From left: Former Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence, Planning Commission Executive Director Scott France, Montgomery County Chair Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Vice Chair Jamila Winder, Norristown Council President Rebecca Smith and Patrick Starr, Chair, Circuit Trails Coalition Steering Committee.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, the Montgomery County Commissioners gathered with local partners and community members to break ground on the Trail Junction Center in the heart of Norristown. The event celebrated a forthcoming transformation of the historic Norristown Freight Station into a flexible, community-orientated space.
“We are taking a bold step forward in the revitalization of Norristown. We're breaking ground on a $4.7 million project that will become a hub for commerce and entertainment,” said Neil Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This won't just be a stop on the trail; this will be a destination where you can get coffee, have lunch, see artwork, experience arts and entertainment, and even get your bike tuned up. In many ways, the Trail Junction Center can be a gateway to Norristown.”
Montgomery County acquired the freight station property in 2007 and conducted extensive feasibility studies and utility upgrades to pave the way for the redevelopment. The new Trail Junction Center will serve as a "third space” for trail users and the broader community, offering amenities such as restrooms, water stations, seating, bike facilities, and spaces for retail, arts and crafts showcases, and live performances.
“After years of hard work and planning, we are breathing new life into the Trail Junction Center. This project hits close to home for me. The Norristown area has been my home for four decades and seeing our County seat grow and thrive is something I take great pride in,” said Jamila Winder, Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners. “We’re taking action to provide a thriving town center that supports and uplifts those entrepreneurs who have invested in the community here.”
The project is supported through a combination of County, regional, and state funding sources, including $100,000 from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and half a million dollars from the Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Financing Authority Local Share Account. The County Commissioners were joined at the groundbreaking by representatives from Norristown Borough, the Circuit Trails Coalition, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
“With the Trail Junction Center, we’re hoping to create a snowball effect for new business and opportunity,” said Tom DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. “Local business owners have invested their time and money into opening a business here in Norristown. This is a chance to bring not just new customers to Norristown, but also new businesses and new community centers. This investment brings a lot of potential for downtown Norristown.”
Project completion is anticipated by the end of 2026. For more information about the Trail Junction Center project, visit the County website.
