67 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Amtrak press release, 3/22/23:
 

    Amtrak Study Examines Scranton New York Corridor       

 
 
Study results reveal strong potential for ridership, economic benefits and existing line suitability for passenger rail [/size]
 
SCRANTON, Pa. Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA) have released the findings of a two-year analysis examining the potential for rail service between Scranton and New York. The study included operations planning to develop a sample schedule, ridership estimates, economic impacts and an infrastructure assessment for the Pennsylvania segment. The infrastructure assessment estimates costs to upgrade track to accommodate passenger trains along 60 route miles owned by PNRRA between Scranton and the Delaware Water Gap.

Passenger rail service in and out of Scranton was discontinued in 1970, only one year before Amtrak was created, said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. Restoring and expanding this corridor with daily multi-frequency service would dramatically boost mobility and economic development for residents of Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and the broader Northeast region.

The routes outlined vision plan includes:

• Three roundtrips per day with an automobile competitive travel time of approximately two hours and 50 minutes between New York and Scranton
• Trains traveling at a maximum speed of up to 110 mph (on the Lackawanna Cutoff segment) and transporting an estimated 470,000 riders per year
• Stations located in Scranton, Mt. Pocono, East Stroudsburg, Blairstown, Dover, Morristown, Montclair, Newark and New York City

This study reinforces what we have advocated for decades that rail passenger service to this region is a huge economic positive, said PNRRA President Larry Malski. The studys release is extremely timely with last years passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that for the first time makes available federal funding for developing Scranton service, especially restoring the Lackawanna Cutoff and upgrading PNRRA trackage.

Amtraks study confirms what the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania have known for years: restoring passenger rail between Scranton and New York will boost our economy and help people travel for business, tourism, family, and more, said U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). Whats more, this route would have relatively low infrastructure costs and a high expected ridership. I have long advocated to expand passenger rail back into Northeastern PA and thanks to the infrastructure law, we are closer than ever to getting it done.

This study reveals projected riders and revenue that reinforce what we already knew: This project represents a great opportunity, said Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08). Couple these estimates with the economic impact Amtrak also projects, and its no wonder everyone from the business community to tourism boards to commuters strongly support the project.

Since first taking office, Ive been a strong advocate for the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project and providing a direct route from Scranton, Pennsylvania to New Yorks Penn Station, said Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). Passenger rail is inaccessible for many residents in the western part of my district, forcing them into long commutes on congested highways. This project would help to revitalize the area, bringing new residents and tourists to the community while also reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

This is tremendous news for our region and a boost to our effort to achieve this game-changing rail corridor. Amtraks study confirms what we have believed here all along ridership will be not just sufficient, but high for the corridor, said Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. We are pleased that Amtrak has identified this corridor to have dining and beverage service, and a route time under three hours. We are grateful to Amtrak and our own PNRRA for their thoughtful and diligent work.

Restoring rail service to Northeast Pennsylvania will help grow our economy and provide a new transportation corridor thats been shut off for too long. Pennsylvania invests significant resources in passenger rail throughout the Commonwealth and we look forward to expanding services into new corridors and bringing alternative transportation options to thousands of Pennsylvanians, said Acting Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll. I commend our team and the stakeholders involved for their work in preparing this project application.

NJ TRANSIT is pleased to continue working with Amtrak, PennDOT and our other partners as we continue to determine the infrastructure and other requirements that would be needed to allow for any future service expansion, said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett.

Service could potentially begin as early as 2028, pending completion of design work and construction by stakeholders including PennDOT, NJ TRANSIT and PNRRA with support and funding from the federal government. The proposed service would utilize upgraded existing tracks in Pennsylvania between Scranton and the Delaware Water Gap, 20 miles of restored tracks on the Lackawanna Cutoff between Delaware Water Gap and Andover, New Jersey, and existing tracks owned and operated by NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak between Andover and New York City.

