Put Lehigh Valley on the FAST TRACK

FOUR BILLION FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL NOW!!

2009-09-21T17:27:00.004-04:00

HIGH SPEED RAIL FUNDING HAS PASSED, BUT.....

The house version mandates 4 billion dollars for High Speed Rail and the Senate bill just 1.4 billion.

The bills now move to the conference committee.

The Senate conferees have been named. The House conferees have not been named, but the committee staffers have begun negotiations.

It is important that we push for the conference committee to work for the $4 billion.

If enough people express their support to Congress this precedent can eventually snowball into funding for the Lehigh Valley.
We must ally with organizations across the country so we can support each other!!

Sign the "4 Billion Petition" NOW!!

http://www.fourbillion.com/

Allentown Mayor Pawlowski and Rail Advocate Paul Marin Meet with Senator Specter and U.S. Transportation Secr. LaHood

2009-08-25T15:14:00.006-04:00

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (left) and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood listen to input from area leaders during a forum Monday held to discuss transportation issues in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh area at the America on Wheels museum. (Jennifer Cecil/The Morning Call / August 24, 2009)

Rail advocate Paul Marin chugged along with his ongoing plea for the restoration of passenger rail service to the Lehigh Valley. Airport director George Doughty touted the need for federal funding for the nation's airports. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski pitched the importance of money for his beloved American Parkway project.

There was nothing new in those appeals, offered at the America on Wheels museum in Allentown Monday. The big difference was on the receiving end: U.S. Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood was the listener, in person.Introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter as ''the man with the money,'' LaHood visited the city with Specter after the two made similar stops in Norristown, Elizabethtown and Camp Hill earlier in the day.

In Allentown, Specter and LaHood met with elected officials and transportation planners. In a roundtable discussion that amounted mostly to repeated pleas for more funding from Washington -- or at least to keep expected allocations from being cut -- neither official made significant pledges of new money for specific projects.

Rather, they talked broadly about the vital need for transportation improvements, including American Parkway, the ongoing Route 412 corridor work in Bethlehem, and Route 22 upgrades in the Lehigh Valley.Participants included U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-15th District; the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton; executives of Lehigh and Northampton counties; several state House members; and representatives from the state Transportation Department, Lehigh Valley International Airport, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and other groups.

In addition to LANTA board member Marin's focus on rail service, which was echoed by state Rep. Karen Beyer, R-Lehigh, state Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, stressed that Pennsylvania, with older transportation infrastructure than many states, can't afford to neglect the needed repairs and replacement.Reacting to questions from Doughty and LANTA Executive Director Armando Greco, LaHood said the federal Highway Trust Fund ''is just inadequate.'' Declining gas-tax revenue as more fuel-efficient cars hit the highways will mean more stable sources of revenue must be found, he said, while pledging to ''work with Congress to put together a strong bill'' to provide adequate funding.Michael Rebert, PennDOT's regional district executive, pitched in for his own plea, citing anticipated future funding shortfalls, particularly if the federal government does not approve the implementation of tolls on I-80. Specter declined to predict what the proposal's chances might be.

Click here for more on this story: http://www.mcall.com/news/all-a7_5lahood2.69983442aug25,0,3693971.story

Channel 69 Video: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1255481&title=Lahood%2C%20Specter%20Talk%20Transportation%20In%20Allentown

ACTION ALERT: TURNOUT NEEDED TO ENSURE PRO-RAIL ADVOCATE STEVE SCHMITT APPOINTED TO LANTA

2009-05-17T21:48:00.008-04:00

STEVE SCHMITT SUPPORTS RAIL AND TROLLIES!!

WE MUST COME OUT IN NUMBERS TO ENSURE HE IS APPOINTED!!!

If you want to see the future of LANTA include rail or trolleys-- Please come out and support one of the most progressive transportation advocates in the State!

Steve Schmitt needs our voices to be heard by Northampton County Council, that his appointment to LANTA should not be blocked because certain Board members are fearful of change.

