The Monroe County Industrial Development Authority was awarded a $3.7 million grant from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office to construct a new railroad line in the Poconos.

The funding, through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, will support the purchase and installation of railroad ties along the Pocono Mainline to provide required upgrades for the new Amtrak Corridor passenger train service to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“This is another great step forward when it comes to restoring passenger rail service to New York and will go toward replacing railroad ties in Lackawanna and Monroe counties,” said Rep. Matt Cartwright, PA-08. “This award adds to the building momentum and is a crucial step forward.”

Cartwright said he is grateful to Gov. Wolf’s action and the work of state Rep. Maureen Madden, who represents a major part of Monroe County, in pursuing this project.

“A large and diverse group of supporters has come together to ensure we maximize our efforts when it comes to this significant economic development opportunity, and it’s great to have the Pennsylvania executive branch on our side,” Cartwright said.

The project, which has been a goal of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority for decades, gained momentum after the passage of the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021 with an allotment of $66 billion for rail investment of which Amtrak received $22 billion.

The Federal Railroad Administration received $44 billion of which $8 billion was specifically for rail lines and safety, and its Passenger Rail Division was slated to receive $36 billion. Of that $36 billion, $24 billion was assigned to the northeast corridor, according to Dennis Newman, the executive vice president for Strategy, Planning and Accessibility for Amtrak, during an economic summit in May.

Amtrak’s analysis of the corridor estimates about 425,000 riders a year would travel at least part of the Scranton-to-New York City route. The route would inject $87 million a year into the economy and $2.9 billion in economic activity during the construction phase.

Development in the Poconos in anticipation of tourism from northern New Jersey and New York City is already accelerating, with a recent billion-dollar announcement coming from the Margaritaville Resorts group for an expansive complex in Pocono Township.

“We are equally grateful and excited for this funding announcement from the Governor’s office,” said Larry Malski, president of the PA Northeast Regional Railroad Authority. “This significant investment by the Commonwealth will strengthen our efforts to restore efficient passenger rail service, while revitalizing our local economy and empowering regional communities.”

Most recently, Cartwright led a bi-state coalition to advance the return of passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City by assembling the “Lackawanna Cut-Off Interested Parties,” a bicameral, bipartisan group of 25-plus interstate legislators and business and industry leaders to co-sign and co-submit an expression of interest letter to the Federal Railroad Administration passenger rail grant application process.