PA Governor Corbett Announces State Investment in 24 Rail Projects

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-four freight-rail projects across Pennsylvania will improve businesses' rail access, upgrade rail infrastructure and provide much-needed repairs with the aid of a nearly $18.6 million state investment.

"Pennsylvania has the highest number of short-rail lines in the country, which helps keep goods moving and our economy going," Governor Tom Corbett said. "When we invest in these rail projects, we help ensure a solid infrastructure is in place to support the jobs relying on these services."

Of the grants, $13.2 million will be distributed through the Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance Program, and $5.3 million will come from the state Rail Freight Assistance Program. The grants leverage $6.8 million in local investments.

Authorized by the General Assembly, the grants are administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways.

The grants were approved today by the State Transportation Commission, which evaluates and assesses the resources needed to maintain and expand the state's transportation system. The 15-member commission includes the Secretary of Transportation, Barry Schoch, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees.

Editor's Note: Following is a by-county list of rail improvement grant recipients, the amount of funding, and a brief description of the projects:

Allegheny County: Allegheny Valley Railroad Co. -- $1.6 million for the final phase of Glenwood Yard reconstruction.

Beaver County:

• Nalco Company -- $250,000 to install two rail spurs and equipment for loading and unloading.
• Nicholas Enterprises, Inc. -- $415,870 for track rehabilitation.

Berks County: East Penn Railroad LLC -- $231,000 to expand existing siding and rebuild former yard tracks along the Lancaster Northern Siding.

Bradford and Wyoming counties: Lehigh Railway LLC -- $700,000 to rehabilitate five bridges and replace worn rail and deteriorated ties.

Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties: East Penn Railroad LLC -- $465,500 to rehabilitate track.

Clearfield County: RES Coal, Inc. -- $505,848 to rehabilitate siding and construct new track.

Crawford and Venango counties: Oil Creek & Titusville Lines, Inc. -- $65,250 to rehabilitate a bridge.

Erie County:

• Erie Western Port Authority -- $700,000 to expand siding into the plate line painting operation of the Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair facility.
• Rehrig Pacific Company -- $236,253 to rehabilitate track to serve the company's facility.

Fayette County:

• Brownsville Marine Products, LLC -- $250,000 to install a rail spur and conveyor system.
• Fay-Penn Industrial -- $1.2 million to rehabilitate track on the Southwestern Pennsylvania Railroad's FM&P subdivision line.

Indiana and Jefferson counties: Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad -- $2.1 million to rehabilitate track in the Riker Yard and to expand track in Homer City.

Lancaster County: Landisville Railroad, LLC -- $448,000 to complete track rehabilitation. 

Luzerne County: Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County -- $168,385 to rehabilitate seven railroad bridges in Avoca, Kingston and Wilkes-Barre.

Lycoming County: SEDA-COG -- $3.5 million to replace a railroad bridge over Loyalsock Creek that was destroyed as a result of flooding in 2011.

McKean County: American Refining Group, Inc. -- $1.9 million to rehabilitate 3,700 feet of track and add new loading racks for the refining facility.

Philadelphia County: Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. -- $53,585 to rehabilitate track.

Somerset County: Johnstown Industrial Development Corp. -- $338, 723 to rehabilitate a bridge and track leading into Que Industrial Park.

Tioga County: D&I Silica -- $1.6 million to expand the company's terminal in Wellsboro.

Union County: Lewisburg & Buffalo Creek Railroad -- $87,880 to rehabilitate the railroad's Buffalo Creek Bridge and St. George Street overpass in Lewisburg Borough.

Washington County: Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway -- $1.1 million to construct a new rail siding.

Westmoreland County:

• Alumnisource, LLC -- $355,000 to re-establish a connection between the company's facility and the CSX rail line.
• Three Rivers Marine -- $302,500 to construct new track and to rehabilitate storage track.

Media contacts:
Erin Waters, PennDOT; 717-783-8800
Kelli Roberts, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor