Lackawanna Transit Center
| Company type | Public transit facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Scranton, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Scranton, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas |
| Owner | County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) |
Lackawanna Transit Center serves as the main bus station and a future train station in Scranton, Pennsylvania, managed by the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS).
Since its inauguration in 2015, the facility features an indoor waiting lounge, sheltered bus platforms, a park-and-ride facility, and designated zones for passenger pick-up and drop-off. By 2021, it accommodates services from COLTS, Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA), Amtrak Thruway, Greyhound Lines, Martz Trailways, New York Trailways, and Fullington Trailways.
Positioned at the intersection of Lackawanna and Cliff avenues within downtown Scranton, the center is in close proximity to prominent destinations such as the Steamtown National Historic Site and the Marketplace at Steamtown. Situated next to the Pocono Mainline operated by the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, plans are in place to develop the location into a combined train and bus terminal offering rail connections to New York City through the Lackawanna Cut-Off.
History
The groundbreaking event for the Lackawanna Transit Center occurred on August 1, 2014, concluding nearly two decades of planning efforts. The official opening ceremony was held on November 20, 2015, with bus operations commencing on December 7. The overall expenditure for the project reached $12.5 million.
Proposed train station
Between 1908 and 1970, passenger rail service to Scranton utilized the expansive station of the Lackawanna Railroad, which has since been converted into a Radisson hotel. The Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project seeks to restore passenger train service linking New York and Scranton. Currently, Phase I is in progress, involving an extension of NJ Transit from Lake Hopatcong to Andover, New Jersey. The transit center was constructed on a location long identified as suitable for Scranton’s new railway station. In early 2021, Amtrak revealed intentions to explore a possible route between New York and Scranton.