On October 2nd, 2008, unless it changes, Congressman Jim Gerlach is planning a transit summit at which Amtrak and Septa will be present and accountable to US the public - this meeting will be in Lower Merion Township - at the Township Building, probably around 7 p.m. And in my mind it can't happen soon enough. (You can call Jim Gerlach's Montgoemry County Office for more information: 610-409-2780 )

So, anyway, much to my surprise as I was dozing off last night, and there was LuAnn Cahn on NBC10 talking about Amtrak and how they sprayed systemic herbicides all over the place, including in my neighborhood.

Well, Cheryl Allison tackled it last week in her article Rail neighbors are not all aboard with Amtrak's spraying
By Cheryl Allison. Well this week the plot thickens:

Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008
Transit agency to rail neighbors: No trespassing
By Cheryl Allison

If recent spraying by Amtrak left a community garden along the railroad in Merion Station on life support, neighbors there are wondering now if the transit agency is about to pull the plug.A crew of eight from Amtrak showed up last Wednesday and posted "No Trespassing" signs in the garden, which runs behind houses on Merwyn Avenue between the Rockland and Bowman Avenue bridges, said Andris Petersen, one of the homeowners.

That means that Petersen, who started the garden 20 years ago, can no longer enter it to water and maintain plantings.

It means the other volunteers who have planted flowers and shrubs there for color in all seasons have to stay out. Neighbors and friends who liked to visit can't walk there anymore.

Petersen said Amtrak representatives also told him last week that the agency is discussing what next step to take, and may decide to remove the garden entirely. He said they have mentioned visibility and security concerns.

Although the garden has been in place for two decades with Amtrak's knowledge, questions about its future have come up since Petersen began raising concerns about spraying of a herbicide last year. After spraying last summer caused some plants to die back, Petersen asked the agency, which owns the right-of-way on which Amtrak trains and SEPTA's R5 line run, to avoid the garden area.

The area was sprayed again this July and August, with what Petersen believes was significantly more intensity. Beds of flowers, shrubs and even trees have died or are turning brown, along the steep bank, and as much as 10 to 20 feet back from the steepest point. He began contacting state and federal elected officials, seeking help

And in case you want to see Amtrak in action, check this out photoset 1 and photoset 2.

Yep, check out their stormwater management:

Their solution to anything green and living AND NOT ALWAYS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY:

Their solution to porta potties:

Their solution to parking issues:

Even taking naps: