Plan could bring commuter rail to Lehigh Valley in five years

I think a commuter line would be a good idea-- it will connect the high incomes in NYC with the low cost of living in the Lehigh Valley. This could have positive economic repercussions, as deeper pockets decide to push further away from the cities. Bring the money to the LV, we need it. They must do this well though, to ensure us decent people will actually use them...

Why pay to ride the rail when you could drive faster? And a whole lot of people would still need to get from the train station to their jobs in jersey. So there are a lot of questions here.

theantiyokel wrote:

<quoted text>
LV residents should welcome uncivilized people, they grew up with farm animals as relatives and prom dates. A few cows and chickens in the front yard makes the place more like it was back in the good ole days doesn't it?
Oh, wait, or by "uncivilized" are you just taking about the people with an accent and skin darker than pale? Oh, we can't have drugs coming in, that might harm some of our - have to buy beer by the case - young ones.
As I said, You yokels gather up all the money that us undesirables have spent in your little slice of rustbelt heaven, give it back, and I for one will be on my way. Until then, as long as I live here and am required to pay taxes here I've got just as much right to demand services of government. More right really, since I'm paying a s'load for nothing.

The reference to farm animals is classy!
(and an archaic 'joke')
How many people have you met that have farm animals? Unless you're one of those that bought on what was farmland and now pal around with the farmer in you free time.
You the one who brought in the reference to plumbing- so 'uncivilized' seemed like an appropriate term.
Hmmm, Drugs or Beer. What an absurd comparison.
I buy beer by the case. I do it LEGALLY and it costs about 40$ a case- all taxable. No guns involved, either.

Infrastructure- you want to talk about infrastructure??? It sufficed before the 'boon'.
It was your responsibility to make sure your new community had planned to handle the influx. Now you have the GALL to complain about it???

How much of you spent here? Try to be honest with yourself because I don't expect you do so on Topix. You commute 2-3 hours a day. You probably buy gas in NJ. You probably dine and do a bit of your 'upscale' shopping in the city.
Do let us know, you would be surprised how many of us make your kind of money and, even in this economy, would consider funding a reverse exodus.

On the other hand, if you're so much smarter than us 'Yokels' you understand the concept of cutting your losses. You know- before you become that much miserable AND lose all of your investment.
Now that you've trashed the place- it is the time to cut and run.

I travel by rail wrote:

I live in the LV and work in Philadelphia. I have to drive to Lansdale and then take the train into the city. That saves time, stress, and the environment. Did I mention stress? No one ever asked me but I'd support a rail line to both NYC and to Philadelphia. It would serve both commuters and people who go to the big city for museums, theater, opera, shopping, restaurants, and other cultural events offered nowhere in the LV.
I hate driving anymore. But there is no generation left, except the geriatric set, which even remembers the joy of train travel.

Totally agreed, the LV is cultural black whole. And driving in the LV, is terrible too.

Mike wrote:

Real will help our downtowns, not hurt them.
If the rail stations are located in the downtown's of our cities they will become attractive places to live because couples with decent will be able to live there with one, or no, car(s) and commute into the city a few days a week and work from home the others.
Right now every house hold in the valley is forced to have two cars because it is th only way to get around. This makes our downtowns less attractive because they were not built for the automobile. If no one with an income wants to live downtown, the only people who will are the poor and gangs, like they do now.

I agree with you and with "PA Gal." Joining the Lehigh Valley to a big city, particularly NYC, which has a great public transportation system, would be a big step forward. We are not talking about the trains from the old wild west, but the trains of the future, the trains found in other great cities world-wide. Maybe we need to call them something else to make them seem more palatable. Anyway, these transports will move more than gang members and drugs. They'll transport people and goods, and they'll do it more efficiently in every regard than the current systems. Less pollution. Less oil dependency. Less congestion on the roads, leading to less need for widening roads. We need a good mix of options, and this is just one idea. Let's do it!

This sounds good actually.

Really Big Deal hit the nail on the head! This is not about race or class. It is about the arrogance of people like the Antiyokel, who criticize valley residents with a comment like,"And in perfect PA fashion you assume that you know something, and assumption is enough for a loudly voiced opinion".

Hey AY - what makes your opinion correct? Because you had a C - average at one of Fairliegh Ridiculous's satellite campuses the semester and ahalf you spent in college?

If you are as smart as you think you are (LOL) you will get out while the gettings good.

But I bet you won't, will you, loser?

You can sleep on the train, read, do work, all of which get you killed (eventually) if you are driving your own vehicle.

Matt_PSU wrote:

Why pay to ride the rail when you could drive faster? And a whole lot of people would still need to get from the train station to their jobs in jersey. So there are a lot of questions here.

