— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The analysis of potential passenger-train service in the Lehigh Valley lacked a lot of things, such as where stations might go, and how much they might cost.
I’m a former New York City commuter. Commuting to the big city provides a hard dose of reality, which is exactly what this train talk needs.
Imagine that there is train service to Philadelphia from a station in Allentown. Would there be other stations? Would Coopersburg residents and others who live along the southern tier of the region drive north to the station, instead of just heading south for the city?
No. Remember, when somebody chooses public transit, they give up some of the driving (they still have to get to the station) but they also give up some schedule flexibility. They have to catch that train.
They also give up some personal space. I met many fine people on buses and trains, and the regulars know how to act.
Still, now and then there would be somebody who probably made the midnight meth run to Allentown and was trying to whoop it up on mass transit at 5 a.m.
Move to the east along the southern edge of the Valley, and people have the option of taking a train from Doylestown.
Then consider the New York City commuters. Toward the east, those in Easton and the neighboring townships can drive to the city, take a bus or drive to NJ Transit stations and catch the train. They have lots of options, and a train that will add time to their daily roundtrip will be last on the list.
So the Lehigh Valley is not a monolith and a train isn’t a miracle cure.
The more I look at this idea, the less worthwhile it is.
Let’s drop it before more money is spent on magical thinking and impractical planning.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
I have lived in Allentown for 53 years. I am appalled that as the 3rd largest city in PA we live in a “train desert”. The bus is not a comparable alternative, as it is cramped, and still subject to the traffic delays on the highways. I get what you say about schedule limitations, in the late 70’s when I commuted to Temple in Philadelphia for grad school, there was a daily train from Bethlehem with a schedule set to accommodate daily commuters for work, however my classes were in the afternoon and evening, so I drove to Quakertown because of more frequent train trips, including a late return. That option is now long gone. I would be willing to drive to any point in the LV to take the train to NYC as trains are better than buses.
In 1980 there was a sign by railroad tracks off Union Street near 3rd that said “Site of future train station”, we are still waiting for it to arrive.
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