The state of small-road funding

Last month, three states approved millions of dollars in funding and gave the thumbs up to dozens of short-line infrastructure projects.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission approved funds and plans for 10 freight-rail projects, including the rehabilitation of a 26-mile Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co. line; trackwork at Camp Chase and Cleveland Commercial railroads, and R.J. Corman Railroad Co.; grade crossing upgrades at the Indiana & Northeastern and Youngstown & Southeastern railroads; and yard improvements at the Maumee & Western Railroad.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approved 38 grants totaling $10.2 million. The grants include $499,995 to the Reading and Northern Railroad to rehabilitate track, $463,250 to York Railway Co. to rehabilitate various branch lines, $357,000 to the Aliquippa and Ohio River Railroad to rehabilitate a mainline and replace a bridge deck, $223,569 to SMS-Penn Jersey Rail Lines Inc. to construct a double-ended siding and $208,006 to the Pennsylvania Northeast

Regional Railroad to rehabilitate a mainline.

Finally, the North Carolina Board of Transportation awarded more than $2 million to 11 railroads through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program. The grants include $601,300 to the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway to repair tracks; $500,000 to Yadkin Valley Railroad to upgrade its line; $318,600 to Carolina Coastal Railway to repair tracks, upgrade a bridge, and build a runaround track and locomotive service pit; and $123,500 to High Point, Thomasville & Denton railroad to upgrade tracks.