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  • PUBLIC MEETING: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LACKAWANNA CUTOFF

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Pennsylvania
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Pennsylvania

Moderator: bwparker1

 #349443  by bwparker1
 
Public Meetings on the Environmental Assessment for the Lackawanna
Cut-off will be held beginning next week. A BIG TURN-OUT OF SUPPORTERS
IS VITAL. Too often only those opposing a project attend these meetings
and give an inappropriate perception of public support. YOUR HELP IS
NEEDED NOW. The public meetings will run from 3PM to 8PM and at 4PM and
7PM there will be formal presentations on the EA by the consultant. The
meetings will take place as follows:
Jan. 17 Hilton Scranton Hotel, 100 Adams Ave., Scranton
Jan. 23 Perona Farms, 350 Andover-Sparta Rd., Andover (NIMBY Territory)

Jan. 25 Quality Inn (formerly Clarion Hotel), 1220 W. Main St.,
Stroudsburg
Jan. 29 Blairstown Municipal Complex, 106 Rt. 94, Blairstown (NIMBY
Territory)
During each public meeting there will be several "stations" throughout
the meeting room for people to look at display panels and informally
discuss the project with the consultants and NJT staff. A stenographer
will record comments for the record and there will be comment cards
available at the entrance where attendees may simply state they are for
the project or against it. You need not make verbal comments. (Some
people will not speak before a group and prefer non-verbal
communication. ) Written comments must be mailed by March 1 to: Vincent
Truncellito Manager - Project Development, NJ Transit, 1 Penn Plaza
East, Newark NJ 07105-2245. His email address is
vtruncellito@ njtransit. com and his telephone number is (973) 491-7810.
Speakers' time will be limited to give everyone the opportunity to make
comments. IT IS VITAL TO HAVE A BIG TURN-OUT OF PROJECT SUPPORTERS AT
THE PUBLIC MEETINGS to counter the NIMBY factor from Byram Twp.,
Denville, and the Union County Rahway Valley NIMBY's who oppose the
Cut-off project. Every supporter that attends is urged to make a
positive comment to the stenographer or to at least fill out a comment
card indicating they are in favor of the project. This is the last
public meeting needed before the FTA issues a FONSI (Finding of no
significant impact). The next step is construction funds!!!! We are
finally getting there! A copy of the EA is available on NJT's website:
www.njtransit. com. . If you would like a copy of the disc (no charge)
it is available from Wendy Molner of NJT at or telephone her at (973)
491-8073 for a copy. (Frank Reilly- Railpace posted 1/15/07)
 #350721  by henry6
 
I also posted this on the NJT forum:

Didn't anyone besides me get to the Scranton meeting yesterday? I don't see any posts here and it is late the next morning! ANyway:

I came away with a new respect and understanding about NJT and its planning department. I see where the railfans and the media have pushed a lot of material out of perspective. First, note that nothing is set in stone; each step is just that: a step which moves the next step. The EPA presentation is extremely favorable with a minimum effort needed to comply, fix, or displace. In the 133 mile route, only 11 properties...4 private and 7 public...have to be obtained but only $11,000 tax revenue would be lost. Less than 7 total acres of wetland have to be dealt with but only .4 of those acres are on the right of way. And grade crossing improvements and noise pollution are extremely minimal. Things are in hand.

But more importantly, they admit the project is a work in progress. That schedules and operations prooposed are not necessarily what will actually emerge in practice. Equipment is far from a done deal as is who could be the operator west of Stroudsburg. Emerging technologies and changing events in North Jersey (as well as Northeastern Pennsylvania) will mean adaptation and changes as the project evolves. One fact freely passed around the room before, during and after the presentation, is that the ridership numbers as presented reflect only those who would be traveling to work from the west to the east, the specific question having been asked being "would you ride the train from your home to work?" Other business, recereational, liesure, and personal train riding was not considered. The absence of these riders being counted means that the numbers are low, very low. In another development, it was announced by some that Frank Martz's newest bus schedules have added up to 20 minutes to the commuter hour runs into NYC the result of Rt I80 congestion and bringing the time to 3 or more hours, compatable with the train's projected timing.

There was a lot there. My 30 minute discussion with one of the head planners left me impressed with NJT. He and I did not agree on everything we talked about (i.e., BiLevels vs MU's) but he had reasons and answers. Other plans and talks and ideas for regional and commuter rail proved to be more to my ways of thinking (and "dreaming") than I thought were happening. Is everything right and rosey? No. But a lot better than I read on these postings and in new reports.