Pennsylvania OKs funding for 27 freight-rail projects

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf yesterday announced funding approval for 27 freight-rail improvement projects.

The State Transportation Commission has approved $32 million for the
projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program, Wolf announced in a press release.

"Keeping our extensive rail freight system in good shape is a vital component of creating a sound foundation for Pennsylvania's economy," the governor said.

The recipients, their approved projects and funding include:
• R. J. Corman Railroad Group, to rehabilitate 36 miles of track including rail, ties, ballast, and track surfacing on the Clearfield Cluster's Cherry Tree, Cresson, and Wallaceton subdivisions, $4.2 million;
• Norfolk Southern Railway, to realign track in Middletown to provide greater clearances for freight trains and reduce track curvature, $3.9 million;
• Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC, to construct 10 miles of track from Aliquippa to Monaca to transport construction materials for Shell's plant and outbound product from the completed plant, $3.8 million;
• Allegheny Valley Railroad Co., to rehabilitate 10 miles of the P&W subdivision from Bakerstown to Glenwood Yard, including replacing continuous welded rail and surfacing track, $2.9 million;
• Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co., to rehabilitate 18 railroad bridges on the Pittsburgh and Rook subdivisions, including structural and bridge deck, $2.3 million; and
• Buffalo Pittsburgh Railroad Inc., to rehabilitate 20 miles of track between Brookville and Falls Creek, facilitating continued freight-rail service to Brookville Equipment Corp., $2.1 million.

Click here for a complete list of the recipients, projects and funding.