Keystone Today

The Wolf Administration has announced a $26 million investment in rail infrastructure that will help create more than 340 jobs across Pennsylvania.

According to a December 14 press release by Gov. Tom Wolf, 24 rail freight improvement projects have been approved with a focus on enhancing rail mobility, rail infrastructure and supporting business development. The funds were approved by the State Transportation Commission for projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program.

“These investments in Pennsylvania’s rail system create jobs, support efficient freight travel and help keep the business community connected to the global economy,” said Wolf.

There are 65 operating railroads in Pennsylvania, which is the most of any state in the U.S. PennDOT works with rail operators and rail-served businesses for new rail lines and maintaining and improving 5,600 miles of freight rail lines.

In Allegheny County there were three projects including: Allegheny Raw Materials receiving $1.1 million to reconstruct a rail siding with a rail scale to serve a metal recycling facility; Allegheny Valley Railroad receives $1.6 million for a new track to an engine house and to rehabilitate tracks in Glenwood Yard; and Mulch Steel, d/b/a Chapman Properties receiving $728,000 for track rehabilitation.

In Allegheny and Washington Counties: Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad receives $700.000 to rehabilitate 4.5 miles of tracks.

In Berks County: Refined Plastics receives $554,000 for 2,000 feet of track rehabilitation and building 500 feet of new track.

In Bradford County: R.J. Corman Railroad’s Lehigh Line receives $690,000 for rehabilitating 2 miles of track and Shale Rail receives $613,000 for rehabilitating 2,000 feet of track.

In Cambria, Clearfield and Clinton Counties: R.J. Corman Railroad receives $3 million to rehabilitate about 24 miles of track.

In Cameron County: Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad receives $1.4 million to rehabilitate about 23 miles of track.

In Centre County: SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority receives $955,000 to rehabilitate track and re-align wye near Bellefonte Yard, while also replacing a switch on the main line.

In Chester County: Cleveland-Cliffs Plate receives $1.4 million to rehabilitate yard tracks and turnouts at Melt Shop Facility.

In Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson and McKean Counties: Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad receives $2.6 million for 20 miles of track rehabilitating.

In Clinton County: Pine Creek Seed Holdings receives $1.9 million to construct 1,000-foot siding and South Avis Realty receives $559,000 to build yard tracks.

In Erie County: IRG Erie receives $509,000 to construct a rail siding to a new plastic recycling plant and West Erie Short Line receives $270,000 to build a mile of track.

In Franklin County: Franklin Storage receives $1.3 million to build a 1,100-foot siding and unloading equipment.

In Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties: Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad get $1.1 million to rehabilitate three bridges and a culvert.

In Lawrence County: Kasgro Rail Corporation receives $172,000 to build a section of track.

In Lycoming County: Penn Recycling receives $202,000 to rehabilitate a rail siding and extend it by 300 feet.

In Mifflin County: Integrity Commercial Investments receive $119,000 to rehabilitate and re-align tracks to improve access for rail and trucks.

In Union County: Country View Family Farms receives $3 million to build a 110-car capacity loop track and unloading equipment.

In York County: $1.3 million goes to York Railway to rehabilitate tracks in Lincoln Yard.