Date: Thursday May 21st
Time: 6:30 PM

Location: County Council Meeting Chambers
3rd Floor, Northampton County Courthouse
669 Washington St
Easton PA 18042

****IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE PASSENGER RAIL INITIATIVE MOVE FORWARD IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY, THEN COME JOIN US****

Steve is Executive Director of CAT: http://www.car-free.org/

ALERT: PUBLIC HEARING MAY 13 @ NOON

2009-05-03T21:14:00.004-04:00

Public Hearing

The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA)
will be holding a public hearing on:

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 12 Noon

at:

LANTA Allentown Office and Maintenance Facility
2nd Floor, Community Room
1060 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA

Question: Should the "people" attend this?

Answer: YES! As many people as possible should attend, to make them understand that is is a Transportation Authority not a Bus Company!

TAKE ACTION NOW!!

2009-04-22T21:51:00.003-04:00

Paul Marin met with this group in Harrisburg and they need to hear your voices on Passenger Rail!

Some have expressed that they have NEVER heard from a single constituent on this issue!
They need to recieve emails, calls, mail, etc...from rail advocates:

State Senators:
Lisa Boscola--- boscola@pasenate.com
Pat Browne --- pbrowne@pasen.gov
Barry Stout-- stout@pasenate.com
Rob Wonderling--- rwonderling@pasen.gov

To find out who your state senator is, go to
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=S
and type in your zip code.

State House Members:

PRIORITY ***Doug Reichley**---mailto:Reichley**---dreichle@pahousegop.com
Karen Beyer-mailto:Beyer-kbeyer@pahousegop.com
Craig Dally-http://www.craigdally.com/?sectionid=36&sectiontree=36
Bob Freeman-http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=136
Richard Grucela-http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=137
Julie Harhart-http://www.julieharhart.com/?sectionid=100&sectiontree=100

To find your state house member, go to:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=H

MY PERSPECTIVE

2009-04-22T21:32:00.006-04:00

By Paul Marin

April 2009

I had the honor of attending the Obama press conference. It was very exciting to hear the President set a new agenda for transportation.

The President laid out two priorities: Fixing existing routes to reduce transit times and constructing new world-class high speed rail lines.

Here are a couple key quotes from the event. I am not a reporter, so these should not be treated as direct quotes, but they give a good feel for the tone of the event:

Secretary LaHood: There will be a time when we look back on this day as a game changer; A time that we got serious about public transit for all Americans.

President Obama: We are making a down payment on the economy of the future. We need to start a transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century. High-speed rail has been happening to decades, the problem isthat it is happening in other places. There is no reason that we can't do this.

More details:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/press-releases/226
President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High Speed Passenger Trains

Contact: Jill Zuckman Telephone: (202) 366-4570
Thursday, April 16, 2009 (Washington, DC)

President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High Speed Passenger Trains

Vision for a New Era in Rail Entails Clean, Energy-Efficient Option for Travelers

President Barack Obama, along with Vice President Biden and SecretaryLaHood, announced a new U.S. push today to transform travel in America,c reating high-speed rail lines from city to city, reducing dependence oncars and planes and spurring economic development.

The President released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speedrail in America. The plan identifies $8 billion provided in the ARRA and $1billion a year for five years requested in the federal budget as a downpayment to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future.

The strategic plan will be followed by detailed guidance for state and local applicants. By late summer, the Federal Railroad Administration will begin awarding the first round of grants. Additional funding for long-term planning and development is expected from legislation authorizing federal surface transportation programs.

The report formalizes the identification of ten high-speed rail corridorsas potential recipients of federal funding. Those lines are: California,Pacific Northwest, South Central, Gulf Coast, Chicago Hub Network, Florida,Southeast, Keystone, Empire and Northern New England.

Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston to compete for funds to improve the nation's only existing high-speed rail service.

With a boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama administration launched a competitive process to drive local communities todevelop their high-speed rail potential. The President, Vice President andSecretary of Transportation are urging states and local communities to put together plans for a network of 100 mile to 600 mile corridors, which will compete for the federal dollars.

The merit-driven process will result in federal grants as soon as late summer 2009. --

President Obama's vision for high-speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high-speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.

"My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the waywe travel in America. We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come," said President Obama.

"A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve. High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long linesat the airports or jammed cars on the highways."

"Today, we see clearly how Recovery Act funds and the Department of Transportation are building the platform for a brighter economic future -they're creating jobs and making life better for communities everywhere," said Vice President Biden. "Everyone knows railways are the best way to connect communities to each other, and as a daily rail commuter for over 35 years, this announcement is near and dear to my heart.

