(erielack) Fwd: Possible Slateford Bridge Repair........

[KSmollin_@_aol.com]

In a message dated 8/13/2005 5:57:42 PM Central Daylight Time, STEVE Z 10 
writes:
Rail service backed in spending package
By ERIC MARK
Pocono Record Writer
The drive to restore passenger train service from Scranton to the New York 
City area, including several stops in the Poconos, received a $120 million boost 
this week.
The money is included in the $286 billion transportation bill signed into law 
by President Bush on Wednesday after it was passed by both houses of Congress 
last week.
The $120 million is not dedicated specifically to the passenger rail project, 
but it can be used for that purpose if the Federal Transit Administration 
approves any work on the passenger rail line, said U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, 
D-11, whose district includes all of Monroe County.
"It's not calling up and saying send the money.' What it does for us is give 
us a leg up," Kanjorski said, adding that the latest cost estimate for 
restoring passenger rail service along the old Delaware & Lackawanna line is 
about $350 million. The passenger trains stopped running in the early 1970s. 
Officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are working together to restore passenger 
rail service.
One potential use for the money is the repair of the Slateford railroad 
bridge that crosses the Delaware River just north of Columbia, N.J., and Portland, 
Northampton County. It could cost about $100 million to bring that bridge up 
to operational standard, said Kelly Lewis, a former state representative who 
worked on the passenger rail project when he served in the Legislature. The 
project as it is now designed cannot proceed until the Slateford bridge is 
repaired, Lewis said.
The Federal Transit Administration requires any proposed project to meet high 
standards for environmental impact, Kanjorski stated.
Kanjorski said he supports the restoration of passenger rail service leading 
from parts west to the banks of the Hudson -- but only if the rail line runs 
all the way to Scranton.
"If it doesn't go to Scranton, we don't want the project," he said. 
"Otherwise it will be all New Jersey."
Kanjorski also said he favors faster train service than that proposed under 
the current plan, which includes a trip of about 3˝ hours from Scranton to 
Hoboken.
"I see it more as a tourist attraction at that speed," he said.
The rail funding was placed in the bill when it was in the Senate, Kanjorski 
said. He gave copious credit to Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators, Rick 
Santorum and Arlen Specter, both Republicans. Kanjorski, a Democrat, noted that the 
rail line project has strong bipartisan support.
 





 

 



 

  

Rail service backed in spending package

By ERIC MARK

Pocono Record Writer

The drive to restore passenger train service from Scranton to the New York
City area, including several stops in the Poconos, received a $120 million
boost this week.

The money is included in the $286 billion transportation bill signed into
law by President Bush on Wednesday after it was passed by both houses of
Congress last week.

The $120 million is not dedicated specifically to the passenger rail project
 but it can be used for that purpose if the Federal Transit Administration
approves any work on the passenger rail line, said U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski,
D-11, whose district includes all of Monroe County.

"It's not calling up and saying send the money.' What it does for us is
give us a leg up," Kanjorski said, adding that the latest cost estimate for
restoring passenger rail service along the old Delaware & Lackawanna
line is about $350 million. The passenger trains stopped running in the
early 1970s. Officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are working together
to restore passenger rail service.

One potential use for the money is the repair of the Slateford railroad
bridge that crosses the Delaware River just north of Columbia, N.J., and
Portland, Northampton County. It could cost about $100 million to bring that
bridge up to operational standard, said Kelly Lewis, a former state
representative who worked on the passenger rail project when he served in
the Legislature. The project as it is now designed cannot proceed until the
Slateford bridge is repaired, Lewis said.

The Federal Transit Administration requires any proposed project to meet
high standards for environmental impact, Kanjorski stated.

Kanjorski said he supports the restoration of passenger rail service leading
from parts west to the banks of the Hudson -- but only if the rail line runs
all the way to Scranton.

"If it doesn't go to Scranton, we don't want the project," he said. 
Otherwise it will be all New Jersey."

Kanjorski also said he favors faster train service than that proposed under
the current plan, which includes a trip of about 3˝ hours from Scranton to
Hoboken.

"I see it more as a tourist attraction at that speed," he said.

The rail funding was placed in the bill when it was in the Senate, Kanjorski
said. He gave copious credit to Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators, Rick
Santorum and Arlen Specter, both Republicans. Kanjorski, a Democrat, noted
that the rail line project has strong bipartisan support.

 



 


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