News

June 17, 2009

Region’s land use plan for future includes bit of past

By Jerry Lynott jlynott@timesleader.com
Business Writer
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NANTICOKE – The land use plan being developed for Lackawanna and Luzerne counties reveals a glimpse of the future that looks a little like the past, with rail service connecting the major municipalities from Wilkes-Barre to Carbondale.

The lead consultant, McCormickTaylor Inc. of Philadelphia, presented a preliminary draft of the plan Tuesday night in the first of three public meetings.

The rail service, just a possibility at this point, could be a primary mode of transportation as fuel costs are expected to rise over the next 20 years, the time frame considered in the plan.

The passenger trains would serve the densely populated priority areas in the counties and even follow some of the old routes like the Laurel Line.

L. Bert Cossaboon of McCormick Taylor acknowledged the ideas were big and bold. But he also cautioned, “They’re going to be expensive.”

Government funding for transportation projects in the region amounts to approximately $2 billion for the next two decades, according to the consultants. The money will be invested in those projects that support the land use plan, which aims to identify areas for development and conservation.

Another idea under consideration is the creation of “bus rapid transit” lines with special lanes and routes that would connect to the rail service at hubs in the priority areas. An audience member asked that the planners try to include a BRT line to the community college in Nanticoke.

“The plan is going in that direction,” said Steve Pitoniak , executive senior planner with the Lackawanna County Planning Commission.

The buses and trains would connect to every college and university in the two-county area, he said.

Approximately 30 people attended the hour-long presentation that included a video and question-and-answer period at Luzerne County Community College.

Cossaboon said additional comments will be used to fine-tune the plan that also has components for long-range transportation and hazard mitigation.

It’s expected to take another 10 months to complete the work at a total cost of $1.12 million.

Additional meetings are set for tonight at the Hazleton Area School District Administration Building and Thursday at the University of Scranton at 7 p.m.

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