Submit your ideas for projects you would like to see in NEPA (Philadelphia: spring break, 2009)

[scrantonluna]

Just spotted this on the Scranton Times website, I submitted my ideas, how about you?

Submit your ideas for projects you would like to see in NEPA | Business | thetimes-tribune.com - The Times-Tribune

[scrantonluna]

I'd also like to see what everyone is thinking, so I'm posting my suggestions here for public review. I also made sure to check 'YES' for support for the proposed rail line.

Hello, I would really like to see some investment in downtown sidewalks, specifically in the blocks surrounding courthouse square.

I would also like to see grants available for residential sidewalk replacement.

Heavily traveled corridors, such as Dunmore Corners and sections of Main Avenue, could certainly benefit from some government aid in the way of new street lights, sidewalks, underground utilities, and store front refurbishment. The revitalization of downtown Jessup a few years ago would be a good example.

I would also like to see a 'Front Door' bill introduced, which would make items such as flags and holders, potters and plants, mailboxes, etc. tax deductable at a rate of 110%; basically anything that could be used to beautify the front of a home and help create stronger and safer neighborhoods and communities. Included in the bill should be the provision for vouchers to be used for the installation of basic front porch lighting.

Thanks

[weluvpa]

I would like to see a tax reduced downtown business district and tax incentive based rent control on all 1st floor store fronts in the downtown district to encourage businesses to make a LONG-TERM commitment to Scranton.

White water kayak park in the Canyon area under the Linden st and lackawanna ave bridges.

I don't agree with the train because it will be a commuter and therefore will take longer to get to NYC then it would by car. Not to mention I don't like what will come with the train to our area.

I also will not submit my ideas thru the Times site for personal reasons. I'm sure that a few of the ideas posted on the Times will undoubtly end up in some kind of a political ad or article as well.

[NEPA-x-pat]

I am with Dan on the whitewater park for the canyon there downtown. I would like to see the trail complete along the NJ Central Train Station to hook up with the rest of the trail That would be great.

[MovingOutOfNJ]

I mentioned along with the rail to NY they should work on Regional Rail between Scranton, Wilkes Barre, and Hazleton to Philadelphia.. possibly via Harrisburg via exsisting Rail Link with Harrisburg and Philly.

[W-B proud]

I have some really good ideas for downtown Wilkes-Barre, but I don't want to share them, because I'm afraid someone from Scranton will see them, and then steal them, and propose the idea's for Scranton. With spend happy Mayor Doherty in control, he might then build it in Scranton, while Wilkes-Barre does nothing.

[W-B proud]

I still don't like this passenger rail line. I don't understand the reasoning behind this. We already have busses that travel to NYC multiple times a day. Did they bring an economic boom to the region? This train will take longer to get to NYC then the bus, it will probably cost more then the bus, and it will be less convenient then the bus. You don't have to get off of one bus in Hoboken to ride another one in Manhattan! I keep hearing about this economic boom, but no one has said how, why, and for what reason this would happen! Do Scrantonians really think that rich, wealthy buisnessman are waiting to move to Scranton of all places for no reason whatsoever, because a rail line will now run to Scranton, Pa.? Let's get real here! This project is in the same category as "The Freight Airport" proposed near Hazleton. It is just a stupid, colosall waste of money, and after the novelty of it wears off and people realize that the bus is cheaper, easier, shorter ride and more comfortable, then people will stop riding it and go back to using the bus! I want someone to research what companies will move here? How many people plan on moving here from NYC once it is built? How many people will even use this train on a regular basis?. There are so many questions and NO answers! That's a red flag! Even IF (and that's a big if) companies did decided to relocate here for whatever reason, wouldn't they just move right across the New Jersey border into the Stroudsburg area? Why would they want to be a whole extra hour away from NYC by moving all the way to Scranton? Wouldn't the Stroudburg area syphon off any jobs or people that would want to relocate here? I just see so many holes in this proposal. This will not be the economic boom that everyone hopes it will be. I doubt any companies will move to Scranton because of this rail line. If it were to be high speed rail it would be a different story, but it is not. Who will pick up the tab to maintain these trains and rails after it goes bankrupt? Us of course! Let Scranton pay for all maintance since they want it so badly. I don't want to pay for this. It'll be another mass transit money pit, that taxpayers will be forced to pay for. Take the bus to NYC!!

[weluvpa]

We don't want either. Its a pipe dream and your rigt on the money with all points. It would be a 3 1/2+hr ride after they stop in Strousburg, Blairstown, Rockaway, Parsippany(sp?), Clifton, Nutely, Rutherford, Hoboken and then another train or ferry to NYC......

[ScranBarre]

Martz has a monopoly though on daily service to and from New York City. My friend and I decided to visit Pittsburgh for my spring break instead of returning to Brooklyn because it would have been less of a hassle for me to have driven back-and-forth across the state than to have hopped a bus and pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $75/person for a round-trip bus ticket into the city! If the people of Monroe County are paying $75/day to commute back and forth to NYC, then are they REALLY saving all that much money by moving here in droves? If there was a rail link into the city we would have gladly enjoyed hitting that up instead. We wanted to take the cheap JoJo's bus, but when I called to order tickets for that Wednesday I was told they weren't running service that week!

[MovingOutOfNJ]

I really believe Mass Transportation can be your best friend if you use it to the best of its capabilities..

A Train from Wilkes Barre to Scranton Alone (forget NYC, Philly, and Harrisburg) allows someone who lives in Wilkes Barre to pursue a Job in Scranton without having to own a Car. Car Payment + Car Insurance & Annual Registration & Fuel Costs vs. Mass Transit Fees.... i think the Mass Transit System wins.

And It would be beneficial to the region to have a rail link to Harrisburg, Philly, NYC if not other places like williamsport. If people want to come to watch a hockey game, or a AAA Baseball Game, or to visit family, Its safer then driving on Route 80. Its also Safer overnight , where you are allowed to fall asleep on mass transit.

Not that I really care, but its even Greener then having people take their cars everywhere.

Its more of a luxury then a "novelty"... it would be great to be able to go home to see my family via train as opposed to via 2 1/2 Hour Drive and $50 in Gas when i do so on those many occasions and holidays. It would be great for those NYY and Phillies fans to go see their teams play w/o the drive. Albiet its a longer train ride.. your not sitting in traffic cursing at the guy cutting you off every 30 seconds worrying about getting into a car wreck.

Mass Transportation is something that Every Successful City should have.

The exsisting Intracity Buses in Luzerne & lackwanna counties could be better.. just simply having them run later in the day is an enhancement... allowing people from around the cities sub-urban areas such as dallas or plains to go to downtown wilkes barre for a play at the kirby center or a trip to the bar, where they can have all the fun they want, get as trashed as they want, and not have to get pulled over for a DUI, taking a drunk driver off the road all for $1.50 each way.

I cant claim that Mass Transportation would bring massive wealth to the area, and would bring companies from as far out as Europe to Wilkes Barre, simply because i dont know that anything will bring them to a place that is as negative, where so many people are reluctant to drive 15 miles to the other city even for work. The only possible reason for compaines from NYC and NJ to move out here.. is the same reason that mine did.. Cheap Labor.. why would they pay someone from NYC $85,000 a year for something that they can pay someone in Scranton/W-B $50,000 a year to do... is it fair that the people of NEPA get shorted ... no.. but the companies will use the "standard of living" fight every time.