The Lackawanna Coalition - Advocating for Better Rail Service since 1979

	Welcome
Thursday, May 7 2009 8:38 pm The Lackawanna Coalition is an independent non-profit organization that advocates for better service on the Morris & Essex (M&E) and Montclair-Boonton rail lines operated by New Jersey Transit, as well as on connecting transportation. The Coalition was founded in 1979 by commuters in Millburn who were deeply concerned about the quality of their rail service. The service has improved since then under the stewardship of New Jersey Transit, although there are always issues that affect our riders and require our attention. The most pressing issue is off-peak service on the Morris & Essex Line, which New Jersey Transit severely reduced this past May and which we are fighting to have restored. The Lackawanna Coalition is one of the nation’s oldest rail advocacy organizations and has met in Millburn continuously since it was founded over 30 years ago. Read More

	No Fare Increase, but Service Cuts Soon?
Wednesday, June 24 2009 6:41 pm New Jersey Transit has announced that fares will not increase this fiscal year. Since the State budget has cut funding for NJT, it is likely that service will be reduced. The Lackawanna Coalition is deeply concerned about impending service cuts, especially since off-peak rail service on the Morris & Essex Line was slashed in May, 2008 without advance notice to the public.

	Cutoff Line to Scranton Gathers Steam
Wednesday, June 24 2009 6:40 pm Service to Scranton came a step closer, when the Federal Transit Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Scranton project. This clears the way for further engineering work, before construction contracts are awarded. Political leaders and rail advocates in New York State are also expressing interest in the extension of service to Binghamton and beyond. The affected lines were once part of the Lackawanna Railroad, and the Lackawanna Coalition supports the proposed extension of service.

	Montclair Pushes for Weekend Service
Wednesday, June 24 2009 6:40 pm Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried and several residents from his town have called for week-end rail service on the Montclair-Boonton Line. They call for service to be operated to and from Hoboken, which could connect easily at Broad Street Station in Newark with Morris & Essex Line trains between New York City and Dover. This marks a major change for Montclair, which originally objected to the Montclair Connection.

	NJT Breaks Ground for "ARC" Tunnel
Wednesday, June 24 2009 6:39 pm The Lackawanna Coalition supports additional tunnel capacity to Manhattan, but opposes the proposed "deep cavern" terminal that is planned to accompany the proposed additional tunnels. We continue to question the affordability of the deep-cavern terminal portion of the project, and we object to the planned eviction of Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton Line riders from the existing Penn Station. NJT says the groundbreaking ensures the eventual completion of the project as planned, but we know that ground has been broken for the Second Avenue Subway four times at last count. The line was planned in the 1920s, when a subway was built in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati tunnel and stations were never used in transit service.

© 2009 The Lackawanna Coalition
Design © 2009 Donald Winship, Helithia Productions
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