NYC CSA Changes (beach, trains, wealthy)

[geographybee]

Will the Scranton area be added to the NYC CSA after the 2020 census? With a lot of development in that area and increased commuting to the core, will this occur? It seems to be only a matter of time.

Now, with the more far-fetched ideas:

Will Hartford-Springfield be added on to the CSA? Right now, there is continuous development through Central CT, and this could be a possibility.

Will Philly and NYC becomes the Philly-NYC CSA that stretches from north of the Massachusetts border in Dutchess County to Maryland? From there, it seems that Baltimore and DC would eventually be added. I don’t see Boston happening anytime soon, though.

[NOLA101]

Scranton is pretty far from NYC. But commuter rail is planned. Possibly once commuter rail is operational?

I would see Hartford as more likely. There's already nonstop development between NYC and Hartford, and frequent commuter rail starts in a few months.

[gladhands]

CSAs are dumb.

[geographybee]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Scranton is pretty far from NYC. But commuter rail is planned. Possibly once commuter rail is operational?

I would see Hartford as more likely. There's already nonstop development between NYC and Hartford, and frequent commuter rail starts in a few months.

Yeah, probably. PA does not seem interested in building their side of the tracks. NJ is really making progress (for once). Hopefully this happens and hopefully there are express trains from Penn to Scranton with few to no intermediate stops. I hope commuter rail to Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton is built. Again, with express trains as the Lehigh valley is really a destination and cool place to visit.

Hartford needs to be integrated into the Amtrak Northeast rail service much better. There should be trains along the current route and trains up through Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, Worcester, and then Boston. Springfield can be served by commuter rail from Hartford. This would really make the Northeast Corridor far better. It would also push growth in the Hartford area, as well as Danbury and Waterbury.

Also, NJT needs to build a commuter rail line all the way down through Ocean Couny. That area is large, populous, fairly wealthy, growing, and a beach destination. That could be a really great addition to the NIT network. It would be heavily used and make a lot of sense. Call it the Monmouth-Ocean Line. Route:

Break from North Jersey Coast Line at Aberdeen-Matawan. Continue south with stops in Holmdel, Scobeyville, Farmingdale, Howell, Lakewood, Brick, Toms River, Beachwood, Berkeley, Forked River, Barnegat, Stafford, Little Egg Harbor, Absecon, pleasantville, northfield, Linwood, and terminate in Somers point.

Another line - call it Freehold Line:
Break from North Jersey Coast Line at South Amboy. Stops in Old Bridge, Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, and then continue along Monmouth Road to Six Flags in Jackson where it terminates.

Another line - call it Brunswick-Windsor Line:
Break from Northeast Corridor Line in Metuchen. Go south and stop in Sayreville, South River, East brunswick, spotswood, helmetta, Jamesburg, Monroe, cranbury, East Windsor, robbinsville, and terminate in Trenton.

[tman7117]

Originally Posted by gladhands

CSAs are dumb.

Agreed, Scranton isn't even close.

[Enean]

Maybe this should be in the New York Forum?

[geographybee]

Originally Posted by Enean

Maybe this should be in the New York Forum?

I figured not because this pertains to a huge swath of the Northeast.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by geographybee

I figured not because this pertains to a huge swath of the Northeast.

Which means it’s probably not a reasonable measurement for the NY metro area.

[geographybee]

Originally Posted by gladhands

Which means it’s probably not a reasonable measurement for the NY metro area.

What do you propose instead?

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by geographybee

What do you propose instead?

Not take CSA’s seriously.

Here’s how it works: Census decides counties A-G constitute the NY MSA. If fifteen % of county H commutes into county G, it can be included in the CSA. That county doesn’t need any actual connection with NYC. CSA is good for defining broad regions, but they aren’t really reflective of cities or their metros.

Let’s say, county G gets a new suburban office park, and now 25% if economically-depressed county I starts commuting into county G. Now the entirety of county I can join the NY MSA. It’s silly.