LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Lackawanna County Commissioners have appointed six-term former Congressman Matt Cartwright to the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA).
All three commissioners voted unanimously for the appointment.
Cartwright, from Moosic, has been a major advocate to restore rail service between Scranton and New York City.
Court temporarily blocks Trump order on birthright citizenship"My work to restore passenger rail service to Northeastern Pennsylvania is the prime moving factor in my wanting to be on the PNRRA board,” Cartwright said. “It’s been a consuming passion of mine ever since those PNRRA board members approached me in the summer of 2012, and being on the board gives me an avenue to stay active in advocating for this rail project. It will be transformational for Northeastern Pennsylvania. Every single business owner in our area will benefit.”
The PNRRA has started rail service along lines that were previously operated by several railroads, and has overseen passenger rail service in both Lackawanna and Monroe counties.
According to a media release from Lackawanna County Communications Director Pat McKenna. The plan to restore passenger rail service to New York would be the first time since 1970, and feature three daily roundtrips between Scranton and the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in Manhattan, with Pennsylvania stops in Mount Pocono and East Stroudsburg, and in New Jersey at Blairstown, Dover, Morristown, Montclair and Newark, according to a media release from Lackawanna County Communications Director Pat McKenna.
Amtrak also estimates that this service could generate $84 million a year in new economics on both sides of the Delaware River.
The board seat is a volunteer position, and Cartwright's term runs through 2029.