Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey announced $500,000 in clawed-back federal dollars secured through the Transit Security Grant Program to strengthen security and safety at the planned Andover park-and-ride station.
The station is a key part of the effort to restore the Lackawanna Cut-off railway, with the goal of service from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Hoboken, and on to New York City.
Every day, 28,000 people commute between Northeast Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Sussex County has the longest average commute of any New Jersey county, at 38 minutes, and Vernon Township has been ranked as having the worst commutes in the state. Since 2011, New Jersey commute times have increased by 8.8%.
The Andover site has already seen unauthorized access to the tunnel, including damage to or displacement of the measures meant to keep people out. The new resources can support security cameras, fencing, gates, and barriers, and other related security measures. This is capital security infrastructure that will stay with the station for the long haul and protect the public investment already in place.
The tunnel construction project is complete, with final details finished in June 2025, but no construction activity has occurred at the site since. The project has $94 million in resources against an estimated total cost of $112.5 million. NJ Transit plans to close the $19 million gap with state Transportation Trust Fund dollars and toll credits.
The project also promises real economic opportunity. According to Amtrak’s Corridor Vision plan, released in May 2021, expanding service beyond the Lackawanna Cut-off to Scranton could generate about $87 million in annual economic activity, plus $2.9 billion in one-time economic impact from construction along the corridor. More rail service also means fewer cars on the road, reducing emissions, highway congestion, and transportation costs and delays.
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