(The following story by Andrew M. Seder appeared on the Times Leader website on March 28.)
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The state has released more than $10 million in matching grants to assist the rail freight industry. Among the recipients are five projects in Luzerne County.
One of the largest grants in the state, $478,756, went to the Community Area New Development Organization, or CAN DO Inc., for rehabilitation of the Norfolk Southern Catawissa & Hazleton Running Track within the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township. That line serves a dozen businesses in the industrial park.
Other area entities that received grants were Hazleton Creek Properties and Western International Gas & Cylinders. Each will receive $250,000 for construction work.
Hazleton Creek will lay new track to serve a bulk unloading facility adjacent to the Humboldt Industrial Park. The facility will dispose of dredge material from the Delaware River. Western International Gas & Cylinders will construct a siding and grade crossing in Salem Township to serve an industrial gas wholesaler.
Avoca will receive $210,000 for realignment of existing curve track and removal of a small bridge along the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Susquehanna Branch to alleviate flooding issues.
Brian J. Hansbury, an economic development specialist with CAN DO, said the funds will be used exclusively for maintenance and rehabilitation of the seven miles of track within the industrial park.
“Even that amount (the matching $478,756 CAN DO must contribute) is a stretch, but we’re willing to make it work,” Hansbury said.
This is the third consecutive year the state-funded rail freight assistance program awarded at least $10 million. CAN DO has received funds each of those years, and previously used funds to add track and maintain existing track. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation with more than 6,000 rail miles; and, more than 7,000 Pennsylvanians are employed by freight railroads, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Avoca Engineer Ben Sevenski said the steel-beamed bridge under U.S. Route 11 would be removed and the tracks will be realigned toward the western edge of Mill Creek to help alleviate flood damage the bridge has sustained in recent years.
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad will also receive $499,995 for track rehabilitation projects servicing a number of businesses at four locations in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties, including one along the Crestwood Running Track.
In a press release, Gov. Rendell said the continued investment in rail freight infrastructure is part of an effort to help create and maintain jobs at expanding businesses throughout the state.