up, we will be ready."

A state task force study done four years ago estimated construction costs for passenger rail from Dover to Wilmington, and eventually from Sussex County to Wilmington, would range from $300 million to $500 million. Ms. Wagner led the task force that studied costs to build and maintain a passenger railroad, the number of passengers who would ride the trains and possible routes.

Despite some repairs to the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, the fund is still $500 million short.

The research from the study, Rep. Wagner said, is still valid.

"There was nothing in that research that said we couldn’t do rail service," she said.

Talking about a need to extend train service in Delaware is like preaching to the choir to people such as Stephen Kingsberry, executive director of the Delaware Transit Corp., which oversees DART bus service.

"You’re talking to the greatest rail enthusiast that you could ever talk to," Mr. Kingsberry said.

Train stations in Newark, Churchmans Crossing, Claymont and Wilmington are crowded, he said. SEPTA has 35 commuter trains that run through Delaware on weekdays and a dozen trains that run on Saturdays. Ridership increased after gas prices went to $3 per gallon, he said.

Ridership increases are also due to more Middletown residents who commute north to Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. Rail service from Dover to Wilmington would solve the challenge of higher populations south of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal who travel north every day.

More commuters already are taking DART buses to Wilmington for work or to link with northern commuter trains.

In fiscal year 2008, bus ridership on Route 301 from Dover to Wilmington increased 36 percent over the previous fiscal year with 742 average daily riders, Mr. Potts said.

Cost to bring train service to Kent County, Rep. Wagner estimated, would be cheaper than building more roads.

"In the long term, once you can get the infrastructure in place, it’s fairly cost-effective," she said.

Mr. Kingsberry agrees.

"As population increases, the only alternative will be more mass transit," he said. "You can’t build your way out of more and more traffic."

Dan Wolfensberger, executive director of the Central Delaware Economic Development Council, said it’s never too late for Delaware to consider train service. Had the state made the effort 10 years ago, however, it would have been a cheaper venture, he said.

"You just have to be prepared to pay the price," Mr. Wolfensberger said.

Service, he said, would have to be subsidized some way to make the service affordable. The state also would have to make train crossings safer and build tracks just to carry passenger trains to keep them from interfering with freight trains. He suggested laying tracks near Del. 1.

"The thing with passenger trains is, it’s got to be convenient, it’s got to be comfortable and it’s got to be safe," Mr. Wolfensberger said. Those three factors would attract passengers, he said.

Mr. Wolfensberger said he personally would love to see commuter rail service Downstate and believes residents would ride the train. In Europe, where he lived for 25 years, train service is prevalent.

"Gas is not going to get cheaper," Mr. Wolfensberger said. "You have to find alternatives."

Getting the funds will involve convincing the state legislature and the governor.

"Let’s really look at it," he said. "I think they have looked at it many times; it’s just been a lack of funds.

The timing might be a little more favorable in the coming session.

Delaware’s congressional representatives are boosters for commuter train service in Delaware.

"I am a longtime advocate of commuter rail in general and expanding it into Kent County specifically," said Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del. "Personally, I rely on Amtrak for my daily commute from my home in Wilmington to my Capitol office.

"I believe all Delawareans deserve more transportation options to reduce their driving costs and congestion on our roadways. Expanding train services will lower vehicle emissions from our highways, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and reduce transportation costs, which is the second-largest household expense for Delaware families today."

Rep. Michael N. Castle, R-Delaware, echoed the junior senator.

"In this period of high gas prices and congested roadways, it is critical that we begin investing in alternative travel options like commuter rail and transit systems," Rep. Castle said.

"As a longtime supporter of Amtrak and SEPTA, I believe we should look very closely at the feasibility of expanding rail service to areas in Kent and Sussex counties."

With summer beach, Dover Downs and Delaware State Fair traffic clogging the roads, Downstate train service could prove beneficial, Rep. Castle said.

"Transportation funding is always an issue, but I am prepared to work closely with state officials and the congressional delegation to move such an initiative forward," Rep. Castle said.

Mr. Kingsberry said he makes about eight speeches a month to the legislature and private groups to promote train transit in Delaware.

"It is really just a matter of time," he said. "We need to continue to do the work to make it happen."