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Council committee advances plan to acquire defunct Reading Viaduct for expanded Rail Park
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Summary
The Committee on Public Property and Public Works advanced bill 250807, authorizing acquisition of a mile-long, defunct section of the Reading Railroad viaduct for conversion into an elevated rail park; proponents cited a federal Surface Transportation Board ruling that the line is abandoned and outlined funding and an equity planning process, while council members pressed for anti-displacement protections.
The Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Public Property and Public Works on Tuesday advanced bill 250807, a measure authorizing the city to acquire and, if necessary, condemn a defunct section of the Reading Railroad viaduct between Vine Street and Fairmount Avenue so it can be converted into an elevated rail park.
John Montlak, first deputy and chief of staff in the Department of Planning and Development, told the committee the mile-long section has been abandoned since the mid-1980s and described the ordinance as a tool to let the city negotiate a donation or purchase and, if negotiations fail, to use eminent domain. "This section of the viaduct used to bring passengers and freight trains into the Reading Terminal Head House," he said, and added that the Surface Transportation Board agreed the line is not active rail, making the property subject to ordinary real estate rules.
The measure drew support from Center City District (CCD) and neighborhood groups. Paul Levy, chair of CCD's board, said phase 1 of the existing Rail Park was completed in 2018 and that CCD has raised foundation funds and secured a $2 million federal Reconnecting Communities grant toward design and construction documents; he told the committee the next construction bid documents are expected by September 2026.
Community organizations including the Callowhill Neighborhood Association, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and Friends of the Rail Park testified in favor of the acquisition but repeatedly urged the city and CCD to adopt a comprehensive equity and anti-displacement plan. "Phase 1 is a treasured space, but has also revealed challenges around accessibility, maintenance, and operations," Rebecca Cortis Chan of Friends of the Rail Park said, and she urged "transparent, community-driven planning and design" and programmatic guardrails to protect long-term residents and small businesses.
Several council members pressed staff and proponents on how the city will secure economic opportunity and guard against green gentrification. Councilmember Young asked whether the bill and its attachments preserve explicit language guaranteeing small and local business participation; Montlak and Levy said the administration and CCD are committed to inclusion and that specific contracting and lease terms can be negotiated and added to the record or on the council floor.
The committee adopted an amendment to bill 250807 offered in committee and reported the bill with a favorable recommendation to the full council. The committee also voted to move a package of related property and naming bills for first reading.
