The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) included Northeastern Pennsylvania in its Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program.
The program is an intercity passenger rail planning and development program designed to create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation.
In Northeastern Pennsylvania, the goal is to re-establish direct passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City. Until 1970, rail service ran on the Lackawanna Cut-Off between the two cities. The track has since fallen into disrepair.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) have been advocating for restored rail service for several years.
“For generations, passenger rail service helped Northeastern Pennsylvanians connect with loved ones, get to school and work, and access economic opportunity and recreation. In turn, residents of other states helped to stimulate our economy and visited our region to see the best of what we have to offer,” Casey said. “I have fought to restore Scranton rail service for my entire career as a United States Senator, including voting to pass the infrastructure law, because bringing passenger rail service back to my hometown and to our region will be a game-changing force for our economy, our families, and our communities.”