The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will host a public webinar on Feb. 19 on the department’s Service Development Plan for advancing the Scranton to New York Penn Station Passenger Rail Corridor project.
The project would restore intercity passenger rail service along the approximately 140-mile route between Scranton and New York City. The route last served passenger trains in 1970. The right-of-way is intact with the majority in active use by various public rail operators. The project would rebuild infrastructure that has been abandoned in a portion of one segment, and the proposed route would provide three round trips daily on mostly active rail lines.
The department’s plan includes an environmental analysis, financial and implementation planning, and service options analysis and transportation planning. It also includes capital project identification, conceptualization and cost estimating, and stakeholder engagement with railroads, agencies and the public.
PennDOT will provide an overview of the Scranton to New York Rail initiative during the webinar along with a summary of route options and locations for potential stations.
Attendees must register in advance on the Advancing PA Rail website to receive a meeting invitation and the webinar’s link. Public comments can be left on the website and during the meeting.