State transportation officials say the effort to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City is moving full steam ahead despite remaining challenges.
Transit officials in the Northeast are confident that plans to restore passenger rail between Scranton, Pennsylvania and New York City will move forward despite electoral results, writes Jeff Horvath in Governing.
According to Horvath, “An Amtrak study released in March 2023 found that restoring such a service would generate $84 million in new economic activity annually, creating jobs on both sides of the Pennsylvania / New Jersey border while offering myriad benefits to leisure travelers, hybrid workers, college students and commuters alike.”
Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority President Larry Malski says the project is not in danger in part because of the massive economic boost it’s projected to bring and its ongoing support from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and other state officials. The project has already secured $20 million in funds.
The project has been identified as a “new, viable passenger train route” by the Federal Railroad Administration, the first major step toward making it a reality. The second step includes “additional documentation, final engineering and the completion of a service development plan,” said Malski. The rail service could be restored as early as 2028 or 2029.
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