With the defeat of Allegheny County Council President Rick Schwartz, D-Plum, in this month's election, the fate of one of his pet projects could be up in the air. Schwartz was a prime backer of the proposed Allegheny Valley commuter railroad, a line that would run between Arnold and the Strip District in Pittsburgh. Councilwoman-elect Eileen Watt, R-Cheswick, who will replace Schwartz on council in January said she isn't sure whether she supports the plan. "I've never really taken a position on it," Watt said. "My concern is we want to make sure bus service is continued. I think it's important that we make sure we have enough money to pay for what we offer right now before we do anything else." Schwartz has pushed for creation of the 23-mile train route. He and other elected leaders have organized public forums and lobbied state and federal officials for money to complete a final feasibility study of the project. They expect that after the study's completion, finding the $20 million necessary to get the train running should be easy. Now, Schwartz said he fears the project's future is in doubt. "The biggest regret I have is that in four years I wasn't able to see this to its fruition," Schwartz said. Since the Allegheny County Port Authority is struggling with a $19 million deficit, Watt said the county's first transportation priority should be to preserve the bus service that is a vital link to downtown for Valley residents. Schwartz and State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, said bus service and the train project ought not be seen as competing programs. "I think it's a mistake to see it that way," Dermody said. "These are separate things, both of which need support." Allegheny Valley Railroad owner Russ Peterson has offered the daytime use of his company's train tracks for the commuter line in exchange for improvements to tracks and crossings that would be necessary to run the passenger train. Train supporters envision a route that would take commuters from Arnold into the Strip District each day, removing several hundred cars from the increasingly clogged Route 28, which is the Valley's only main artery into downtown. County Executive Jim Roddey, who also was defeated in a bid for a second term, had given the train proposal luke warm support. Roddey expressed concerns over how the train's operating costs would be met, considering public transportation almost never can support itself with fares alone. Roddey's successor, Controller Dan Onorato, has been more supportive of the train proposal. Train supporters have $100,000 from the 2003 county budget and another $100,000 pledged by state officials last month to put toward the feasibility study. Officials have estimated, however, that the plan could cost more than double that amount. Supporters have vowed not to drop the plan, however, saying it is crucial to improve transportation from the Valley into Pittsburgh. "The train will continue," Dermody said. "Rick has done a wonderful job. It has to be done. There has to be support from the county."

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---