While The Morning Call and Mayor Pawlowski celebrate another link in the rail to bike trail, Allentown lost a major part of it's history. While Pawlowski said "The community has been separated from water access for years," he ignored Bucky Boyle Park, just south of the Jaindl project. Bucky Boyle has been providing river access for over a century. Perhaps our Chicago Mayor has never been there, he should learn about our park system. While the spandex crowd applaud these paths, we lose an infrastructure that can never be replaced. Can you imagine how much compensation Jaindls' would want in the future to provide a rail line with a right of way? Ironically, while the spandex yuppies also want metro rail service, they are oblivious to the fact that these were the very tracks leading to both our train station and New York City. Future generations will be flabbergasted that their track tracks were scrapped for bicycle paths.
The photograph dates to 1976. Note the A-Treat billboard, part of our commercial history that was saved by the Jaindl family. Wish that they also had a soft spot for trains.
above reprinted from March of 2016
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2019: Although the historic track line has been removed, the waterfront project now waits, until all the pieces are in place. While quick to tear out the tracks, apparently the trail portion will not be built without a federal grant.
The rails should rise again for many reason Allentown doesnt need anymore roads for many reasons tractor trailers destroy them and we pay for them and ppl doing stupid stuff on roads like burnouts and also economic and environmental reasons trains can reduce more pollution and get gooda and ppl in their destination on time!
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