Investing in ahigh-speed rail system will lower our dependence on foreign oil and the bill for a tank of gas; loosen the congestion suffocating our highways andskyways; and significantly reduce the damage we do to our planet." "President Obama's vision of robust, high-speed rail service offersAmericans the kind of travel options that throughout our history have contributed to economic growth and enhanced quality of life," said Secretary LaHood.

"We simply can't build the economy of the future on thetransportation networks of the past." The plan identifies two types of projects for funding. One would create new corridors for world-class high-speed rail like the kind found in Europe and Japan.

Another would involve making train service along existing rail lines incrementally faster. Under the plan, high-speed rail development will advance along three funding tracks:

Individual Projects-- Providing grants to complete individual projects that are "ready to go" with completed environmental and preliminary engineering work with an emphasis on near term job creation. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction of or improvements to infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

Corridor programs-- Developing entire phases or geographic sections of high-speed rail corridors that have completed corridor plans, environmental documentation and have a prioritized list of projects to help meet the corridor objectives.

Planning--Entering into cooperative agreements for planning activities (including development of corridor plans and State Rail Plans) using non-American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriations funds. This third approach is intended to help establish a structured mechanism and funding stream for future corridor development activities.

OBAMA ANNOUNCES HIGH SPEED RAIL INITIATIVE

2009-04-22T21:11:00.002-04:00

From the NY Times, April 16, 2009:

With clogged highways and overburdened airports, economic growth is suffering, Mr. Obama said at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, shortly before leaving for a trip to Mexico and then Trinidad and Tobago.

“What we need, then, is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century,” he said, “a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”

And he added, “There’s no reason why we can’t do this.”

Mr. Obama said the $8 billion for high-speed rail in his stimulus package — to be spent over two years — and an additional $1 billion a year being budgeted over the next five years, would provide a “jump start” toward achieving that vision.

The stimulus money has yet to be allocated to specific projects, but Mr. Obama said the Transportation Department would begin awarding money by the end of summer.
The government has identified 10 corridors, each from 100 to 600 miles long, with greatest promise for high-speed development.

They are: a northern New England line; an Empire line running east to west in New York State; a Keystone corridor running laterally through Pennsylvania; a major Chicago hub network; a southeast network connecting the District of Columbia to Florida and the Gulf Coast; a Gulf Coast line extending from eastern Texas to western Alabama; a corridor in central and southern Florida; a Texas-to-Oklahoma line; a California corridor where voters have already approved a line that will allow travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two and a half hours; and a corridor in the Pacific Northwest.

Only one high-speed line is now operating, on the Northeast corridor between Washington and Boston, and it will be eligible to compete for money to make improvements.

Mr. Obama’s remarks mixed ambition and modesty, reflecting the fact that American high-speed rail is in its infancy compared with systems in France and Japan.

“Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination,” Mr. Obama said. “It is happening right now; it’s been happening for decades. The problem is, it’s been happening elsewhere, not here.”

The Federal Railroad Administration defines high-speed rail as any train traveling 90 m.p.h. or faster. In Japan, the Shinkansen trains average about 180 m.p.h. The TGV train in France uses special tracks to sustain speeds of 133 m.p.h. on the Paris-Lyon route.

The Acela Express operated by Amtrak is capable of a speed of 150 m.p.h., but track conditions and other rail traffic bring its average speed to just over half that.

A Call to Action in the Morning Call

2009-01-15T21:37:00.004-05:00

Article Link:

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/all-recon122908,0,6913426.story

ACTION TO TAKE: Please write POSITIVE comments on our need for rail to the Morning Call

Reconnaissance 2009

In 2009, start to make Valley's rail connections real

December 29, 2008

Imagine speeding over the land at 200 miles per hour, reading this newspaper while having a drink and chatting with your family or business associates in absolute comfort and safety.

That is quickly becoming the reality for the rest of the world.

Over the next decade, the Chinese government is planning to spend roughly $500 billion to construct an extensive high-speed rail network. They are hardly alone. Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Spain and others -- the list of countries investing in high speed rail is too long to print here.

Meanwhile, the United States spent just $1.3 billion on Amtrak in 2008, or about 2 percent of the federal transportation budget.