Additionally, the project would generate significant annual economic benefits:

• $84M in economic activity (example: increased tourism and local economic activity)
• $20M in benefits to passengers (example: being able to be productive on the train)
• $7M in society benefits (example: diverting travel from highways can reduce traffic crashes and pollution)

The next steps in the corridor design to implementation process include:

• Completing the Federal Corridor ID application by March 27, 2023, for funding to:
  • Finalize the service development plan and secure government agreements
  • Confirm compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Complete preliminary engineering activities
• Completing final design
• Securing funding (the Federal government could provide up to 80% of construction funding; the non-Federal share is 20%)
• Completing subsequent construction projects and acquiring trains

This newly released report estimates that track improvements on the PNRRA owned segment will cost between $100M $175M, while acquisition of trains is estimated to cost approximately $70M 90M; these two items are anticipated to be about 30-45% of the total project cost. More design work will estimate the total cost of re-establishing Scranton New York City passenger rail service, including fully restoring the Lackawanna Cutoff, building stations and creating an equipment service facility. Acceptance of the project into the Corridor ID program would accelerate the process needed to restore this important transportation connection.

[KevinKorell]

Louisville, KY Courier-Journal,  3/28/23:

 

 

  Money sought for Amtrak rail service between Louisville and Indianapolis      

 

 

Officials in Kentucky and Indiana are moving forward with seeking federal funds that could one day help connect Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago via Amtrak rail service.

 

Full story

[KevinKorell]

Lehigh Valley News,   12/6/23:

 

 

    Lehigh Valley awaits word on passenger rail study as reviews for other PA regions go full steam ahead    

 

 

Word on the future of passenger rail to the Lehigh Valley remained stalled at the station Wednesday evening as federal officials awarded grants and funding to bolster Amtrak service and potentially expand it elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

 

This is the latest.

[KevinKorell]

Patch,    12/18/23:

 

 

 

  Another Amtrak Train Station In Newark? Plan Keeps Chugging Along      

 

 

Could a new Amtrak train stop be in Newark's future?

 

It may soon be possible to take a train from northeast Pennsylvania through New Jersey on your way to New York City if a plan to revive rail service across the three states keeps chugging along on schedule.

 

The story is really the overall service to Scranton, not one station along the line.     And it's not a new station; it would be the existing Newark-Broad Street station now served by NJ TRANSIT.   The train would then use the Midtown Direct connection into Penn Station in New York.  A question may be whether this service would have to wait until the Gateway Tunnel is completed, as it will add to the cross river capacity issues.   The  same issue has kept NJ TRANSIT from starting more service into New York City (such as rush hours on the Raritan Valley Line).

[CNJRoss]

The Republic, Columbus, IN 2/17/24

 

Officials consider passenger rail service from Louisville to Chicago, with a stop in downtown Columbus

 

Regional planning officials and regulators are taking initial steps towards studying the viability and potential development of passenger rail service between Louisville and Chicago — including the potential for a stop in Columbus.

 

The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency is in the process of finalizing an agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration on the terms of a $500,000 grant awarded in December to look at potential passenger rail service between Louisville and Indianapolis.

 

The Louisville-based planning agency hopes to hire a consultant this spring who would guide officials through the first step of what will likely be a “multi-year effort” to determine the feasibility of passenger rail between the two cities, said Andy Rush, the agency’s director of transportation.

 

At the same time, the Indiana Department of Transportation has been awarded a similar $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to look at passenger rail between Indianapolis and Chicago, said INDOT spokeswoman Cassie Bajek. Should both segments come to fruition, they would complete a roughly 300-mile route between Louisville and Chicago.

 

 

Continue here.  

[KevinKorell]

Morning Call, Allentown, PA, 3/27/24:

 

 

 

     Long-awaited Lehigh Valley passenger train study revealed. Here are the highlights 

 

 

 

The long-awaited process to bring passenger rail back to the Lehigh Valley has left the station. If it ever reaches its final destination, the process will take at least a decade and need plenty of funding.

 

Here is the latest.   And it's interesting they are considering both New York City and Philadelphia oriented service in the same study.   The Philadelphia options via Lansdale & Norristown seem the least likely, as they would reactivate rail trails back to rails.

[KevinKorell]

Hazleton, PA Standard-Speaker, 3/30/24:

 

 

     Brunswick to Boston: Can the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area follow in small-town Maine’s tracks?  

 

 

At age 88, Wayne Davis still regularly visits the Amtrak station near his house to watch trains depart for Boston. He still marvels over a dream come true after fighting for decades to return passenger rail to Maine.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

New Jersey Herald, 1/26/24 (2 months late but still pertinent):

 

 

  Gottheimer letter urges return of Andover stop to Amtrak route in Sussex County      

 

 

An Amtrak stop in Andover has been dismissed by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to a letter sent to Amtrak's chief executive officer from Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

 

Here is that story.