PennDOT Invests $53MM in 30 Rail Improvement Projects

PennDOT

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a $53 million investment toward 30 rail projects.

According to the release, the investment also supports 450 jobs across the Commonwealth. The funds are made available through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP).

“Pennsylvania’s rail freight network supports family sustaining jobs and connects Pennsylvania communities to the global economy while bolstering local economic development,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These investments to expand and improve the network will create opportunities for generations of Pennsylvanians to come.” 

Projects to receive funding (by county)

Allegheny County

• For Allegheny Valley Railroad on the Allegheny Subdivision, $2.1 million will be used to replace jointed rail along 1.3 mils with 136 lb. rail.
• $700,000 will go toward replacing ties on seven tracks within Union Pacific’s Ore Yard and four tracks on the Joe Wolf Yard.
• For MetalTech, $840,000 will be used to replace 2,000 feet of rail and rebuild a 250-foot concrete embedded grade crossing.

Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence, and McKean Counties

• $4 million will improve 218 miles of the Main Line and P&W Subdivisions for the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. These improvements include 40 grade crossings, 30,000 ties, 80,000 feet of rail, and surfacing 48 miles.

Berks County

• For the Berks County Redevelopment Authority, $2.6 million will be used to replace 1,600 feet of track, construct 2,430 feet of new track, and a siding that will serve Boyertown Foundry.
• $827,000 will rehabilitate and improve track siding for H&K Group, Inc.’s Birdsboro Quarry.

Blair County

• In Blair County, $285,000 will go toward rehabilitating Everett Railroad’s approach, mason substructure, and bridge deck on a bridge span in Freedom Township.

Blair and Centre Counties

• SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority will receive $2.1 million to rehabilitate five bridges on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad (NBER)’s Nittany Main and Bellefonte Branch.

Bradford and Wyoming Counties

• RJ Corman Railroad Company’s Lehigh Line will receive $3 million to rehabilitate 22 track miles. This includes ties, ballast, and surfacing.

Butler, Cameron, and Elk Counties

• Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad’s Laurel Subdivision will see 20 miles of track rehabilitation and 6 miles of additional track. The funds will also go toward installing 2 switch machines and a grade crossing improvement in the Butler Yard.

Cambria County

• $2.1 million will replace 7,000 ties and install 10 turnouts at Lehigh Valley Rail Management’s Johnstown rail facility.

Cambria and Clearfield Counties

• On RJ Corman’s Pennsylvania Lines, $1 million will go toward rehabilitating 8 miles of track along the Cresson and Wallacetown Subdivisions. This includes ties, ballast, and surfacing.

Clinton County

• $3.2 million will be used to construct two new rail spurs and rehabilitate 3,000 feet of track at Snavely’s Mill’s transloading facility.
• At South Avis Realty, $819,000 will be used to replace ties and rehabilitate three grade crossings.

Columbia County

• $1 million will be used to remove an existing siding an construct a new extended siding at Sekisui Kydex, LLC’s Bloomsburg South Campus Facility.

Dauphin County

• $455,000 will be used to rehabilitate track and construct new track at Consolidated Scrap Resources’ 28-acre Harrisburg Yard.

Delaware County

• In Delaware County, Contrail will use $1.7 million to replace 11 turnouts located in Stony Creek Yard. This includes replacements with steel timbers.

Franklin County

• Pennsylvania & Southern Railway will use $912,000 to rehabilitate more than 6,000 feet of inbound and outbound tracks for Cumberland Valley Business Park.

Lancaster County

• Strasburg Rail Road will use $1.2 million to rehabilitate 3,00 feet of track, install permanent bulk translating equipment, and improve a grade crossing.

Lebanon County

• $722,000 will be used to construct 3 rail sidings at Allen Distributions’ 625,000-square-foot logistics center that connects to a Norfolk Southern line in Jackson Township.
• Peachey Rail Works will use $810,000 to construct two more tracks and install unloading equipment.

Luzerne County

• Greiner Packaging Corp will use $1.6 million to construct a 0.2-mile rail spur and 1,600-linear-foot v vacuum push/pull system. This will transfer resin from the railyard to on-site silos.
• Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County will use $673,000 to rehabilitate a grade crossing and make spot tie replacements along 10 miles.

Philadelphia County

• $974,473 will be used to rehabilitate 2,600 feet of rail storage track and replace a turnout at Philadelphia Regional Port Authority dba PhilaPort’s Tioga Marine Terminal.
• $679,000 will go toward rehabilitating Riverside Materials, Inc.’s industrial unloading and conveying system that is used to unload unit trains of aggregates.

Susquehanna County

• Central New York Railroad will use $3.4 million to rehabilitate Bridge 192.22 located near Susquehanna.

Washington County

• Pittsburgh & Ohio Railroad will use $1.1 million to construct 4,800 feet of new track in the Scully Yard. Additionally, it will rehabilitate 10,560 feet of track on the Arden Subdivision.
• Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway will use $5.9 million to rehabilitate three bridges located on the Pittsburgh and Rook subdivisions.

Westmoreland County

• Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad will use $3.24 million to rehabilitate 3 miles of rail on the Radebaugh Subdivision by replacing jointed rail with welded rail.

York County

• In York County, York Railway will use $1.5 million to make improvements in the Lincoln Yard. This includes rail replacement, turnout upgrades, and two grade crossing surfacings.