RELEASE: Gottheimer Claws Back $500,000 in Federal Dollars for the Future Lackawanna Railway & Andover Train Station Site

Resources / Press Share on RELEASE: Gottheimer Claws Back $500,000 in Federal Dollars for the Future Lackawanna Railway & Andover Train Station Site Presses NJ TRANSIT to Keep Lackawanna Cut-off Restoration on Track for 2031; Will Significantly Reduce Commute Times Oct 02, 2026 Press Above: Gottheimer announces clawed-back funds for Andover Train Station. ANDOVER, NJ – Today, Friday, October 2, 2026, at the future site of the Andover station, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced $500,000 in clawed-back federal dollars secured through the Transit Security Grant Program to strengthen security and safety at the planned 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 percent. “There are zero options for folks in Sussex County to make their lives easier and get on a train to get to work or see a family member, and that has to change,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’ve clawed back $500,000 in new federal funding from Washington to Jersey, secured through the Transit Security Grant Program, to strengthen safety and security at Andover Train Station for the families and commuters who, ultimately, will count on it every day. This funding helps harden this site as the next phase of the project gets underway.” Watch Gottheimer’s full remarks here . 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 there has been no construction activity 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 gap of about $19 million 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. Today’s announcement builds on Gottheimer’s record of delivering for passenger rail in Northwestern New Jersey: In 2018, Gottheimer sent a letter urging NJ TRANSIT to allow the community to upgrade the culvert, and NJ TRANSIT agreed soon after. In 2021, he helped craft and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included $102 billion in total rail investment. In 2022, he rallied state and local officials to push NJ TRANSIT to rebuild beyond the Cut-off. NJ TRANSIT committed $32.5 million to rehabilitate the Roseville Tunnel and the Hudson Farm and Junction Brook culverts, construct 8,000 feet of track bed, and stabilize rock slopes. Gottheimer was joined by Andover Mayor Thomas Walsh, Andover Deputy Mayor Krista Gilchrist, NJTRANSIT Government & External Affairs Chief Paul Wyckoff, and Andover Police Chief Eric Danielson. Below: Gottheimer announces clawed-back funds for Andover Train Station. Read Gottheimer’s full remarks as prepared for delivery here: It’s great to be back here in beautiful Andover, New Jersey, at the future site of the Andover Train Station, the park-and-ride station that is part of Lackawanna Railway, which, when it’s fully restored, will have service from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Hoboken, New Jersey, and on to New York City. I want to thank Mayor Thomas Walsh, Deputy Mayor Krista Gilchrist, and Paul Wyckoff of NJTRANSIT, and the rest of NJTRANSIT for joining us today. This is a project we’ve been working on together for many years now. Thanks to great cooperation with our local elected officials here, when the railway is completed in 2031, Sussex County will finally have quality rail service on NJTRANSIT, helping commuters, stimulating tourism, and boosting the local economy. Every day, 28,000 people commute between Northeast Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Sussex County has the longest average commute time of all New Jersey counties, at nearly 38 minutes. Vernon Township has been ranked as having the worst commutes in the entire state. And