HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded $42.5 million to help fund 25 freight rail infrastructure projects on short lines and with shippers within the state, the agency announced on Wednesday. The state’s share in the projects ranges from $7.6 million to $84,000 and will be funded through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and Rail Freight Assistance Program.
“Expanding Pennsylvania’s rail freight network will support family-sustaining jobs and connect Pennsylvania communities to the global economy while bolstering local economic development,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a press release. “This is a historic moment to build out our infrastructure thanks to state and federal funding that will create opportunities for generations of Pennsylvanians to come – and the expansion of Pennsylvania’s efficient rail freight network and service will provide key mobility throughout 23 counties across the Commonwealth.”
Projects selected include:
— $7.6 million to 25 Caster Way Owner, LLC, to construct the Berks Waste and Rail Transfer Station, which includes rail infrastructure and loading equipment.
— $5 million to Eddystone Marine and Rail Terminal Co. to rehabilitate rail infrastructure on the loop track and construct 20 unloading car spots.
— $4.3 million to the Allegheny Valley Railroad to construct three yard tracks at Verona Yard using repurposed rail from the Brilliant Branch.
— $3 million to the R.J. Corman Railroad-Pennsylvania Lines to rehabilitate approximately 20 miles of track on the Cherry Tree Subdivision and Cresson Subdivision with spot tie replacement and surfacing.
— $2.1 million to Franklin Storage to construct nearly 1,700 feet of track, a turnout, and unloading dock for a new 360,000 square foot rail-served warehouse..
— $2.1 million to the Union Railroad to replace approximately 15,000 ties in the classification and North Bessemer Yards.
— $1.8 million to Lehigh Valley Rail Management LLC to rehabilitate 860 feet of track and construct 3,500 feet of track in the Iron Hill Transload Yard.
— $1.7 million to the Pittsburgh & Ohio Central Railroad to rehabilitate approximately 11 miles of track on the Arden Subdivision by replacing rails, ties, and track surfacing.
— $1.6 million to York Railway to rehabilitate track in the Lincoln Yard with rail and tie replacement and track surfacing.
— $1.4 million to the Aliquippa & Ohio River Railroad Company to rehabilitate approximately 11 miles of track by replacing ties and track surfacing.
— $1.4 million to Cleveland-Cliffs Steelton & Highspire Railroad to rehabilitate multiple tracks by replacing ties and rail to improve safety and efficiency.
— $1.2 million to the Cleveland-Cliffs Brandywine Valley Railroad to rehabilitate tracks and a rail scale in the Ritchey Yard.
— $1.1 million to the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad to rehabilitate three bridges and a culvert on the Pocono Mainline.
— $904,000 to M. Simon Zook Co. dba Golden Barrel to rehabilitate a rail siding, a rail scale, and construct an unloading pit and additional track.
— $904,000 to the North Shore Railroad to rehabilitate and replace rail on North Shore’s mainline.
— $837,000 to the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to rehabilitate a 440-foot-long tunnel to improve safety and operations.
— $699,000 to Chelsea Building Products of Allegheny County to rehabilitate a rail siding and six at-grade crossings.
— $682,000 to the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad to rehabilitate the Kerrtown Lead track by replacing rail and ties, surfacing, and improving three grade crossings.
— $675,000 to the R.J. Corman Railroad-Lehigh Line to rehabilitate approximately 4 miles of track on the Lehigh Subdivision with spot tie replacement and surfacing.
— $669,000 to Albatross Ventures to rehabilitate trackage at the sand transload facility.
— $655,000 to Ohio Blenders dba Alfagreen Supreme to construct a rail car storage track, turnout, and unloading pit at the Mount Holly Springs facility.
— $626,000 to East Penn Railroad LLC to rehabilitate a 1,200-foot storage trackage, extend an 800-foot siding, and install an at-grade trail crossing on the Octoraro Branch.
— $477,000 to West Railcar and Fabrication LLC to rehabilitate four facility tracks and turnouts.
— $261,000 to Three Rivers Marine and Rail Terminals to rehabilitate sections of track at the Gibsonton Terminal by replacing ties and surfacing.
— $84,000 to Keystone Filler to rehabilitate siding trackage, relocate a rail scale, and stormwater management improvements.
The projects were approved by the State Transportation Commission.
OH, NO!! That rail from the Brilliant Branch, does this mean the Brilliant Cut-off is now abandoned and its rail ripped up? As a
mileage collector I NEED the entire Allegheny Valley! That Brilliant Cut-off had some spectacular arch bridges; recouse to
Google/DuckDuckGo Earth!
Not abandoned yet. It’s used to store frac sand hoppers destined to an unloading area south of New Kensington. The new yard tracks will replace the storage space on the Brilliant Branch. The branch right of way is going to be a trail and will be abandoned in the near future.
Infrastructure Week!