(erielack) Cutoff news

[Blue Moon Network Administrator <root_@_net.bluemoon.net>]

For what it is worth....

Henry


UPDATED JULY 24, 2002:

POCONO SERVICE SLATED TO RESUME IN 2006: Rail officials in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey are still clinging to a 2006 start date for the resumption of   
passenger service to New York City. But the lack of a bi-state operating   
agreement and a shortfall in matching funds have appeared to delay the     
project yet again. "We're in a national recession and both states had budget
shortfalls so tough times are ahead," said State Rep. Kelly Lewis, R-189.   
"This project is more advanced than it's ever been, but we need an agreement
between the states and matching dollars. The project, now estimated to cost 
over $200 million, would extend New Jersey Transit service from Netcong, NJ,
into Pennsylvania, through East Stroudsburg, Analomink and Mount Pocono and 
up to Scranton. To date $2 million dollars in federal funding has been
authorized to begin preliminary engineering work, and the selection of a
project consultant is near. But another $3.5 million dollars is needed to
complete the engineering work, without which the project will be pushed back
to 2007 or 2008. Once the preliminary work is completed, and an operating   
agreement is reached between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the two states can
apply for the $200 million dollars in federal funding needed to complete the
project. At issue is the agreement itself, which would clarify how much each
state must contribute financially, and how revenues are split. Robert Hay,  
chairman of the Monroe County Rail Authority, said if an agreement is
reached, and required funding to complete preliminary engineering work is
authorized this year, then a 2006 start date could become a reality. "It all
depends on how much we get," said Hay. The hard part, says Lewis, is after  
the engineering work is completed and the process of drawing down the $200  
million dollars in federal funding begins. Matching funds are required, $40 
million dollars from each state, and with a $1 billion dollar shortfall this
year, there's little room in the state budget for rail money. "New Jersey is
committed to doing this and they are spending money, despite their
shortfall," says Lewis. "We have some issues here." Lewis did say that the
project was further along than ever given that Pennsylvania and New Jersey
now own the entire rail line, including the 27-mile long Lackawanna Cutoff in
New Jersey. Seth Taylor, a secretary with the Penn Jersey Rail Coalition, a  
rail advocacy group, agreed that many parts of the project were now in place,
but added that recent conversations with New Jersey officials led him to
believe the project would be delayed a year or two. "Things are moving at
less than a fast pace," said Taylor. "To begin operating in 2006 they have to
order equipment, and they haven't even done that." (Conrail Technical Society
E-mail Update - posted 7/24)

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