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Lackawanna Cutoff

Background
In the early part of the 20th century, the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad constructed a level-graded route from Roxbury, NJ to just over the Delaware River to serve as a faster, more direct route between existing rail lines in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Lackawanna Cutoff, as this route came to be known, includes a series of unique structural features, viaducts and massive fill embankments through the deep valleys of this region. In the 1970s, Conrail, the eventual receiver of this property, abandoned the right of way and the track was removed. The objective of the Lackawanna Cutoff project is to reinstitute passenger rail service on the abandoned rail right of way of the Lackawanna Cutoff and over existing freight right of way in Pennsylvania. The reinstituted rail line would provide service from Scranton to Hoboken and New York Penn Station via transfer to MidTown Direct service by connecting to the existing NJ TRANSIT Montclair-Boonton and Morris & Essex Lines.

Click here to view a map of the system .

Project Scope
The project includes complete reconstruction of the line including track and signal improvements to approximately 60 miles of right of way, new stations, parking facilities, a train storage yard and additional rail rolling stock. It is assumed that NJ TRANSIT would operate the new service. Proposed stations would serve Blairstown and Andover in New Jersey and Scranton, Mount Pocono, Analomink and East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania.

Project Cost
$350 million (2004 Estimate). This estimate does not include property acquisition costs. The project is not funded.

Current Status
In October 2002, NJ TRANSIT's Board of Directors authorized consultant work for conceptual design, completion of the environmental assessment and preparation of the documentation required by the FTA for new transit lines. The State of New Jersey completed the purchase of the Lackawanna Cutoff property in May 2001.

Next Milestone
The completion of the Environmental Assessment and conceptual design is expected in the fall of 2005.

Benefits
The project will provide passenger rail service to New York City from Northwestern New Jersey and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

NJ TRANSIT Department of Capital Planning and Programs
April 2005

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