(erielack) NJ DOT to Release State's portion of Funding for the Cutoff!!

["KC2WE_@_aol.com"]

(Originally published: Friday, June 23, 2000)

THE POCONO RECORD
=20
N.J. to release rail money before Pa.=20

=20
=20
=20
By MATT BIRKBECK
Pocono Record Writer
"mbirkbeck_@_poconorecord.com"

STROUDSBURG =97 New Jersey transportation officials have figured out a way t=
o=20
keep a passenger rail project moving despite Pennsylvania's slowness in=20
appropriating money.

At stake is $5.3 million in preliminary engineering money available in=20
October from the federal government. It must be matched by $500,000 from bot=
h=20
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

New Jersey's money is ready. Pennsylvania is at least a year away from being=
=20
ready, however.

Rather than wait a year or longer, New Jersey will put up its share so half=20
the $5.3 million can be used when the federal grant becomes available Oct. 1=
.

The money is for the proposed passenger rail service that would link Scranto=
n=20
and Monroe County with New Jersey and New York City. The project, which will=
=20
actually restore service abandoned in 1970, is estimated to cost $180 millio=
n.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., added the $5.3 million to the new federal=20
transportation budget.

Frank Reilly, executive director of the Morris County, N.J. Department of=20
Transportation, the lead agency in the bi-state effort, said New Jersey has=20
its $500,000 in matching funds, a combination of cash and toll credits.

But Pennsylvania does not have its match.

Rick Peltz, deputy secretary for local and area transportation for PennDOT,=20
said Pennsylvania will come up with its share, but it could take up to a yea=
r=20
or two.

"If the feds are coming up with 80 percent we do not want to lose federal=20
dollars," said Peltz. "We are pretty good at making sure that real federal=20
dollars are matched, and we have a good reputation for making good on the=20
match, especially on a project that makes good sense. We will match it, but=20
it won't happen overnight."

Instead of waiting for Pennsylvania to deliver its match, Reilly said, New=20
Jersey will agree to use its matching funds to draw down half, or $2.65=20
million, of the $5.3 million to begin the preliminary engineering work.

"It will get us started until Pennsylvania gets its match money," said Reill=
y.

Another $160 million was approved for the project in 1998. Once the=20
preliminary engineering work is completed, officials expect to begin the=20
process of drawing down those funds.

The new service will extend New Jersey Transit lines from Port Morris throug=
h=20
Warren County across the Delaware River into Monroe County, with stations in=
=20
East Stroudsburg, Analomink and Mount Pocono.

Service will terminate in Scranton.

On related business, officials from Pennsylvania and New Jersey will meet in=
=20
August to begin a study that will be the basis for an operating agreement fo=
r=20
passenger rail service from Scranton to Hoboken.Representatives from the=20
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Lackawanna County Rail Authority=20
and Monroe County Rail Authority will meet with officials from the New Jerse=
y=20
Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, and the Morris County=20
Department of Transportation to begin formulating the financial plan.

An $80,000 federal grant will pay for the study, which comes on the heels of=
=20
a third and final $780,000 Major Investment Study.

"This study is the last part of the Major Investment Study required by the=20
federal government," Reilly. "It will be an agreement between the two states=
=20
over who pays what."

This financial agreement is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The third and final MIS study, which has yet to be released to the public,=20
recommends four to five trains leaving Pennsylvania in the morning, and four=
=20
trains returning in the evening, with one train mid day.

The trip from East Stroudsburg to Hoboken is expected to take 90 minutes.

Travelers to New York City can transfer in Dover, N.J.

The estimated cost of a monthly rail ticket from East Stroudsburg to Hoboken=
=20
is $275.

The project is projected to be completed in 2004.

While New Jersey Transit is expected to provide the service, Pennsylvania=20
officials have had preliminary discussions with Amtrak.

"They wanted to feel them out and see what the costs would be," said Reilly.

Reilly added that a public hearing to reveal the details of the MIS study ha=
s=20
been postponed to later this year, on orders from the Federal Transportation=
=20
Authority.

"The FTA advised us not to do the public hearing until they review and=20
approve the MIS study, which will take three months," said Reilly.


=20
Copyright =A9 June 23, 2000, Pocono Record
www.poconorecord.com=20
=20

 ------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the erielack photopage at http://el-list.railfan.net

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