Governor Rendell announces $32.5-million rail freight investment

Written by jrood

A $32.5-million state investment in 38 rail projects in 28 counties will upgrade and add capacity, stimulate local economies and provide as many as 2,500 jobs, Pennsylvania Governor Edward  Rendell announced at a York, Pa., manufacturing and distribution facility.

"Transportation
investment equals jobs," Governor Rendell said. "The rail freight
projects being funded across the state today will help companies create
good-paying jobs and inject billions into local economies. These grants are
excellent examples of how public-private partnerships can benefit businesses,
workers and communities."

Governor Rendell made the
announcement at the Church & Dwight, Co. Davies Facility in York. The
company received a $1.5-million reimbursement for a project that provided rail
access to the facility, including grade crossing work, rail siding construction
and spill containment basin construction. At full operation, the facility will
employ approximately 300 Pennsylvanians in new, full-time positions. The
improvements also will reduce truck shipments by 1,661 deliveries per year at
this facility, reducing traffic congestion and pollution.

More than two-thirds of the
funding, $23.9 million, will come from the 2010-11 Rail Capital
Budget/Transportation Assistance Program funded through state capital bond
dollars approved in the General Fund budget. The remaining $8.6 million comes
from the 2011-12 Rail Freight Assistance Program, which is provided through the
state’s General Fund. Both grant programs, which are authorized by the General
Assembly, are administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight.

Among the major awards
are:

* Allegheny Valley Railroad
— $1.8 million for phase two in its Glenwood Yard, including track
reconstruction, switching control installation, and rail and crosstie
replacement on two bridge decks.

* United States Steel Mon
Valley Works — $3.8 million for phase three of the Clairton Project, including
switch replacement and associated track work.

* Buffalo and Pittsburgh
Railroad Inc. — $3 million to upgrade and rebuild wood trestles, replace mud
sills with pilings and improve bridge deck beams to provide 263,000 lb. freight
car capacity.

* Air Products and
Chemicals Inc. — $1.8 million to replace railroad ties, crossings, a bridge
and tunnel lining, raise track and relocate obstructions.

* SEDA-COG — $3.9 million
for facility and track construction in five locations to meet Marcellus Shale
expansion demands.

* Fay-Penn Industrial — $1
million to rehabilitate and reconstruct track to serve a planned rail-truck
transloading facility.

* Strasburg Railroad — $1
million for track construction and rehabilitation, rail bridge rehabilitation
and expanded transferring capabilities.

* Allentown Economic
Development Corporation — $1.4 million to restore Barber’s Quarry branch rail
corridor to service, reconnect the R.J. Corman rail line to serve more than 80
acres of industrially zoned land.

* American Refining Group
Inc. – $1.4 million to rebuild track, switches, and loading racks.

* Pennsylvania Northeast
Regional Railroad Authority — $1.3 million to acquire remaining main line
track to allow for the growth of existing and new rail traffic for the
Marcellus Shale industry, as well as remove salt and corrosion on bridge
downspouts and a rail bridge.

* Church & Dwight
Company Inc. — $1.5 million to construct three rail sidings and spill containment
basins as part of their new factory’s rail access project.

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