ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh Valley planning officials are set to launch the second phase of a marathon process to bring passenger rail back to the region.
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Thursday landed $400,000 — three-quarters funded by the state and the rest by Lehigh County — to kick off a study.
“This funding allows us to take a deeper look at the possibility of what (passenger rail) could mean,” including its impacts on the economy, population and job growth and land uses, LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley said.
Sen. Nick Miller’s office says the money “lays the groundwork” for an organization to sponsor feasibility studies and other analyses.
The Lehigh Valley has “seen consistent growth” in recent decades but needs investment in transportation infrastructure to meet that growing demand, said Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton.
“This funding allows us to take a deeper look at the possibility of what (passenger rail) could mean."Becky Bradley, LVPC executive director
He called the launch of Phase II — of 14 — a “crucial step” and an “exciting moment” that will build on “a lot of good momentum” in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Where to go?
During this phase, planners will look to determine a preferred route and whether to connect the railway system to Philadelphia, New York or Reading. They also will identify potential rail-system operators and environmental impacts, Bradley said. It's a 12- to 16-month process.
Phase I included a big-picture passenger rail feasibility study that analyzed the potential to restore it, and what that would look like.
Every passenger rail system in the U.S. must follow the same planning and regulatory process, she said.
“We are no longer a region that's trying to claw itself out of decline. We are now a place that's trying to maintain its momentum.”Lehigh County Executive-elect Josh Siegel
Projected costs to construct a passenger railway that connects the Lehigh Valley to other systems range from $450 million to about $740 million. That does not include the costs of maintaining stations, financing or environmental mitigation efforts.
Bradley noted it still could take 15 years before commuter trains are in the Lehigh Valley, though officials will work to “accelerate” that timeline.
“We're going to do everything we can to make it move as quickly as possible,” she said.
Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, who is in his mid-70s, said he “probably won't be around to ride a train from Allentown.”
“But you know what? If we don't do something now, we won't get there,” he said.
Armstrong handed over a $100,000 check to Bradley. He said he’s ”really proud” Lehigh County is helping to move forward the process to build regional passenger railways.
Planners initially had expected that Lehigh and Northampton counties would split the $400,000 cost for the study, but Northampton declined to participate, saying funds should come from state and federal sources.
'Symptoms of success'
Incoming Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel said passenger rail will be “integral” to the region’s success over “the next three to four decades.”
The Lehigh Valley is experiencing “symptoms of (its own) success,” as its desirability has encouraged population growth, and with it, challenges with congestion, housing and more, he said.
“It's always great when you're managing the symptoms of success and not the consequences of struggle,” Siegel said. “We are no longer a region that's trying to claw itself out of decline. We are now a place that's trying to maintain its momentum.”
A successful passenger rail system would “help supercharge our region’s growth” by allowing more commuters to reach jobs around the Lehigh Valley, Siegel said.
“Passenger rail is one of the antidotes to make sure that we don't come to resemble the communities that people are fleeing."Lehigh County Executive-elect Josh Siegel
And it would ease traffic on streets and highways, he said, calling it a “win” for “anybody who wants to have a less congested commute around the Lehigh Valley” and waste less time on Route 22.
Passenger railways also would enable “more walkable, dense, mixed-use communities,” he said. That could open up more opportunities for affordable housing in Allentown and throughout the region.
“Passenger rail is one of the antidotes to make sure that we don't come to resemble the communities that people are fleeing,” Siegel said, highlighting what he called poor planning and overdevelopment in areas like northern New Jersey.
