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The Pennsylvania Transportation Commission recently granted $8 million to help fund 52 freight-rail projects, many involving short lines. The funds will be distributed through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Rail-Freight Assistance Program, which provides grants for the construction, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of rail lines, sidings and grade crossings.

“Increasing use of railroads will help reduce traffic congestion, wear and tear on roadways and fuel usage, as well as improve air quality,” said Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler in a prepared statement.

The grants include:
• $250,000 to the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co. to rehabilitate 11 bridges along a 49-mile line;
• $250,000 to the Central Columbiana & Pennsylvania Railroad to rehabilitate a line connecting with Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation;
• $250,000 to ISG Railway Inc. to rehabilitate track and replace rail in Coatesville Yard;
• $210,000 to the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Co. to maintain a line;
• $210,000 to the Carbon County Railroad Commission to replace ties on an 18-mile line
• $194,000 to the Hollidaysburg and Roaring Spring Railroad to rehabilitate a mainline;
• $194,000 to the Everett Railroad Co. to upgrade an eight-mile line connecting with NS;
• $187,000 to Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Co. Inc. to reconstruct track, replace ties and install two switches along a 5.5-mile line;
• $174,000 to York Railway Co. to upgrade a 21-mile intermodal line;
• $143,000 to Penn Eastern Rail Lines Inc. to upgrade a 27-mile line;
• $123,000 to the Delaware and Hudson Railway Co. Inc. to replace jointed rail with welded rail, and renew a crossing;
• $100,000 to East Penn Railways Inc. to maintain a 16-mile line; and
• $67,000 to Union County Industrial Railroad Co. to build a run-around track and turnout.