Amtrak has been on life support for decades, receiving just enough money each year to keep it from shutting down completely. Yet, despite aging equipment and slow service, more than 28 million people rode Amtrak last year, a record.

In the 1950s, America had the fastest and most luxurious trains in the world. That was then. Today European and Asian rail networks are extensive and growing with trains that can exceed speeds of 200 mph. In a competitive world economy, we are falling far behind.

In fact, we are the only large developed country in the world that does not use the tripod of transportation: air, roads, and rail. As author James Howard Kustler says, "The United States has a passenger rail system that Bulgaria would be ashamed of." This must change -- and it is.

This past November, despite a massive recession and state budge woes, California voters approved $10 billion in state bonds to construct a high speed rail system. The bonds will help to provide the local match for partnerships with other investors, such as Uncle Sam.

Other states are watching with interest. In the Midwest, 10 states have joined forces to plan an expansive rail network with a hub in Chicago. Texas has looked at high speed rail to link Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Virginia, Ohio, Colorado, and numerous other states are developing state rail plans to expand passenger rail service.

If Pennsylvania does not act quickly, we will be left behind when the federal government gets serious about funding passenger rail. Other states will have solid plans and environmental clearances ready, so they will get the infrastructure dollars.

And, the United States is falling behind the rest of the world in terms of transportation. China, for example, is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in high speed rail to link its cities.

When people visit the United States from other countries, they are often shocked by our lack of viable public transportation. They act as if a basic element of modern infrastructure is missing, as if we had opted not to build something as essential to them as hospitals or fire departments.

Pennsylvania is ideal for passenger railroads. We have areas of high population density, and many of our cities and towns are already linked by rail infrastructure. We have great downtowns that are perfect for rail stations. We also have experience with high-quality passenger rail. The Keystone trains between Harrisburg and Philadelphia zip along at 110 miles per hour.

Yet, there is a common belief in other parts of the country that the "northeast" rail network is complete just because we already have the Northeast Corridor connecting Boston to Washington D.C. We already have trains in New York and Philadelphia, so what else do we need?

The Lehigh Valley has more than 800,000 residents, yet we have no rail service. Meanwhile, cities like Norfolk, Va., and Phoenix, Ariz. are building light rail. This week, a new commuter train opened in Santa Fe, N.M., a city with only 72,000 residents ( Allentown has over 100,000). Clearly, our rail network is nowhere near as extensive as it needs to be.

A state rail plan is needed to bring rail service to all of Pennsylvania's population centers. Trains must be frequent, reliable, and fast. Such a network will help our local economies remain competitive, create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and will provide an option for residents to travel quickly and safely.

Paul J. Marin of Allentown is the chair of the Transportation Committee of the Lehigh Valley

More Progress!!

2008-11-09T22:28:00.002-05:00

Northampton County council approves passenger rail study

Friday, November 07, 2008

From LehighValleyLive

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1226034415272971.xml&coll=3

EASTON A second vote on funding a passenger rail study was the charm as Northampton County council approved $75,000 Thursday for it.

The resolution passed 5-3, with council members Ron Angle, John Cusick and Peg Ferraro voting against it.

Paul Marin, a member of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's transportation committee, wants to include the Lehigh Valley in a New Jersey transit study considering a train connection from the area to New York City.

The study will cost about $250,000 and Marin has asked Northampton and Lehigh counties to kick in $75,000 each.

Northampton County's resolution failed at the Oct. 16 meeting for lack of a majority vote, but the funding was still listed in the county's 2009 budget.

Councilman Michael Dowd re-introduced the measure.
Dowd said if significant federal funding becomes available for rail "the Valley ought to be in a position to take advantage of that."

Ferraro said she wanted to wait a few months before spending the money to see if the county was in good financial shape.

"I feel very uncomfortable spending any money until our own house is in order," Ferraro said.
The approval came with the caveat that the county will not release the funding unless the other entities involved approve their funding.

LVEDC officials have already approved a contribution of $100,000.

THE FAST TRACK

2008-11-03T23:20:00.002-05:00

Paul Marin has announced that "We are currently setting up a committee to work on the rail initiative starting in the next 30 days."

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!

