Does the Coal Region have any hope for an "Urban" Revival?

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by eschaton

On the Urban Planning subforum, the discussion drifted recently to the various boroughs in the Eastern PA Coal Region. Mostly because of how unusual their urban typology is for the U.S.

Lehigh Valley's population could increase by 227,000 over next 30 years. Both Lehigh and Northampton counties will continue to add more than 30,000 residents a decade for the next 30 years.

Scranton, Wilkes Barre is not fundamentally different than the Lehigh Valley. I think the same forces at work there will eventually have some effect on NE Pennsylvania but probably to a lesser degree.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

A light rail line is something that could probably work really well in the Scranton/W-B area. Generally speaking you have a 3 mile wide stretch of densely and loosely connected cities and boroughs that is 30+miles long. I don't know the condition or if it's even possible to use but the rail beds are already there. Some of them may be in use for cargo.

The busing service is already in place servicing these areas, they could eliminate some of those bus routes so they were not competing with the rail and better utilize them as extensions of the rail service.

As for service to Philly, NYC I don't think that will work at all. It would be novel for short time and then falter.

I can see a diesel Light Rail similar to the NJT RiverLine running from Carbondale to Wilkes Barre. I would also run some Diesel MU's all the way down to Harrisburg stopping at towns like Berwick-Nescopeck , Bloomsbury , Danville , Sunbury , Harrisburg. These trains would operarte with speeds up to 80mph and 12 roundtrips daily. In Sunbury I would create a branch to Williamsport with stops in Northumberland , Milton , Watsontown , Montourville and Williamsport.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by pman

I'd take it one step further, SEPTA isn't needed in reading. the reason I mentioned limited stop diesel keystone style service is because this thread is about the coal regions and that kind of service is really what's needed in reading and perhaps pottsville or perhaps it goes to harrisburg not slow electrified commuter service. SEPTA doesn't need to go past phoenixville or possibly pottstown. just adding phoenixville would be a big step and much cheaper. another place that could use limited intercity (think lynchburg) type service is williamsport. a healthy williamsport would be good for a host of smaller places in that region.

With the Rapid growth in PA , extending SEPTA up to Reading and Allentown along with Oxford , the Stony Branch and Newtown will greatly ease the stress on the Regional Roads and Highways in the long run. Keystone type Service should between Harrisburg and Allentown and onto New York which is already called for in the long term plans as Lehigh Express service. Electrification may seem far fetched now , but many countries and companies are currently Electrifying or Re-Electrifying entire networks due to rapid growth and fuel prices going up which they will here eventually... The 6 Extension cost assumed the Ivy Ridge line was to restored , take that out and you'll probably drop the price by a decent amount... Seeing as there is a Nuclear Power Station in Pottstown Electrification should be all that expensive. Outside SEPA , Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg region most of the other lines should be diesel. With the Exception of the proposed Harrisburg-Baltimore line , that should be Electric...along with the Lehigh Line. As for the proposed Harrisburg/Carlisle/Chambersburg/Hagerstrom line and the Hanover/Gettysburg line those should be Diesel with 6-10 round trips daily.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

With the Rapid growth in PA , extending SEPTA up to Reading and Allentown along with Oxford , the Stony Branch and Newtown will greatly ease the stress on the Regional Roads and Highways in the long run. Keystone type Service should between Harrisburg and Allentown and onto New York which is already called for in the long term plans as Lehigh Express service. Electrification may seem far fetched now , but many countries and companies are currently Electrifying or Re-Electrifying entire networks due to rapid growth and fuel prices going up which they will here eventually... The 6 Extension cost assumed the Ivy Ridge line was to restored , take that out and you'll probably drop the price by a decent amount... Seeing as there is a Nuclear Power Station in Pottstown Electrification should be all that expensive. Outside SEPA , Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg region most of the other lines should be diesel. With the Exception of the proposed Harrisburg-Baltimore line , that should be Electric...along with the Lehigh Line. As for the proposed Harrisburg/Carlisle/Chambersburg/Hagerstrom line and the Hanover/Gettysburg line those should be Diesel with 6-10 round trips daily.

I don't see that as being worthwhile for PA to pursue (harrisburg-lehigh valley). I'd go with with extensions of the current septa network to bethlehem and keystone style service to reading and hershey. oxford would be nice but west chester should come first. electrification is expensive and probably isn't appropriate for low frequency new routes in the current environment. williamsport should feed the keystone corridor.

[pman]

A Philadelphian takes an "Anthracite Heritage" road trip.

[Clark Park]

I was just in Wilkes-Barre, Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Centralia, Ashland and Frackville last week!

What a trip!

Highlights of the trip: a hot dog "with the works" at Coney Island Lunch in Shamokin! "Barbecue" (really a kind of 'Sloppy Joe' sandwich in Mount Carmel) Pioneer Mine Tour in Ashland. Found a couple of good thrift stores.