www.planthekeystone.com - Stations

The Plan the Keystone team has just begun work with PennDOT and Main Street Mount Joy (MSMJ) to develop a “Downtown Destination Development & Branding Plan” at the Mount Joy Amtrak Station. The Station’s location (one block off of Main Street between Marietta and Market Streets) is key to its role as a catalyst for downtown development.

PennDOT and MSMJ share the goal of creating a thriving and successful Main Street in Mount Joy, and the plan will identify improvements to maximize the benefits of investments by MSMJ, PennDOT, and the Borough through land use and development strategies in the surrounding community. The improvement strategies being considered include:

A shared community vision for Main Street
A clear market positioning and branding for Main Street
Improvements to the public realm on Main Street and adjoining streets
Improvements to the physical environment in and around the station (platforms, shelters, parking, etc…)
Improved access to and from the station to maximize its land use and community benefits

A series of one-on-one and focus group meetings with MSMJ and community stakeholders was held the week of September 21, 2009. Public workshops are currently scheduled for late October and early December to share ideas and solicit feedback. More information will be posted on the website as the dates and locations are confirmed.

The Mount Joy Station is located at East Henry Street and Marietta Avenue in the Mount Joy Borough, Lancaster County. This station is currently a stop on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor Service. There is no ticket office or other Amtrak services provided at the station. The Mount Joy station consists of two small shelters, replaced in October 2006, on two paved low-level platforms situated in a deep trench. Despite the lack of a full service facility at this location, the stop is very popular. This may be attributable to the easy availability of parking, Keystone Service enhancements, and its convenient, central and safe location. This station is 80 track miles from 30th Street Station and 24 track miles from Harrisburg, PA. According to Amtrak, the number of passengers using Mount Joy Station has increased by 130% over the past four years.

Mount Joy is a part of the Donegal Regional Comprehensive Plan along with East Donegal, Mount Joy and Rapho townships and the Donegal School District. As a part of that plan, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategies are being incorporated and contemplated for the Borough. Nearby on Main Street, the Borough is in the process of approving a multi-use residential development of townhouses and apartments. Lastly, the Borough would desire to acquire additional land adjacent to their municipal lot, discussed earlier to construct a parking garage and bus station adjacent to the westbound platform.

2008 Ridership – 53,828