The commissioners in Lackawanna County have finally approved the construction project for a $2.2 million trail system. Reports indicate the system is expected to be completed in less than a year.
(Photo : Pexels/Irina Iriser )
Trail System Construction Project
On Wednesday, Mar. 20, as the lowest and most responsible bidder, Leeward Construction Inc. was given an agreement to build the so-called North Pocono Trail by the commissioners of Lackawanna County.
The nearly $2.2 million construction contract, which includes the over $187,000 cost of erecting trail fencing, will be funded by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant and cash from the American Rescue Plan Act, which the county will use. Kristin Magnotta, the county's director of economic development, informed the commissioners that the construction endeavor is anticipated to take around nine months.
The route will wind under the enormous Interstate 84/380 Twin Bridges that the state Department of Transportation is replacing. It will reportedly extend for about 3.5 miles through a county-owned old railway corridor, beginning at a trailhead close to the Y Knot Pub and Eatery in Elmhurst, Twp., and ending in Dunmore. Within the North Pocono region, officials have described the initial trail work as the first phase of a larger project that has been in the works for years and might result in the development of an additional six miles of connected route.
The state transportation department renovated a county-owned disused railroad trestle in the shadow of the twins to allow its larger bridge replacement project. According to Sandra Opshinsky, the county's grants manager, to fulfill the needed match for the DCNR grant cash, the county is utilizing the investment that PennDOT has made in the railroad trestle, which the trail will over.
Also Read: Women in Construction Still Lack Proper-Fitting Gear Despite OSHA's Proposed Rule
Positive Effects of Utilizing Railroads
Since the beginning of the century, rail has consistently generated the lowest total million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) of any other mode of transportation. In 2016, rail emitted a total of two MtCO2e, the same amount as it did in 1990, based on a report issued by the Department of Transport in 2018. Accordingly, electric trains are more environmentally friendly and quieter than diesel trains, which passengers and people near the airport mainly use.
On the other hand, electrifying railway lines that are currently open to diesel trains only makes it attainable for electric trains to move on a more significant portion of the rail network. Moreover, the railways contributed to reducing transaction costs, which in turn led to a decrease in commodity prices. There was a significant shift in the distribution and sale of perishable items, including meat, milk, fish, and vegetables, which resulted in the availability of more affordable produce in retail outlets and a significantly more comprehensive range of dietary options for individuals.
The railways were a vital force that contributed to the ever-changing patterns of human transportation. Thus, rail transportation was initially conceived as a means of transporting coal and industrial commodities; however, railway operators quickly discovered a potential market for railway travel, which resulted in an exceptionally rapid expansion of passenger services. Nevertheless, within eight years, from 1842 to 1850, the volume of rail passengers tripled.
Related Article: Top 5 Most Expensive Ongoing Railway Mega Projects in the World
