[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

Re: (erielack) NJ/PA - Environmental Assessment for Lackawanna Cutoff now ava...

If any alleged light rail were to be built, they would use the next Best and least costly BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) as used in many cities including Coming to Connecticut soon, Buses have own right of way and can control traffic signals so as they do not need to stop for red signals. A special bus right of way is built next to regular traffic lanes. Many BRT Systems also have prepay fare collection which is faster and more convenient and has been used for a Century on NY Subways. 
 
No private right of way needs ti be acquired since it is already there.
 
Have my doubt this will even happen in run down Scranton which visually is very similar to once industrialized Bridgeport, CT who for decades proposed a "Loop" light rail project that has not seen an inch of track laid. CT Transit, Bridgeport Transit Authority, Greyhound, Peter Pan buses and limited Amtrak service the area with many empty seats.
 
Jerome

- --- On Wed, 6/17/09, walter smith <wsmith5957_@_yahoo.com> wrote:


From: walter smith <wsmith5957_@_yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: (erielack) NJ/PA - Environmental Assessment for Lackawanna Cutoff now ava...
To: "EL Mail List" <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 9:58 PM


Ricky......I saw where someone was implying that there would be 'nowhere for people to go when they got to Scranton & that there was 'no room for anything let alone a station'.  Well, I've got news for u.....there IS a station - a great one even tho it's being used as a hotel. IF Scranton restored lightrail, there'd be a renewing of all the old neighborhoods as well as the downtown.AND since the tunnel has been rehabbed, how much more difficult can it be to restore the Laurel Line???
    Bill Carpenter (who worked as 'BY' operator and at 'QD') sent me several clipings about efforts to restore the Laurel Line. It breaks my heart to see all the cities getting lightrail - Hoboken, St Louis, Denver, Salt Lake City - and Scranton left in the dust. Hey, guys, I RODE the Laurel Line and it was GREAT!!  I only hope the pols wakeup and get behind the effort to 're-invent the wheel'  for the DL&W cutoff & the L&WV.

Walt Smith




________________________________
From: "Njricky2_@_aol.com" <Njricky2@aol.com>
To: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:03:46 AM
Subject: Re: (erielack) NJ/PA - Environmental Assessment for Lackawanna Cutoff now ava...

Just as with any line, there has to be a terminus, a place to service and 
maintain equipment for the next morning's run.

Scranton has the facilities and as the largest city in the Pocono region, 
is the obvious terminus. It's a city, not a suburb or a small town.

Scranton has also begun to experience population growth for the first time 
in decades, which is due to a number of factors, including the fact that the 
New York City Metropolitan Area has extend into Northeast Pennsylvania. 
Scranton, being the largest city in Northeast PA. is the natural terminus, 
simply because it's a city and has what is needed.

The demographic studies that were done a few years ago show that Scranton 
and its immediate suburbs would not populate trains on their own. That was 
then.

Rather than look at "then" (when the studies were done), it's important to 
look at "when," as it's a matter of time before Scranton itself becomes the 
PA end of the metropolitan area just as others are on the northern end of 
Southeast NY, Eastern LI, Southern NJ and Southern CT.

There are other things to consider. Scranton is located in the right place 
to be the connection for rail shuttle service from Wilkes-Barre PA and 
Binghamton NY, thus additional riders.

Other things to think about are:

>With passenger service available, areas along the line wlll be open for 
investment. Investors seriously consider regions that offer good 
transportation for both people and freight. That translates into jobs.

>The availability of rail service for people in Northwest NJ and Northeast 
PA offers competition to the commuter bus lines and will take cars off the 
roads, I80, I380. Currently, there is no competition.

An example. The cost of a rail commuter ticket from the eastern end of Long 
Island to NYC is roughly $10 one way, off peak. The cost of the same ticket 
via commuter bus from Scranton, which is about a ten mile longer run is $45 
and there is no off peak to the best of my knowledge. The Pocono and 
Northwest NJ communities pay more than $10 as well.

Sure the LIRR is State-funded, as will be the Pocono line. This works 
because it has to in order to keep the region economically competitive.


Of course, as has been stated by others and me, all states must allocate 
funds to make this work. It's not about how it was, it's about how it will be. 
Thinking regionally is the way to make it work, and given the chance, it 
will work.

We've heard the term, "Build it and they will come". Once the line is in 
place, they will come, all of them. It's a matter of time.

Imagine what those who built the DL&W, the Cut-Off and made things work 
would say if they were here now and witnessed our attempts at re-inventing the 
wheel.


Rick
**************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy 
Steps! 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823265x1201398681/aol?redirhttp://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun
eExcfooterNO62)


    The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
    http://EL-List.railfan.net/
    To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html





    The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
    http://EL-List.railfan.net/
    To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html





	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	http://EL-List.railfan.net/
	To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html

------------------------------