NewsLocal
Funding secured to begin construction on Scranton to New York rail line
October 29, 2024
By Bill OBoyle boboyle@timesleader.com
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright commemorated the announcement by presenting golden spikes to officials at the news conference in the Scranton Trolley Museum.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright commemorated the announcement by presenting golden spikes to officials at the news conference in the Scranton Trolley Museum.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
Sen. Casey, Rep. Cartwright have long pushed to restore passenger rail service to region
🔊 Listen to this
Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
<p>Waiting for their turn to speak at Tuesday’s news conference announcing $9 million in federal funding for the Scranton to New York rail line, are from left: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey; U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright; Larry Malski, CEO of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority; and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.</p>
<p>Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader</p>
Waiting for their turn to speak at Tuesday’s news conference announcing $9 million in federal funding for the Scranton to New York rail line, are from left: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey; U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright; Larry Malski, CEO of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority; and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.
Bill O’Boyle | Times Leader
SCRANTON — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-8) called it “a golden spike” moment.
Cartwright spoke at Tuesday’s announcement of a $9 million infusion of federal funding through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program to begin construction for the Amtrak passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City.
Cartwright commemorated the announcement by presenting golden spikes to officials at the news conference in the Scranton Trolley Museum.
“Now, everyone who knows me knows that I’m a history buff,” Cartwright said. “One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century was the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States in 1869. The Golden Spike was a ceremonial 18-karat gold spike that was driven to join the rails of the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha at Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory.”
With that history lesson, Cartwright handed out the Golden Spikes — making it clear they were not 18-karat gold — to all of his fellow “Rail Warriors,” including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, Larry Malski, CEO of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, and Joseph Barr, Amtrak Director of Network Development-East.
“I’d like to thank each and every one of you for keeping our passenger rail project on track,” Cartwright said. “With this $9 million CRISI Grant, we’re gaining even more steam to get the job done.”
https://www.timesleader.com/news/1671647/funding-secured-to-begin-construction-on-scranton-to-new-york-rail-line