Dave,
First, I believe that there are more buses from elsewhere within the Poconos than just what serves Mt. Pocono.
Second, Martz prices itself out of the market to some extent. Martz buses run a similar distance to Tran-Bridge which works the I-78 corridor, yet tickets are far more expensive for a ride of the same distance.
Third, it has long been the case that bus ridership is never a predictor of train ridership. There is a mindset of many that a bus isn't an acceptable form of transit, while a train is acceptable.
Fourth, the return of the train to the Poconos wouldn't just serve that market either. It will also be picking up riders from northwestern NJ.
Fifth, my mom works for a new home builder in the Poconos. After prices for houses and important things like that, one of the most often asked questions is "when will the train get here?"
So personally, and many studies seem to bear it out, think that any trains that run to Scranton will have no trouble finding enough ridership to justify their existence. No doubt some Martz riders will jump ship, while others will remain with Martz. And Martz may even pick up a few more riders. But certainly with the horrible traffic conditions in NJ, long before you ever get near NY, will convert many drivers into train riders.
By the way, while they're still a long ways from the Poconos, restoration of the first few miles of this line has started in NJ.
First, I believe that there are more buses from elsewhere within the Poconos than just what serves Mt. Pocono.
Second, Martz prices itself out of the market to some extent. Martz buses run a similar distance to Tran-Bridge which works the I-78 corridor, yet tickets are far more expensive for a ride of the same distance.
Third, it has long been the case that bus ridership is never a predictor of train ridership. There is a mindset of many that a bus isn't an acceptable form of transit, while a train is acceptable.
Fourth, the return of the train to the Poconos wouldn't just serve that market either. It will also be picking up riders from northwestern NJ.
Fifth, my mom works for a new home builder in the Poconos. After prices for houses and important things like that, one of the most often asked questions is "when will the train get here?"
So personally, and many studies seem to bear it out, think that any trains that run to Scranton will have no trouble finding enough ridership to justify their existence. No doubt some Martz riders will jump ship, while others will remain with Martz. And Martz may even pick up a few more riders. But certainly with the horrible traffic conditions in NJ, long before you ever get near NY, will convert many drivers into train riders.
By the way, while they're still a long ways from the Poconos, restoration of the first few miles of this line has started in NJ.