New Article

2008-11-03T23:09:00.004-05:00

'Visionary' rail network linking New Jersey and Pennsylvania regions would imitate passenger train system in Europe

Friday, October 31, 2008
By TONY NAUROTH
The Express-Times

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1225425988210560.xml&coll=3&thispage=1

EASTON An effort to bring rail service to Phillipsburg and Easton keeps chugging along a track that could tie in mid-Atlantic population centers via a network similar to that found in Europe.
Local leaders and passenger rail enthusiasts gathered Thursday morning at Lafayette College's Pfenning Alumni Center to hear about a plan college President Daniel Weiss called "visionary."
Paul Marin, chairman of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.'s transportation committee, laid out details.

"The key," Marin told the group, "is legislation; the key is political will."
That means marshaling the support of the mayors of the municipalities that would benefit from a rail line as well as state and national elected leaders who can funnel the money into such a project.
"This is not new," said Easton Mayor Sal Panto, "The idea has been around for 25 years. Now we're looking to have it as a reality in five to 10 years."
In his presentation, with the hefty title "Unified Passenger Rail Network for the Mid-Atlantic Region," Marin pointed to a $250,000 study, already approved, that could start in about six weeks to identify the state of tracks and stations along the proposed routes.
Vision beyond the Valley
But the vision Marin described goes beyond the Lehigh Valley.
"People think a rail line would only be for New York City commuters. That's not true.

"The forward edge of (baby boom) empty nesters will reach 2011, and they won't want to live in big homes in cul-de-sacs," he said, adding that people will want to live close to services, close to transportation and close to each other.
They'll have to give up their SUVs and learn to shop locally, not in huge malls accessible only by roads.
"The question we must ask ourselves," Marin said, "is, 'Are we ready for a lifestyle change?' "

For those who say rail service is too expensive, Marin noted the case of Charlotte, N.C. where, in 1999, a 10-mile light rail line was built, drawing people to live in downtowns that had been failing economically.
"They spent $700 million dollars to build it; the economic investment return was $7 billion," said Marin, who also is a board member with the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority.
Building homes and business around rail lines and stations is called transportation-oriented development.

Marin also compared the rail line potential to what Switzerland already has. Using slides of the mid-Atlantic region next to a map of Switzerland, Marin showed that the land areas are similar in size.
Then he showed their respective rail lines with the central European country well-networked, despite its mountainous terrain.
"Fifty million people live within a 50-mile radius of the Lehigh Valley," Marin said. "Switzerland has 7 million people."
"We have a rail system Bolivia would be ashamed of," Marin added.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, attended the breakfast presentation and later said he supports a rail network, but noted, "This issue is more about money than anything else."
He said the federal government typically puts 50 percent into transportation projects. The other 50 percent must come from local governments and private contributions.
Dent said he's "very much aware" of the current Lehigh Valley study and says his hope is to link it with one already in progress in New Jersey that would offer suggestions on the feasibility of extending the current rail line from High Bridge to Phillipsburg.
"We're going to piggyback onto the New Jersey study," Dent said. "This is not a Washington-driven phenomena," he said. "It's got to be locally driven."

From the Morning Call:

2008-10-14T16:33:00.004-04:00

Plan could bring commuter rail to Lehigh Valley in five years

Link to NJ Transit: Bridge panel would use millions in toll money to pay for it.
By Matt Assad Of The Morning Call
October 14, 2008

A plan to bring passenger railroads into the Lehigh Valley would tap the millions of dollars that motorists pay in Delaware River bridge tolls to fund a $100 million line that would link Easton to NJ Transit trains.

Talks to have the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission pay to extend a line 20 miles west from High Bridge, N.J., began two years ago and have been re-energized by high gasoline prices and highway congestion.

Such a deal would mean trains could be running into Easton in as little as five years, helping regional planners avoid what could otherwise be a 10- to 20-year wait to get enough federal funding.

But for now, the plan remains a concept awaiting the blessing of the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, said bridge commission Chairman David R. DeGerolamo.

''The frustrating thing is if we had done this two years ago, when I first suggested it, we'd be close to having trains running,'' said DeGerolamo, who is also a Phillipsburg councilman. ''Now it's sort of in a holding pattern until we get some kind of direction from the governors. It's too bad, because I think we missed an opportunity.''

Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, said Rendell supports establishing the line into the Valley and the bridge commission is free to fund the construction if it chooses, but said the costs of running the railroad must also be considered.

