In the News

Pennsylvania made its first significant investment, $3.7 million, to restore passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City through the Poconos and New Jersey.

The funding from the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program would be matched with $3.7 million in federal dollars to install 43,000 new railroad ties on 40 miles of track between Delaware Water Gap and Gouldsboro on the Pocono Mainline, said Larry Malski, president of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, which owns the rail line.

"We're very happy to see the state aboard" the passenger-rail project, Malski said. "This is the real start of the hardware we've been waiting for to start investing in the line."

The rail authority will apply to the federal government for the same amount, $3.7 million, to be the match required under RACP, Malski said. The new railroad ties will allow for trains to reach a top speed of 80 mph in certain straight, level areas needed for the Amtrak Corridor service, Malski said.

The RACP funding helps keep the project on track, said U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8, Moosic.

"This award adds to the building momentum and is a crucial step forward," Cartwright said in a statement applauding the state funding. "A large and diverse group of supporters has come together to ensure we maximize our efforts when it comes to this significant economic development opportunity and it's great to have the Pennsylvania executive branch on our side."