As the population explodes and the number of warehouses increases in the Lehigh Valley, the number of vehicles on the road has also increased. This has led to terribly congested and unsafe highways.
http://www.lehighval...uld_offset.html
Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton metroplex of eastern Pennsylvania represents a classic case of "shooting itself in the foot." Twenty-five years ago, there was a push to re-establish passenger rail from Allentown to Philadelphia using the double track disused Quakertown line that links up with SEPTA in Lansdale. The business community, according to my contact at economic development organization Team Pennsylvania Foundation, pooh-poohed the idea, opting instead for widening highways. Now trees occupy this wasted resource.
Also, at least two initiatives—sorry,I don't have further details— have come forward to bring New Jersey Transit's Raritan River Line across the Delaware River for a one-seat side from Bethlehem to New York City. Right now Bieber Bus does a good business running multiple trips from Hellertown (outside of Bethlehem) to Port Authority Bus Terminal.
The inertia plus Pennsylvania's budget deficit—due largely to unfunded pension liabilities—makes passenger rail start-ups problematic. In fairness to my state, the folks at Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are diligently working to get Amtrak and Norfolk Southern to allow a second train to run to Pittsburgh. Sloan