Pennsylvania DOT OKs funding for 27 freight-rail projects

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation yesterday announced the approval of 27 freight-rail improvement projects and their state share of funding.

"Keeping goods and services moving across Pennsylvania's more than 5,000 miles of freight track is vital to the state's economy," said Wolf in a press release. "These investments in our rail infrastructure will continue to support business development and create new jobs throughout the state.

The projects are expected to help create and sustain 255 jobs across Pennsylvania, state officials said.

Recipients with projects receiving a state-funding share of more than $1 million include:
• R. J. Corman Railroad Group, $2.8 million, to rehabilitate 56 miles of track on the WBV subdivision, including the replacement of ties and bridge timbers, and surfacing of track in Cambria and Clearfield counties;
• Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, $2.3 million, to expand rail facilities, construct a new siding and purchase unloading equipment in Crawford County;
• American Refining Group Inc., $2 million, to construct an additional track and purchase unloading equipment to receive product by rail in McKean County;
• Allegheny Valley Railroad, $1.9 million, to rehabilitate 34 miles of track on the W&P subdivision by raising, lining and resurfacing track in Allegheny and Washington counties;
• Mittal Steel USA Railways, $1.6 million, to rehabilitate a railroad bridge, five turnouts, and more than 1 mile of track to increase yard operation efficiencies in Chester County;
• Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, $1.5 million, to rehabilitate and improve 2.6 miles of track on the FM&P subdivision by installing continuous-welded rail, and realigning and surfacing track in Fayette County;
• Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp., $1.5 million, to improve the Radebaugh subdivision, including rehabilitating 0.5 mile of track, replacing two turnouts and constructing two sidings in Fayette and Westmoreland counties; and
• D Holdings, $1.4 million, to rehabilitate yard track at the Hollidaysburg Transload Facility and construct a new siding to serve existing and future businesses in Blair County.

For a full list of projects and their state funding share, click here.