08-05-2025
Johnson College's diesel programs might move to off-campus site in Scranton
SCRANTON — Johnson College's diesel programs might relocate to a site on North Keyser Avenue in Scranton, the college president said.
Marelli Realty LLC seeks a variance from the city Zoning Board to construct a 100-foot-by-70-foot building at 1646 N. Keyser Ave. for use by Johnson College's diesel program.
The board will hear the application Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Scranton City Hall, according a public notice of the board's agenda published in The Times-Tribune on May 2 and Wednesday.
College President and CEO Katie Pittelli, Ed.D., said the plan calls for Marelli Reality to construct the building on a vacant lot on North Keyser Avenue and lease the structure to Johnson College.
1646 N Keyser Ave. in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The college currently teaches a two-year Diesel Truck Technology Associate Degree program and one-year Diesel Preventative Maintenance Technician certificate program at the main campus at 3427 N. Main Ave. in Scranton, Pittelli said in an email.
If a new building on North Keyser Avenue gets zoning approval, the college would move the diesel programs from the main campus to the North Keyser Avenue site, freeing up space for other programs at the main campus, she said.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3% growth in the diesel industry until 2033 with demand widespread and needed in construction, large transportation fleets and agriculture, Pittelli said.
'This field is growing due to the overall increased demand for commercial transportation and due to the ever-changing, complex technology,' Pittelli said. 'As technology continues to evolve, the industry will need the highly skilled technicians who are well-versed in maintaining and repairing these complex pieces of machinery.'
The college's Diesel Truck Technology program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventive maintenance and necessary safety applications in diesel technology, according to the college website. The program graduates more than 20 students each year who have an immediate impact on the diesel truck industry, especially in Northeast Pennsylvania.
The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The college currently has diesel program labs at Five Star Equipment in Dunmore and Simplex Industries in Scranton, as well as Commercial Driver License (CDL) classes at Road Runner CDL Academy in Taylor and at Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Twp. The college's Aviation Technology program runs at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
A diesel site on North Keyser Avenue would be a location for that program, and not a full campus, like the main campus on North Main Avenue in Scranton or its Hazleton campus, she said.
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The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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1646 N Keyser Ave. in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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The current diesel technology building at Johnson College in Scranton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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