Dear KTFC member or friend:
Amtrak received considerable attention from the news media recently as officials joined with Governor Wolf and other political leaders and rolled out proposed improvements to and expansion of passenger-rail service in Pennsylvania.
Amtrak’s Pennsylvania-specific proposal calls for new service between Reading, Philadelphia and New York; new service between Scranton and New York; new service between Allentown and New York; expanded Keystone service between Harrisburg Philadelphia and New York, to 17 daily round trips; increasing Harrisburg-to-Philadelphia speeds to 125 mph; and expanded Pennsylvanian service between Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York from one daily round trip to two, with one round trip extended to Cleveland.
Amtrak says its expanded service could be operational in as soon as three years. It estimates the Pennsylvania expansion plan would result in 1.3 million riders annually by 2035. The plans will depend on receiving adequate funding from Congress.
Amtrak’s news gives us an opportunity to reflect on the multimodal nature of our transportation system
Be of Good Cheer,
— The Wolff
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE UPDATE
- Amtrak laid out ambitious plans for new or upgraded services in Pennsylvania.
- The highway industry, PennDOT and the Turnpike called for improved safety in work zones in a safety standdown event this week.
- Planners are predicting that completion of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway will contribute significantly to economic growth
- More than $104 million in Turnpike tolls went uncollected last year as the all-electronic tolling system was installed. Officials say part of the solution will require working with other states to secure reciprocity agreements.
- PhilaPort received positive attention from Global Trade Magazine in its 2021 port city review.
- PennDOT announced it will accept Multimodal Transportation Fund applications through Nov. 5.