''It's unquestionably a worthwhile project,'' Ardo said. ''No one has specifically approached the governor about it, but even if they do, funding is going to be an issue, not only for construction, but for ongoing operations.''

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's office did not comment.

If the commission had approved floating $100 million in bonds as DeGerolamo requested, it would have had to determine whether it could repay them through existing tolls, increased tolls or by adding tolls to one of its 13 free bridges. That's still the case.

The issue of extending NJ Transit into the Lehigh Valley resurfaced in recent months, as Valley highways became more crowded with people commuting to New York City and New Jersey and gas prices rose to more than $4 a gallon.

Lehigh and Northampton counties along with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. have together committed $250,000 to pay for a study of what it would cost to extend the NJ Transit line through the Valley and what it would cost to operate.

But Paul Marin, a former Wall Street money manager now living in Allentown, says the line would be a small piece of a statewide rail network that he's been advocating throughout the region.

He's spent the past two months meeting with officials, including Pennsylvania Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky and Transportation Secretary Allen D. Bieler. Last week, he made his plea during the annual Pennsylvania Planning Partners Conference in Canonsburg, Washington County.

''If we can build a statewide rail plan, then we are eligible for billions of dollars in federal money,'' Marin said. ''Locally, the toll bridge commission is an option that could have trains running within four years after floating the bonds. That would be ideal.

To continue reading the article :

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_3rail.6623500oct14,0,7150225.story

URGENT: Some Lehigh County Commissioners Threaten cuts to Rail Funding

2008-10-01T11:13:00.008-04:00

New Cuts Proposed by

Some Lehigh County Commissioners

Yes, This meeting is being held the SAME TIME as the Northhampton Meeting:

Thursday October 2, at 6PM:

Lehigh County Executive Government Center
17 S. 7th St.Allentown, PA 18101

Don Cunningham, County Executive, and a supporter of our cause, urges us to attend the meeting to support his proposed budget. His budget is rail friendly and balances the books without any tax increases. Yet some commissioners have threatened to cut rail funding!!

Don Cunningham:

"Some or all of the funding proposed in my 2009 budget related to your organization and/or initiative in which we are partnered or you have expressed interest has been targeted for reduction or elimination in a motion introduced by a county commissioner. "

This Thursday (10/2), the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners will hold its final 2009 budget hearing at 6 p.m. in the County Government Center at 7th and Hamilton Streets in Allentown. The board will consider millions of dollars of proposed funding cuts to the following areas:

Passenger rail study/mass transit funding
Regional economic development funding
Quality of Life grants to more than 20 cultural arts and community organizations
Farmland preservation
Open space preservation
Borough revitalization funding
Community partnership grants for townships
Community police matching grants
Urban parks funding
Brownfield/industrial land economic development

Don Cunningham continues:

"My proposed 2009 budget is a modest 1.1 percent higher than this year's budget. It contains NO tax increase and continues a balanced investment in the operations of Lehigh County government while supporting our community partnerships, our downtowns, public safety, our cultural arts institutions and community events, regional efforts across municipalities, mass transit and passenger rail development, preservation of open space and farmland and the development of urbanparks. "

"Proposals will be considered and voted upon Thursday that would alter that agenda and affect our partnerships and/or funding. That should not occur without you having a voice in the matter. You may want to attend this important meeting to represent the interests of your group or initiative. "

For more information on the proposed funding cuts, please contact the County Executive Office at 610-782-3001 or the County Commissioner Office at 610-782-3050.

ACTION ALERT

2008-09-29T18:51:00.009-04:00

Northampton County Council Meeting:

Vote on Funding for the Planning Phase of a Unified Rail System

Thursday, OCTOBER 2 at 6:00PM

Northampton County Government Center

669 Washington Str, 3rd floor Easton PA

Paul Marin will be making his presentation and the council should be voting on a commitment of $75,000 toward the planning phase.

BTW: There were about 80 attendees at the gathering last Tuesday at the Third Street Alliance in Easton. Paul did a great job again. There was lots of healthy discussion, even a strong thought provoking comment questioning the effort. That was responded to by equally thought out comments.

Lehigh Valley residents TOLD LANTA THEY ARE A TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, NOT A BUS COMPANY !!!

