Enhancing the transportation network of the Lehigh Valley is unquestionably one of the most important issues facing our community. Transportation dramatically effects the economy (did you know that traffic cost the United States an estimated 78,136,000 in 2005?) construction/movement patterns and the overall quality of life for a community (the same study noted that traffic congestion wasted an estimated 4,188,716 hours in the United States in 2005 - this is the equivilant of 174,530 days, or 478 years!!!).
What are the solutions, and how can we incorporate those solutions into the Lehigh Valley? Well, one such solution just moved forward one step. On August 29, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission gave their support to a $250,000 study that would "study what it would take to extend the existing NJ Transit commuter line into the heart of the Valley." According to the article, funding would come from the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation ($100,000) and the remainder would be split by Lehigh and Northampton counties. Ideally, any rail system in the Valley would connect with already existing networks in Harrisburg, the Poconos, Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey.
The construction of the transportation system in America has historically damaged our urban cores. Among other things, the building of our highway system opened new lands for new construction (aka suburbia), thus giving residents of cities other living options. This drained cities of valuable population and fiscal resources and is a large contributor to the state of cities today.
The question of specifically how light rail would help our urban cores remains to be seen, but it is a question that is absolutely worth answering.
What are the solutions, and how can we incorporate those solutions into the Lehigh Valley? Well, one such solution just moved forward one step. On August 29, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission gave their support to a $250,000 study that would "study what it would take to extend the existing NJ Transit commuter line into the heart of the Valley." According to the article, funding would come from the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation ($100,000) and the remainder would be split by Lehigh and Northampton counties. Ideally, any rail system in the Valley would connect with already existing networks in Harrisburg, the Poconos, Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey.
The construction of the transportation system in America has historically damaged our urban cores. Among other things, the building of our highway system opened new lands for new construction (aka suburbia), thus giving residents of cities other living options. This drained cities of valuable population and fiscal resources and is a large contributor to the state of cities today.
The question of specifically how light rail would help our urban cores remains to be seen, but it is a question that is absolutely worth answering.
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