Wrong Approach:

Create High End Economic opportunity here; we have people here that need them. No need to go to other areas;
let them stay where they are.

This approach would build a bottom up
economy have a much stronger economic foundation and cheaper to build.

Stop wasting my money on silliness.

Outta Towner wrote:

I think a commuter line would be a good idea-- it will connect the high incomes in NYC with the low cost of living in the Lehigh Valley. This could have positive economic repercussions, as deeper pockets decide to push further away from the cities. Bring the money to the LV, we need it. They must do this well though, to ensure us decent people will actually use them...

Anyone in this state that is making a decent living is working in NJ or NY. There is nothing but low paying craphole jobs up here. Guess the hillbillies don't expect much. Without the money coming in from NJ, PA would still be building trailers parks instead of real houses.
Second, you should put the blame where it belongs. The illeglals up here send for the rest of their family on a straight road from Mexico. Your problems are within your state, that and the dem. run government here who will not stop.

Must be Deja Vu, I'm positive I've read this same type of article about 10 years ago. Said then that it would happen in five years.

Kinda like Bill Murray in "Groundhog day".

I say open up the canal again, some in this area still resist progress. Just think we can have mules again they don't consume fuel oil. Every metro area in the northeast has rail service, if we want the horse and buggy era to remain in the Lehigh Valley then say no to rail service. It will create jobs, bring in more industry and maybe even a couple NYC people.... g-- forbid..

emjoy wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you and with "PA Gal." Joining the Lehigh Valley to a big city, particularly NYC, which has a great public transportation system, would be a big step forward. We are not talking about the trains from the old wild west, but the trains of the future, the trains found in other great cities world-wide. Maybe we need to call them something else to make them seem more palatable. Anyway, these transports will move more than gang members and drugs. They'll transport people and goods, and they'll do it more efficiently in every regard than the current systems. Less pollution. Less oil dependency. Less congestion on the roads, leading to less need for widening roads. We need a good mix of options, and this is just one idea. Let's do it!

This idea will be a major benefit for those in the local drug community. Why bother to get a rental car, or take the chance to steal a car, when you can mug somebody, take their cash, buy a train ticket, and get to the city to pick-up your drugs, then take the leisurely train ride home. See, you just had a carefree day, no worries, all profit!

Albany to center city NY is less that two hours, trains go Aprox. 110 MPH, you get off in Grand Central the heart of Manhattan. Most New Yorkers think nothing of walking a mile or two to there jobs , unlike the people around the Lehigh Valley, did you ever notice the size of the porkers in this area? By the way in Chicago senior citizens ride for a dollar, you can't even get a break on any bus line from Allentown to NYC. Train service would be the best thing that could happen for this area....

Drug dealers do not like trains, especially for long distances. It basically corners you for two hours and makes it real easy for law enforcement to get you.

Rails are not progress. We can't get fundamental correct. This proposal is a theft of the American People money
and you want to build train/rail as their get away into the sunset? It's silly!

We Americans are tired of being a victim to this kind of slick money spending propaganda.

mac8 wrote:

I say open up the canal again, some in this area still resist progress. Just think we can have mules again they don't consume fuel oil. Every metro area in the northeast has rail service, if we want the horse and buggy era to remain in the Lehigh Valley then say no to rail service. It will create jobs, bring in more industry and maybe even a couple NYC people.... g-- forbid..

rjj wrote:

Anyone in this state that is making a decent living is working in NJ or NY. There is nothing but low paying craphole jobs up here. Guess the hillbillies don't expect much. Without the money coming in from NJ, PA would still be building trailers parks instead of real houses.
Second, you should put the blame where it belongs. The illeglals up here send for the rest of their family on a straight road from Mexico. Your problems are within your state, that and the dem. run government here who will not stop.

I don't fit ANY of your stereotypes. Nor do most of the decent, taxpaying respectful citizens that I know who are also fed up with the crime coming West. Granted it also comes from other directions but the highest percentage is from the East of the LV.

Stop this silliness so I can do some real work!

Rails are good terrorist spots to take out a lot of people. Silly!

Rails emerge as top terrorist target.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-58301...

Kilgore Trout wrote:

You can sleep on the train, read, do work, all of which get you killed (eventually) if you are driving your own vehicle.<quoted text>

Mike wrote:

Drug dealers do not like trains, especially for long distances. It basically corners you for two hours and makes it real easy for law enforcement to get you.

Really? They've been using Transbridge for Years and Years! The train will just make it faster and cheaper and large pieces of luggage will not look so obvious for a quick jaunt to the LV.
Someone else mentioned better profit? TAX FREE Profit, no less!

about time