2008-09-16T19:33:00.010-04:00

LANTA is in the midst of developing a regional plan to change and improve public transit in the Valley. Three public open house meetings were conducted to gather your suggestions, ideas and comments about what YOU want in your public transportation system:

The numbers of people attending were very good! We put RAIL ON THE RADAR. Some viewers of this blog were concerned that LANTA was completely fixated on only bus service. Do not despair. Our voices were essential in making them realize that the people are demanding a Unified Rail Service.

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!!

Pressure must be applied consistently and over time to succeed.

WE CANNOT STOP NOW!

More on the Open House Meetings.......

2008-09-16T18:03:00.011-04:00

Fellow rail supporters,

It has been a long time coming, but we finally have a legitimate opportunity as citizens to affect a sea-change in the course of rail transportation in the Lehigh Valley. Paul Marin is on the Board of Directors of LANTA. He is also a member of the Transportation sub-committee of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). He has gained the support of the LVEDC in funding a rail study that will provide an opportunity for the Lehigh Valley to partner with the ongoing study being prepared by New Jersey Transit (NJT) that will evaluate bringing rail to Phillipsburg. Our participation would assure that Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown are included as potential stops in that study. Obviously, Easton is the key link to this system.

The LVEDC has committed $100,000 to this effort. The study will cost $250,000 - the cost of one, modest suburban home in Forks Township. Further funding of $150,000 will be required to move forward. That money will be requested (in the amount of $75,000 each) by County Executives Don Cunnigham and John Stoffa from Lehigh and Northampton County Councils respectively. Lehigh County is probably solidly behind it. Our job will be to make sure Northampton County hears our message loud and clear.

Paul Marin has put his money where his mouth is by hiring Wallace, Roberts and Todd, Architects and Planners (WRT) of Philadelphia to do a preliminary PowerPoint presentation on the potential of rail in the Lehigh Valley. WRT is well known for it's planning of Inner Harbor in Baltimore and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit plan (DART). This PowerPoint will also be presented to County Council on October 2nd. Paul and I agree that you - the Easton transit-using community - deserves to have the presentation personally delivered to you so that you have all your questions answered before the funding request is delivered to the County.

It will be very important to show up in force at the County meeting to let the politicians know we are behind this modest investment to direct our future transit system towards rail and the economic benefits it will enable here. Please do everything you can to attend this presentation and let everyone you know in the Easton area who will be affected by this transit study to attend as well.

Also that same evening, as luck would have it (and coincidentally right next door to our meeting location) LANTA will be presenting their regional transportation plan update for the Lehigh Valley. There will be a presentation, an opportunity to review the plan and to make public comment. It would be great for as many people as possible to also attend part of this meeting.

Let LANTA know that a plan that does not include provision for future rail service is no plan at all. LANTA must be made to understand that they are a transportation agency - not just a bus company. We have a unique opportunity to drive the point home and we should take advantage of it.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon and working together - with Paul and all of you - to lead Easton and the Lehigh Valley into the 21st Century of transportation planning and economic success.

Dennis R. Lieb

WE DID IT!!

2008-08-29T17:15:00.002-04:00

The Morning Call: Valley planners support a $250,000 rail study

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_4rails-aug29,0,3068682.story

LANTA board member Paul Marin Comments on Transportation Choices

2008-08-24T14:43:00.002-04:00

http://www.bclip.com/movieplayers/apta/index.php?num=50

Morning Call Article Ponders Light Rail For Lehigh Valley's future:

2008-08-24T14:29:00.003-04:00

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-a4_5lanta.6554730aug21,0,1246386.story

From 5 Separate Corridors ... To A Unified Regional Network

2008-08-18T23:14:00.003-04:00

Downtowns Across the U.S. See Streetcars in Their Future

2008-08-14T17:59:00.017-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/us/14streetcar.html

Cincinnati is one of at least 40 cities exploring plans to

build a streetcar system to spur economic

developmentand ease traffic congestion.

The city is looking into using this modern streetcar model,

the same type used in Portland, Ore.

Portland, Oregon
More than 10,000 residential units have been built and $3.5 billion has been invested in property within two blocks of the streetcar line, according to Portland Streetcar Inc., which operates the system.

Over One Hundred Area Residents Attend Fast- Track Rail Strategy Session at the Allentown Brew Works

2008-08-13T19:30:00.001-04:00

Like all Americans, Lehigh Valley residents have been re-evaluating their transportation options, given rising fuel prices.

