BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A yearlong study of restoring passenger rail service in the Lehigh Valley includes a proposal to run trains between Allentown and Reading.
WSP, a consultant commissioned by PennDOT, unveiled its long-awaited feasibility analysis during an event in Bethlehem on Wednesday.
The 60-page report shows that establishing service between Pennsylvania's third- and fourth-most populous cities would cost an estimated $450.3 million, with an annual operating cost of between $2.2 and 4.3 million. Rolling stock would cost an estimated $102 million. Those are the lowest costs among the five proposed lines, the study found.
The trains between Allentown and Reading would operate along Norfolk Southern tracks, with a one-way trip taking 46 minutes. The route would connect to a proposed line between Reading and Philadelphia.
The other four corridors that stand out, according to the study, are:
- Allentown to New York via Hackettstown - Estimated capital costs would are $474.9M - Travel time would be 2 hours, 30 minutes.
- Allentown to New York via High Bridge - Estimated capital costs would are $469.9M - travel time would be 2 hours, 20 minutes.
- Allentown to Philadelphia via Lansdale - Estimated capital costs would are $635.8M - Travel time would be 1 hour, 46 minutes.
- Allentown to Philadelphia via Norristown - Estimated capital costs would are $739.0M - travel time would be 1 hour, 52 minutes.
The analysis lays out a 14-step, 10-12 year process that includes selecting a rail carrier, additional market study, environmental clearances, engineering, design and construction.
The report points out that there are "significant challenges" with all five of the proposals.
The line between Allentown and Reading may impact the high volume of freight that's transported to and from the Lehigh Valley and the Port of New York and New Jersey, and routes from the Lehigh Valley to New York and Philadelphia require operations over NJ Transit, SEPTA, Amtrak, or a combination thereof.
There are also missing facilities, with few of the former stations still in existence and those that remain requiring renovation.
Most of the routes, including the one between Allentown and Reading, also run along or near historic properties and preserved farmland, the study found.
"Development of any of the Lehigh Valley passenger rail corridors will require a future project sponsor to lead the project process and overcome significant challenges during the initial years of the project development lifecycle," the analysis says.
In terms of travel demand, data collected by PennDOT from the U.S. Census Bureau estimates well over 30,000 people commute from the Lehigh Valley into the New York Metro for work, whereas around 70,000 people or more commute to the Philadelphia and Reading areas.
The analysis also lays out several alternative routes to provide service to New York, Philadelphia, and Reading.
These concepts were developed independently by the study team and did not include consultation with NJ Transit, SEPTA, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, CSX, and/or any other impacted rail carriers, PennDOT said.
