WHEREAS, After more than two decades, the first phase of
restoring rail service from the Poconos region to New York City
appears to be nearing the engineering and construction funding
phase; and
WHEREAS, Several extensions of service have already been
proposed and are being seriously considered, including north to
Binghamton, New York; and
WHEREAS, A previously commissioned, federally funded study
conducted by the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority
determined that the physical track alignment is already in place
to do so, thus requiring no additional right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey Transit has already begun construction to
restore a portion of the Lackawanna Cutoff; and
WHEREAS, As of late 2016, New Jersey Transit has cleared
trees and debris from part of the right-of-way and is one
environmental permit away from starting the construction of a
train station in Andover Township, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Luzerne County residents deserve the same
consideration and opportunity for employment, as well as the
other economic opportunities afforded to the municipalities the
passenger line would serve as is now proposed; and
WHEREAS, Establishing passenger service between Wilkes-Barre
and Scranton would benefit economic development efforts in the
greater Hazleton area; and
WHEREAS, The former Laurel Line commuter train service
between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre operated from 1903 until 1952
and reached peak ridership of 4.2 million passengers a year; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth would be remiss in not determining
if continuation of this rail service to Wilkes-Barre is feasible
at this pivotal juncture, considering the relatively short
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