bus between Philly and Bethlehem/Allentown (Philadelphia, Atlantic: new construction, cost, buses)

[ra533yahoo]

After Bieber stops their business, is there currently any bus between Philly and Bethlehem/Allentown?

Thank you!!!

[toobusytoday]

Bieber stopped running in Februrary of last year. Transbridge added some buses and took over their routes and at the beginning I thought they said they would take over their Philly routes, but looking here https://transbridgelines.com/choose-your-route I only see East -West routes to NYC or the airports. Ourbus also added some routes but again, I don't see any going to Philadelphia. There's one on Jan 20, but not sure why. https://www.ourbus.com/routes Greyhound still runs, but I haven't ever used them and doesn't look like the routes that Bieber used to take. https://www.greyhound.com/transit

[blazerj]

No, I don't believe there is any public transport from the LV to Philly (and the Bieber bus was not good). The NE Extension tolls are also super high and 76 into Philly is a disaster during rush hour.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by blazerj

No, I don't believe there is any public transport from the LV to Philly (and the Bieber bus was not good). The NE Extension tolls are also super high and 76 into Philly is a disaster during rush hour.

But those tolls are much less than the ones into Manhattan, same with the traffic and yet we have two commuter buses going that way. AND, in Southern Lehigh County we have more people that commute to Philly than to NYC. When the Bieber bus was running, the buses were often full so I know there's a need.

[Nempire]

Greyhound only i think.

[blazerj]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

But those tolls are much less than the ones into Manhattan, same with the traffic and yet we have two commuter buses going that way. AND, in Southern Lehigh County we have more people that commute to Philly than to NYC. When the Bieber bus was running, the buses were often full so I know there's a need.

Agree, there is certainly a need and I would have loved a bus when commuting to Philly.

[Patmcpsu]

Lehigh Valley should be advocates of high speed rail. Imagine what would happen to property values if you could access Philadelphia in 20 minutes, or NYC in a half hour.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by Patmcpsu

Lehigh Valley should be advocates of high speed rail. Imagine what would happen to property values if you could access Philadelphia in 20 minutes, or NYC in a half hour.

Pretty sure you're beating a dead horse there. Most of the old rail lines have been turned into trails for recreational use.

[Patmcpsu]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

Pretty sure you're beating a dead horse there. Most of the old rail lines have been turned into trails for recreational use.

The old rails wouldn't be adequate for high speed trains anyway. It would need to be new construction.

Existing right-of-way still extends from Lehigh Valley to NYC, including current NJ Transit tracks. To me, this is ripe for some type of partnership between PA and NJ, but I don't know how well the two states would play together on that.

Finding right-of-way all the way to Philadelphia would be more of a challenge, but I would be shocked if it was impossible. If all else fails, there's eminent domain.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Patmcpsu

To me, this is ripe for some type of partnership between PA and NJ, but I don't know how well the two states would play together on that.

It's not that the two states can't cooperate. They understand that the Atlantic City railroad line can't terminate in Pensauken NJ, it has to go to 30th street station in Philadelphia to be viable.

But if you look at the Raritan Valley Line which was extended five stations to the west to include North Branch to High Bridge, there is almost no significant ridership on these stations. Although government officials would like to extend it to Phillipsburg, the ridership would be so low that the per person cost would be ridiculous.

You won't get the states to cooperate on a money losing proposition like commuter rail service to the Lehigh Valley.