(Pennsylvania’s Office of the Governor issued the following news release on October 14.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — PA Gov. Edward G. Rendell today announced the release of $10 million in capital budget funds for 11 rail- freight improvement projects across Pennsylvania.
“By upgrading Pennsylvania’s short line and regional railroads, we promote economic development and create jobs,” Gov. Rendell said. “These railroads help keep the freight moving from our communities and employers to major rail- freight carriers.”
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., said the Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways oversees the funding, which will be used for the construction and maintenance of rail lines, spurs and rail sidings.
The state leads the nation with 69 operating railroads. With 5,600 miles of track, the state ranks fifth in the nation in total track mileage.
The capital budget grants released by Gov. Rendell include:
— Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad, Monroeville, $750,000 for rehabilitation of the mainline and passing track and reconstruction of 75 miles in Allegheny, Butler and Mercer counties.
— Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Company, Port Clinton, $750,000 to rehabilitate track and related repair work in Berks, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill and Wyoming counties.
— Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc., Punxsutawney, $828,875 to rehabilitate track to Petrolia.
— RJ Corman Railroad Company, Clearfield, $1 million to rehabilitate the Clearfield cluster in Clearfield, Clinton and Cameron counties.
— SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, Lewisburg, $438,000 for a continuous welded rail project on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad in Clinton, Centre and Blair counties.
— Delaware & Hudson Railway Company, Inc., Clifton Park, NY, $1,760,000 to further rehabilitate the D&H main line from Sunbury to the Taylor yard near Scranton in Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.
— Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc., Punxsutawney, $2 million to rehabilitate the mainline and restore the service line from Creekside to Homer City in Indiana County.
— Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County, West Pittston, $300,000 to rehabilitate a 56-mile segment of the Luzerne & Susquehanna Railroad in Luzerne County.
— Keystone Railroad, doing business as Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England Railroad Company, Bethlehem, $1.3 million to construct an all- purpose rail/truck distribution center in Northampton County.
— SJA Construction, Inc., Marlton, NJ, $533,125 to rehabilitate and repair track and to purchase loading/unloading equipment for the rail facility at Girard Point in Philadelphia.
— Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad, Lakeville, $340,000 to upgrade and rebuild track of the former Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in Washington, Erie and Crawford counties.