Narberth Borough Council on April 17 unanimously approved a resolution urging the state to provide additional funding to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, after officials said agency plans to cut service could include eliminating the Paoli/Thorndale regional rail line.

Mayor Deutsch said the borough’s identity and downtown rely on the train station and urged residents to contact state lawmakers. “If these cuts go through, they would close down the Paoli/Thorndale line, which would be fundamentally terrible for the borough,” Mayor Deutsch said.

Councilmember Michael, who led the motion, described the loss as a risk to daily life, the borough economy and property values and noted previous emergency funding had been only a short-term fix. “Step 1 is to prevent the system from dying. Step 2 is to build it back,” Councilmember Michael said.

Councilmember Jean emphasized regional economic effects, citing SEPTA analysis that projects large losses in property value, tax revenue and jobs if cuts occur. “These service cuts would mean more cars on the road, more traffic, more parking impacts, more air pollution, and a huge step backwards for our climate goals,” Jean said.

Councilmembers and residents discussed several local actions the borough could take in parallel with the resolution: bulk or event pass purchases, employer or landlord partnerships for reduced-price passes, and outreach to apartment owners about SEPTA partnership programs. Borough Manager Maggie said staff would follow up with a brief survey of staff interest in employee pass programs and explore outreach to landlords and local businesses.

Council also agreed to publicize the resolution and coordinate with state legislators and other municipalities. The motion to adopt resolution 2025-11, supporting SEPTA funding, passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Narberth is on the Paoli/Thorndale line and officials say regional-rail access supports local businesses, commuting options and home values. The resolution asks the state for funding and signals municipal support while councilors pursue small-scale local partnerships to support ridership and SEPTA revenue.

Next steps: Council directed staff to circulate the adopted resolution through borough channels and work with council members on social media posts and outreach to neighboring communities and state lawmakers.