The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that the long-anticipated Scranton-to-New York City passenger rail project has reached a critical breakthrough, moving into the second phase of the federal Corridor Identification and Development program. This advancement distinguishes the 140-mile corridor as one of only five rail expansion projects in the United States to achieve this milestone. Under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this stage allows PennDOT to begin a formal Service Development Plan, which is the final planning precursor to unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars in federal construction funding.
As part of this accelerated planning process, PennDOT will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, February 19, at 4:00 p.m. to present current service options and gather community input. Officials intend to outline a proposed schedule of three daily round trips, with Pennsylvania stops in Scranton, Mount Pocono, and East Stroudsburg. The route would continue through New Jersey with planned stops in Blairstown, Dover, Montclair, Morristown, and Newark before terminating at New York Penn Station. This project aims to restore a direct connection that has been dormant since 1970, potentially serving up to 475,000 riders annually while providing a reliable alternative to the heavily congested Interstate 80 corridor.
The upcoming meeting will also address the logistical challenges of the “Lackawanna Cut-Off,” a 28-mile segment of the route where track must be completely restored. Following the completion of the Service Development Plan, the project will move into preliminary engineering and environmental reviews. Residents interested in participating in the February 19 session must register in advance through the Advancing PA Rail project website, where a recording of the meeting will also be hosted for 60 days to ensure maximum transparency and public engagement.
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