Session was an opportunity to mix and mingle with NJT officials and state and local lawmakers

STROUDSBURG – A second round of public information meetings on restoring a commuter rail route, is complete.  A four-hour session, with an opportunity for comment on the record, drew a modest crowd of mostly supporters Tuesday afternoon and evening.

“The negatives are zero”, said a member of U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski’s staff. 

State Reps Mario Scavello, Robert Siptroth and Mike Carroll were among the officials present and all three remain enthusiastic supporters of the “Lackawanna Cutoff” plan to restore the 138-mile commuter run from Scranton to Hoboken.  There would be stops  at Tobyhanna, Pocono Mountain, Analomink and Delaware Water Gap. 

Mount Pocono Borough Councilman Bill Jabara does not think the commuter rail connection will accelerate growth.  It’s already happening, he said, noting that 300 cars a day are in the bus parking lot.  Almost 750 units of new residential housing are under construction, now.

Scavello said there is already new business sprouting up along the rail route, with about 250 new jobs. 

Scavello and Siptroth both said the trains would take pressure off already overloaded Interstate 80, which cannot be upgraded, they contend, in the first dozen miles between the Water Gap and Stroudsburg. 

Bob Hay, chairman of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority, which has been lobbying for two decades to restore rail service, says it’s about more than getting people to and from work in New Jersey and New York City.

Hay says he gets many calls from people living in New York City, asking if they can come up for the weekend.  “Could I take a train into New York City on a weekend, so I could go in, see a show, have dinner and com back”, is the other question he says is asked frequently, among Pennsylvania residents.

The project itself is still years from reality. 

A lot of money must be found.  The estimated cost, not including land acquisition, is more than half a billion dollars. 

The current phase is review of the Environmental Assessment.  NJT Senior Director of Development Jack Kanarek says they are asking for a “Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). 

The public comment period on the environmental assessment runs through July 30.

To view the plans and the EA, visit the project website.

To submit written comments on the project or make inquiries, please contact:

Vincent Truncellito
NJ TRANSIT, One Penn Plaza East, Newark, New Jersey 07105-2245
TEL: (973)491-7810
FAX: (973)491-4142
EMAIL: vtruncellito@NJTRANSIT.COM