Scranton-to-NYC passenger rail route looks like it could be revived
Written by RT&S Staff
The momentum for the return of a Scranton (Pa.)-to-New York City rail route continues to build.
The Monroe County Commissioners just approved a resolution to support the line, which would bring back rail service between Scranton, Pa., and New York City with several stops along the way. U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) also stamped his approval on the route, saying the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, which includes $66 billion for the restoration of rail lines, should help.
Amtrak used to run the line years ago, and an economic impact study was recently completed. The study revealed a Scranton-NYC route would generate $87 million in annual economic activity and nearly $3 billion from one-time investments.
It is expected to take at least a year for Amtrak to complete its overall infrastructure assessment to determine how much it would cost to restore the rail line. The national passenger rail service is looking at 40 new passenger rail proposals that would call for $75 billion in federal funding over the next 15 years. There is talk of making the Scranton-to-NYC rails capable of higher speeds. The route is currently being used by freight trains.
