$3.7 million has now been earmarked for the development of a new passenger rail line to go from Northeastern Pennsylvania, through the Poconos to New York City. The funding will be provided to the Monroe County Industrial Development Authority to help Amtrak restore passenger rail services to The Big Apple. Amtrak predicts route will inject $87 million a year into the local economy and $2.9 billion in economic activity during construction, and they project 425,000 riders a year would travel the line.