I learned today in the Inquirer that there's been talk for years of extending the Norristown High-Speed Line (the Rt. 100 trolley) to King of Prussia Mall. The proposal for a 4.9-mile spur will get a "renewed look" this spring as Upper Merion Township launches a locally-funded nonprofit planning initiative charged with researching and implementing improvements in the area.
King of Prussia Mall attracts 25 million visitors a year. Even with the current, somewhat awkward public transit set-up (I can get to the mall without a car by taking the high-speed line to the Gulph Mills stop, then a bus to KOP), a whopping 7,500 people use SEPTA every day to get to King of Prussia, according to the article.
This seems like a no-brainer in terms of viability. Many years ago, transportation companies used to put amusement parks at the terminus of their urban-suburban trolley lines to attract riders (the wonderful Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh is a surviving example). How much more of a built-in demand would there be, then, for an easy one-seat ride to one of North America's largest malls?
Make it easier and relatively stress-free to visit, and KOP might find a whole new customer base, as well as help solve intractable traffic and safety problems. I hope this line finally gets built.
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