HARRISBURG, PA — The Shapiro Administration is accelerating a two-front transportation push across Pennsylvania, unveiling newly renovated driver license centers aimed at cutting wait times while advancing a long-studied passenger rail corridor that would reconnect northeastern Pennsylvania to New York City.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll highlighted the administration’s progress Thursday during a visit to the newly renovated Driver License Center in Carlisle, one of 23 centers statewide that recently completed modernization projects designed to improve customer service.
Millions of residents visit PennDOT driver license centers each year, and the renovations are intended to increase capacity and speed transactions. Improvements include added workstations and service counters, expanded seating and floor space, upgraded electrical and HVAC systems, and new flooring, lighting, and carpeting. Select locations now also offer free public Wi-Fi, while all 76 driver license centers are equipped with flat-screen displays providing real-time information to customers waiting for service.
“We are delighted to say that these renovations allow us to serve more customers, lower wait times, and provide an altogether more comfortable experience for Pennsylvanians visiting the driver license center,” Carroll said. “Getting customer service done for Pennsylvanians is paramount to us at PennDOT.”
On the same day, PennDOT announced it is moving forward with the Scranton-to-New York Penn Station passenger rail corridor, one of only five projects nationwide to reach the federal Step 2 milestone under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The department will host an online public meeting at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 19, as part of the Service Development Plan for the proposed service. Registration details and project materials are available through the Advancing PA Rail website, and a recording will remain online for at least 60 days following the meeting.
“The Shapiro Administration has been full steam ahead to advance this project that would be transformative for the northeastern region’s economy and mobility,” Carroll said. “The department continues aggressively improving roads and bridges while investing every possible state and federal dollar into passenger rail services across the Commonwealth.”
The proposed corridor would restore intercity passenger rail service between Scranton and New York Penn Station for the first time since 1970, offering three daily round trips along an approximately 140-mile route. Potential intermediate stops include East Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono in Pennsylvania, and Blairstown, Dover, Montclair, Morristown, and Newark in New Jersey. Portions of the route remain active, while other segments, including parts of the Lackawanna Cutoff, would require reconstruction.
PennDOT is leading the project with Amtrak as the proposed operator, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority, New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak. The Service Development Plan carries an estimated cost of $5.46 million, funded 90 percent by the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development program, with PennDOT providing a 10 percent match.
State officials said the dual focus on customer-facing facility upgrades and long-term rail investment reflects a broader strategy to modernize transportation infrastructure, improve daily services, and expand mobility options for communities long underserved by intercity passenger rail.
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