Rep. Cartwright Statement on Amtrak Report

Congressman Matt Cartwright, (PA-08) issued the following statement regarding Amtrak's Scranton-New York Passenger Rail Service Plan and Financial Analysis report:

"Northeastern Pennsylvania's rail application was already a leading contender, but the new support shown by the Amtrak report released today will help further our success in achieving corridor designation.

There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Amtrak's latest findings, including the two-hour-and-fifty-minute travel time from Downtown Scranton to Penn Station in Downtown Manhattan. In addition, one of the stops in Newark, N.J., is a ten-minute cab ride to Newark Airport. This will significantly reduce traffic along I-80 and I-84, easing congestion and reducing emissions.

Ridership numbers are also better than prior studies and the projected costs are reasonable, especially when you consider what it would take to build a new lane on a freeway, for example.

The decision on Corridor Designation and Project Development will be a competitive process and I believe our rail application is second to none. Thanks to Gov. Josh Shapiro's efforts, PennDOT has agreed to serve as the lead signatory on the region's highly anticipated Corridor I.D. application, joined by New Jersey Transit and the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA).

Northeastern Pennsylvania has a very compelling and powerful case, made even stronger by today's Amtrak report.

I am grateful to the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority for commissioning this study and thank them for their continued partnership in our dogged efforts to restore rail service to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

I am determined to fight as long and hard as necessary for this profoundly important common cause. This vital transit initiative will spur new jobs and economic development in the region and connect us to major metropolitan areas in a seamless, passenger-friendly system.

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.

The Amtrak study released today reveals projected riders and revenue that reinforce what we already knew: This project represents a great opportunity. Couple these estimates with the economic impact Amtrak also projects, and it's no wonder everyone from the business community to tourism boards to commuters strongly support the project."

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