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I would put more focus on south jersey before concentrating on PA. The southern shore from Atlantic city to Cape may has a constant string of towns, yet no rail service. Additionally, several Philly burbs in NJ (Mantua and West Deptford come to mind) could benefit from better rail service.
These areas have much higher population density than the Poconos or western warren county.
A line out as far as Stroudsburg is justified but Scranton is a bit of a stretch.
I would also say NJT should complete the MOM line through Monmouth Junction, the West Trenton line, Raritan valley line out to Allentown, NW line to Sparta, Bergen line all the way up to Nyack and extend the Newark light rail down to Elizabeth. Of course most of these extensions hinge on the Gateway tunnel being completed.
I think the north jersey goal should be to get the PA cars off NJ roads during rush hours. Njtransit should go to scranton. Amtrak would make a good alternative if the planning more intercity connections with NY state and PA. The rail cars rotting next to the steamtown mall is very depressing. They should be used. PA does need to pay for the PA part though. I think they should connect West trenton to the rartan valley line. This will create an alternative to the northeast corridor.
I think the north jersey goal should be to get the PA cars off NJ roads during rush hours. Njtransit should go to scranton. Amtrak would make a good alternative if the planning more intercity connections with NY state and PA. The rail cars rotting next to the steamtown mall is very depressing. They should be used. PA does need to pay for the PA part though. I think they should connect West trenton to the rartan valley line. This will create an alternative to the northeast corridor.
They could be refurnished for some other use, but we cant reuse 60-70 year old cars. Modern rail cars are required (possibly Talgo sets).
They use high levels at busier stations and new stations......
Yes, new stations get high levels for ADA reasons. But plenty of busy stations on the M&E have low platforms -- Brick Church and South Orange (has a ramp for ADA compliance so one car can be boarded) for example. I think only Secaucus, Newark Broad, and Summit have full high levels.
Have been following with keen interest the goings on around NJT finally moving on Lackawanna cutoff project. However was surprised at how many in Philly/New Jersey are dead set against the project or any other that brings easier access to the more rural parts of either state. On the NJ side those that have moved to the western part of the state often say they did so to get away from congestion, density and the other "problems" of New York City and the more built-up parts of NJ. They don't want more persons moving out there as development would surely follow any expansion of rail service. On the Philly side they are "tired" of what they see as an invasion from (mostly) New York City bringing many social ills to places such as around Scranton and such.
There seems to be a good amount of abandoned RR ROW in NJ that if used properly could take some of pressure off traffic. Thoughts?
I'd wager it's because the train line runs right through their town at grade, often within 10-30ft of residential property, and crossing every N-S road in the town at grade as well.
I'd imagine a train line would have a significant impact on quality of life in the town, as well as traffic.
Count me as "IN" for the Mount Holly to Phila NJT line. As a resident of Mount Holly, property values could use the help that a train into Phila would provide. Those tracks are currently used by freight carriers. Many of the crossings are at grade but there's only a handful of "major" roads that would be affected (Mount Holly Bypass, Centerton Road, Maybe one or two in Moorestown/Lenola.
Count me as "IN" for the Mount Holly to Phila NJT line. As a resident of Mount Holly, property values could use the help that a train into Phila would provide. Those tracks are currently used by freight carriers. Many of the crossings are at grade but there's only a handful of "major" roads that would be affected (Mount Holly Bypass, Centerton Road, Maybe one or two in Moorestown/Lenola.
A Mount Holly line, if it had a decent amount of parking, would also be nice for folks driving from further north on 295 to park in Mount Holly and take the train into the city, rather than further down to Woodcrest PATCO station.
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