Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) released the following statement after PennDOT’s confirmation that the region’s Corridor I.D. rail application has been officially submitted to the Federal Rail Administration:                              

“The official submission of the Corridor I.D. application marks a major milestone in our region’s history. This is the moment so many have been working toward, and I am so excited we’ve reached this point in our collective efforts to get passenger trains rolling again from Scranton to New York City.

The decision on Corridor Designation and Project Development will be a competitive process, and I believe our rail application is second to none. Northeastern Pennsylvania has a very compelling and powerful case.

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something transformational for the economy of Northeastern Pennsylvania thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This rail project is vital to jobs now and in the future and is a public investment in transportation critical to economic growth and quality of life.

Restoring passenger rail will drive tourism, boost local business opportunities and encourage investment across our region.”

About Cartwright’s Rail Restoration Efforts:

Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08) has made restoring rail service one of his district priorities since assuming office in 2013. He led the formation of the Lackawanna Cut-Off Rail Restoration Caucus, a group of federal lawmakers from Pennsylvania and New Jersey with a focus on rebuilding 28 miles of track between Port Morris, New Jersey and Slateford, Pennsylvania.

 Cartwright also convened and continues to lead a bi-partisan, bi-state, bi-cameral coalition that includes nearly 50 federal, state, county and municipal leaders in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with economic development intermediaries in both states as well as officials from PennDOT, New Jersey Transit and the Pennsylvania Northeast Railroad Authority. In addition, he is working with the offices of Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

Amtrak has done a complete economic impact analysis that concluded restoration of rail service will generate $84 million in new economic activity annually. In addition, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau’s economic analysis as a tourist destination concluded that passenger rail restoration in the Lackawanna Cut Off corridor will generate $73 million in new economic activity annually in the Pocono Mountains alone.