(rshsdepot) Reading, Pa. Franklin St. Station

["Alexander D. Mitchell IV" <LNER4472_@_bcpl.net>]

From 12/28/07 Reading Eagle newspaper (http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=73992 ) 

Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) has learned that it will receive a $1.2 million federal grant to renovate the former Franklin Street Station. 

Dennis D. Louwerse, BARTA executive director, said Thursday that a transportation bill recently signed by President Bush contains money for the project. 

BARTA now has received a total of $2.1 million in state and federal money to renovate the former train station, Louwerse said. 

Since BARTA took over ownership of the dilapidated building in 2004, the authority has put on a new roof and boarded up windows to discourage vandalism. 

"We've stopped the demolition by slow neglect," he said. 

BARTA plans to renovate the building through a public-private partnership, which would determine the best use for the building and renovate it appropriately. Louwerse said that could include some retail development. 

BARTA has not yet identified any private companies to work with on the project. 

Louwerse remains hopeful that the building can one day again be used for passenger rail service between Reading and the Philadelphia area. Currently, Montgomery County is studying a possible expansion of rail service from Norristown to Reading.
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