The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission on May 13, 2016 approved $36 million for 31 rail projects across 34 counties.
The Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP), a capital budget grant program funded with bonds, supported 15 of the projects and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP), which is underwritten through a multimodal fund created by Act 89, supported 16 of the projects. Both programs are managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
"Pennsylvania has the most railroads in the country and these make up a vital component of our economic and transportation activities," said Governor Tom Wolf. "These investments underscore our role in supporting jobs and economies across the state."
An example of the projects provided funds through the RTAP include:
- $5 million to the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad to construct a new bridge across the Lehigh River and approximately 1,200 feet of new track related to the construction of the bridge
- $3.6 million to Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad Inc. for improvements to Butler Yard and shop tracks, as well as yard tracks the company leases, restoration of a crossover connection and repairs to eight bridge structures on its northern subdivision.
- $3.5 million to SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority to upgrade five bridges and replace one bridge
- $3.4 million Union Railroad Company to repair and rehabilitate the East Pittsburgh Viaduct, including concrete repairs, structure drainage corrections, a 1,600-foot passing siding and adding a new walkway and handrails.
- $3 million to CSX to construct new main lead track, crossovers, turnouts and derails to allow intermodal trains to pull off the McKees Rocks mainline to serve the Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminal
Funds awarded through RFAP range from $133,000 to $700,000 and will be used to replace special trackwork, surface track, replace crossties, repair bridges and rebuild grade crossings among other improvements.
A full list of projects that will benefit from the RTAP and RFAP funds can be found here.