Council directs solicitor to add commuter-rail option to SEPTA lease; one-year extension moved to consent

The West Chester Borough Council’s ACT Committee voted to direct the borough solicitor to draft language adding an option for approved third‑party commuter rail service to the borough’s lease with SEPTA, and council moved a related one‑year lease extension to the consent agenda.

The committee motion asked the solicitor to insert wording making clear the lease could permit commuter service in the event SEPTA terminates or amends the existing sublease. ACT Committee members described the change as an option only, not a promise of commuter service. “I will just mention also that we're very, very far away,” said President McCoy, adding the committee’s focus remains infrastructure work before any regular commuter operations could run.

The council also approved placing on the consent agenda a motion to ratify a one‑year extension of the borough’s lease with SEPTA covering the former 2008–2023 lease term; staff described this as the third of up to five one‑year extensions intended to avoid a lapse while longer‑term details are negotiated.

Public comment at the meeting came from West Chester Railroad representatives who urged the borough to preserve the line’s current tourist/heritage operations while discussions continue. Derek Slifer, operations manager for West Chester Railroad and 4 States Railway Service, told council the railroad has invested millions of dollars and urged language that preserves the railroad’s tourist role while leaving an option open for future commuter use: “All we want is language that reflects what we are, a tourist railroad. No more, no less.”

ACT Committee members asked the solicitor to include a short clarifying phrase suggested by SEPTA in an April 14 memo — language that would require compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations — and to post a single consolidated draft for council review before the vote scheduled for the next meeting.

Why it matters: The lease language determines whether the borough can permit future commuter rail service on the West Chester branch and how existing tourist operations and infrastructure work will be protected during negotiations. Council members emphasized that infrastructure work must come first and that the added clause is intended to preserve future options without committing to service.

Next steps: Committee members asked staff to circulate a single draft that incorporates agreed edits so council can consider the item at its next public meeting.