(The following article appeared at PoconoNews.net on June 9, 2009.)
PITTSTON, Pa. – A plan to restore commuter rail service between the Poconos and New York City has a favorable ruling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the project which would run commuter trains from Scranton, making several stops in Monroe County, then onto Hoboken for a link to Penn Station via the PATH line.
Many more approvals would be needed before the $550 million project could proceed. Getting the EPA designation, however, could shorten the timeline significantly, to perhaps as little as five years.
The announcement was made by Senators Robert Casey and Arlen Specter Monday morning.