News & Press

Equitable Transit Planning Council Created to Address Transportation Concerns in the Local Region

03.29.17

Scranton, PA – The Scranton Area Community Foundation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia have partnered to create an Equitable Transit Planning Council. This Planning Council is the first step in developing an equitable transportation strategy to address concerns, improve access, and foster greater opportunity for all people and communities across the Scranton-Wilkes Barre region.

The Equitable Transit Planning Council, which convenes key regional stakeholders, is being organized in response to the increase in local residents in Northeastern PA, and many of the organizations that serve them, who have shared that transportation barriers limit access to affordable housing, job opportunities, educational and cultural opportunities, and quality health care.

The Council’s role will be to better understand the specific impediments of current transportation systems, and to explore opportunities to collaborate on a transportation strategy that promotes inclusive regional economic growth. The Planning Council will help to shape and frame the scope and content of the Equitable Transit Summit scheduled for the Fall of 2017.

This Summit, which is being supported by the Scranton Area Foundation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Schwartz-Mack Foundation, and the Women in Philanthropy Initiative will bring together a broader group of stakeholders from the public and private sectors to further discuss enhancing transit access in northeastern Pennsylvania while highlighting successful models in other parts of the country.

Pictured: Front row: Susan Miraglia from Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, LaTida Smith from the Moses Taylor Foundation, Erin Mierzwa from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Laura Ducceschi from the Scranton Area Foundation, Maggie Nasser from the Scranton Area Foundation, Maureen McGuigan from the Lackawanna County Department of Arts and Culture, Juan Madrigal from Goodwill Industries of NEPA, Bob Fiume from COLTS, Steve Pitoniak from Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission, Gretchen Wintermantel from COLTS, Alan Baranski from Transportation Planning Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance. Back row: Larry West from the office of Pennsylvania State Senator John Blake, Jonathan Lewis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Linda Kohut from the Luzerne County Area Agency on Aging, Bruce Reddock from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Mary Roselle from the Luzerne County Area Agency on Aging, Michael Taluto from PennDOT, Bob Lesh from COLTS, and Dick Eckersley from the Schwartz-Mack Foundation

Anyone with questions about the Equitable Transit Planning Council can contact Maggie Nasser at the Scranton Area Foundation, (570)347-6203.