The Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers and its assembled coalition of transportation experts and interested organizations take issue with the specifics of SEPTA's plans for the Schuylkill Valley Metro. Our two main concerns are:

1. Among the possible passenger rail modes that SEPTA is evaluating, selection of commuter rail as the primary mode for the project is in the best interests of all of Southeastern Pennsylvania. SEPTA, led by General Manager John Leary, has been giving favor misguidedly to light rail as the primary mode for the project.

2. The commuting and tax-paying public demands an honest commitment within the study effort from SEPTA to make commuter rail work. Within the alternatives analysis process, the commuter rail alternatives must be optimized rather than loaded down with bricks.

The attached documents set forth why commuter rail is the preferred primary mode for the project and what SEPTA needs to do with the project study to give the mode a fair shake