Over one hundred citizens looking for long term solutions, found hopeful answers at the Allentown Brew Works last evening, Tuesday, August 12.

After last minute requests by several Allentown residents, Paul J. Marin, Transportation Committee Chairman of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, shared his strategy for bringing passenger rail service to the Lehigh Valley: A Unified Passenger Rail Network for Eastern Pennsylvania

This network concept unites six separate rail expansion projects for Eastern Pennsylvania that were seen as independent projects. A rail network will help reduce the need for short-distance airline flights and preserve mobility in the face of rising fuel prices.

Pennsylvania is ALREADY ACTIVELY PLANNING RAIL EXPANSION:

Currently, six rail proposals are being developed in eastern Pennsylvania:
Scranton to New York commuter rail.
Easton to New York commuter rail.
Reading to Philadelphia commuter rail
Harrisburg, Hershey, York, Lancaster commuter rail system.
Quakertown to Philadelphia commuter rail.
The Crescent Corridor/Norfolk Southern freight capacity project

Instead of individual corridors, Marin proposed that these rail projects should be combined into a seamless network that will be far superior to any isolated individual rail line.

Marin argued that there are numerous advantages to this approach:

The corridors would be completely integrated to allow for travel to any other point in the system.

“For example, a Scranton resident could travel by train to New York, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Reading, Allentown, Baltimore, Washington DC, Atlantic City, or virtually anywhere else in the northeast. This is a dramatic improvement in mobility as compared to individual corridor projects.”

Increase of ridership: The network would inherently encourage more ridership because it connects more places together.

Reduce operating costs.

Increase economic development in Pennsylvania’s smaller cities: The network connects the downtowns of the various communities in Eastern Pennsylvania. It will become even more attractive to live and do business in these downtowns when convenient, fast train travel is offered to all the major urban centers in the northeast.

Affordable mobility in an era of rising fuel prices: Rising fuel prices are reducing driving and flying. As long as fuel prices remain high or increase, mobility will be reduced. A regional train network can withstand increases in fuel costs and provide affordable mobility to travel.

Relieve airport congestion: Many flights could be converted into rail trips, freeing up space for longer distance flights to operate without congestion. Many airlines are cutting flights. Some carriers are eliminating 10% to 20% of flights by the end of 2008, and many small cities are losing air service. A rail network offers an important mobility option that can withstand rising fuel prices.

Pennsylvania is already set up for rail service:
“Passenger rail depends on high population densities, interconnected economies, and walkable cities. Pennsylvania has all three.”

Marin exclaimed: “Fast-Track Implementation is possible.” He added: “Because of rising fuel prices and a slowing economy, there is no time to lose in moving forward.”

As an example, he pointed to the State of New Mexico. It announced a new commuter rail line in 2003 and opened it for business in 2006 – just three years later. This amazingly rapid implementation occurred because of firm commitment by Governor Bill Richardson and exceptional professionalism by the department of transportation.

The crowd was extremely enthusiastic and unanimous in its support for passenger rail. Individuals repeatedly asked how they could get slow-moving politicians to make this a priority. An email group was formed. It was agreed by many after the presentation, that the creation of a citizen-action oriented blog would empower residents to make elected leaders understand that unified rail is a huge priority.

A Blog is Born

2008-08-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

This blog has been created to meet an enormous unmet need --for the Lehigh Valley to have a unified passenger rail service linked with NYC and Philadelphia. I plan on designing this blog -as not just something you will passively read, but one in which you can USE to effect change to get politicians to wake up out of their inertia. I will soon be posting elected officials' contact information along with letters/ information you can use to communicate your demand for transportation choices for our community. This blog will also inform residents to attend important events that will determine the future of rail in the Lehigh Valley.

Why do elected leaders think nothing of spending hundreds of millions on widening roads (such as a few mile stretch on 22) and hesitate when asked about spending far less on creating passenger rail?

Do not sit silently when some politicians or bureaucrats caution rail service could take many years. We must speak in a more powerful united voice and DEMAND PASSENGER RAIL NOW!
It is every citizens' responsibility to hold every elected official's feet to the fire. They have an obligation to prioritize this and PUT LEHIGH VALLEY ON THE FAST TRACK!