Officials have taken another step on the route to restoring direct passenger rail service to Northeast Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority is filing a formal expression of interest with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to restore the service between Scranton and New York City.
The formal expression of interest notifies the FRA that the authority wants to participate in the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program to restore the Lackawanna Cut-Off Route.
The FRA chooses what projects will be funded by November’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $102 billion for rail service.
Thirty-nine train service projects are being proposed across the country. Rail service on the local route was discontinued in 1970.
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright and U.S. Senator Bob Casey, who sent letters of support to the administration, held a joint Zoom press call Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the proposal.
Cartwright’s letter was signed by Casey as well as a host of local and state lawmakers from both PA and New Jersey, and local business and tourism leaders.
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority is also partnering with Amtrak to create an initial service development plan required by the FRA, said President Larry Malski. The authority is paying Amtrak $400,000 for the plan which includes a comprehensive study of the track and ridership and where stations will be needed, among other items.
A first-of-its-kind Margaritaville Resort Village, announced in April, could feature an Amtrak station. Construction on the resort in Pocono Manor is set to begin in 2023. The company is donating land to build a station.
Restoring the rail service has been discussed in the region for years. Because of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Malski says it is now a greater possibility.
Amtrak estimates that restoring service between the two cities, with stops in the Poconos, will bring in $87 million of economic activity every year, Casey noted during Wednesday's call.
Casey, 62, said he was 10-years-old the last time Scranton had rail service to New York City.
"The people of our community, tax payers, deserve this," he said.
In March, an episode of Keystone Edition Reports discussed the passenger train proposal. Watch that episode here.
