Quote:
Originally Posted by the urban politician
Wow, oozing with charm. Does this town have an sort of rail transit stop?
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Unfortunately, no it does not.
But, it has a dormant ROW on an active line that was taken out of service during the height of suburbanization. The same line is slowly being extended from it's current terminus and forumers are hoping that it will have active stop in the next decade or so. The current extension will get the line 2 (dormant) stops from the center of West Chester.
It is not known, but Philly has what I'd argue is probably the 2nd best suburban rail network in the country (after the NY metro).
There are tons of beautiful suburbs, ranging from streetcar suburbs to suburbs with rolling hills and preserved farmland, some of them only 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia.
The most notable suburbs that would laude applause here are likely:
Media, Delaware County (on regional rail AND trolley) (Philly has trolley lines that extend far into the western suburbs in Delaware County, which, once they move into West Philadelphia, go underground and act as a defacto extension of the subway).
https://goo.gl/maps/qoGkHQ2E1jvRQy9U6
Minutes away from Media:
Swarthmore PA (on regional rail, home to Swarthmore College)
https://goo.gl/maps/xCZq61CJGkCBQ6SZ7
https://goo.gl/maps/3oU7jX5soDZSrHos9
Most of the "villages" within Lower Merion Township:
Ardmore (regional rail, next to Haverford College)
https://goo.gl/maps/6MH5Ai4ZGLf6ZRAz6
https://goo.gl/maps/wiATZz4egMakhFp47
https://goo.gl/maps/W5G6YxtJtQvaSLaT6
Bryn Mawr (regional rail, home to Bryn Mawr and Rosemont Colleges)
https://goo.gl/maps/W5G6YxtJtQvaSLaT6
https://goo.gl/maps/eMZYQG1toZrjqoMp9
Narberth (regional rail)
https://goo.gl/maps/ypqc8U274XmUS9mv7
https://goo.gl/maps/xcVvDb33un7uWhZQ6
Wayne (regional rail, minutes from Villanova University)
https://goo.gl/maps/Gfvhf6ins82RJj4p7
https://goo.gl/maps/6fUanJ7wjz5oWRo19
Phoenixville (no rail, candidate for extension in future)
https://goo.gl/maps/DKNLXsQdZmAtXrzS8
https://goo.gl/maps/FumMtwJaRnaa3gjg9
https://goo.gl/maps/6A45EbbkB3aW5UxQ6
Kennett Square (no rail, not near rail)
https://goo.gl/maps/3xE3LamujghGua9RA
https://goo.gl/maps/94HuCbfWZD3wwfZG8
Haddonfield NJ (on rail into Philly)
https://goo.gl/maps/NLZryXbwoDCoFQQj8
https://goo.gl/maps/Vw6bHziNijSWqrEG6
Collingswood NJ (on rail into Philly)
https://goo.gl/maps/mWvUQuQU5Jp2bvHP9
https://goo.gl/maps/oMr2wD8T57T1e8FE9
I'm showing a variety of images, because many of these suburbs have their own sort of center/nuclei and then spread out into more street car suburb style then even country, all within commuting distance to Philadelphia. There are often urban/town/suburban/rural housing options within each town.
There are also streetcar suburbs wholly within the city of Philadelphia which are today neighborhoods within the city, but started out as towns and have characteristics more of independent towns with their own high streets surrounded by dense housing giving way to estates within the city. All are on regional rail but within city limits. They were the initial commuter suburbs.
They include:
Germantown (the least wealthy but probably the most historic, also experiencing a ton of renewal)
https://goo.gl/maps/AXRMYEtMPSKb9XcF7
https://goo.gl/maps/bypvNkFVh7Yhjx1dA
https://goo.gl/maps/LXGyYve3BbaAHHym8
Mt Airy (East and West)
https://goo.gl/maps/JzqyrU8Kwp6G2cqL9
https://goo.gl/maps/N3ejrmL3tD4ZJojM8
https://goo.gl/maps/xkV4WtSKyUNnF9539
https://goo.gl/maps/F5D96PbqPAUi4LvB8
https://goo.gl/maps/9LH6uFqaGFWnp7zT7
Chestnut Hill
https://goo.gl/maps/tbbwuY16xhsJhdJw8
https://goo.gl/maps/ncvyKqt48c8SZiZN9
https://goo.gl/maps/Y6ESheVGQHhQgvSHA
https://goo.gl/maps/MN9tmBpFHxcUBH7e6
https://goo.gl/maps/dZn6aEckqGjcENVR8
East Falls
https://goo.gl/maps/Ft3HBRsyLbhVmWm66
https://goo.gl/maps/2fcNUm6YkuSNkF3M6
https://goo.gl/maps/oyayo6QnAaJrHBMq5
https://goo.gl/maps/YauzX4iovaauZ13S6
https://goo.gl/maps/rzaZaBQY6AWsPpVu6
https://goo.gl/maps/jWWRP2CbNW1tqbyt8
The last one above is the childhood home of Princess Grace (of Monaco), which was just bought and restored by her son, Prince Andrew.
West Philly/Garden Court/Spruce Hill
https://goo.gl/maps/WLjbgkwd6QQvuRHK8
https://goo.gl/maps/3uqUxR2SFZfQMxJt8
https://goo.gl/maps/72qJaKkt8HF6EGd6A
https://goo.gl/maps/eXWiN9SHRYLUaPH47