SEDA-COG awarded $2M grant to rehab freight-rail bridges

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the organization.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded a $2 million grant to the SEDA Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority to rehabilitate multiple freight railroad bridges on two short lines.

The funding comes from PennDOT’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program, which will cover 70% of the project's $2,971,000 cost.

The grant will cover much of the rehabilitation of four bridges on the Juniata Valley Railroad in Mifflin County, and three bridges and one culvert on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad in Centre County, authority officials said in a press release.

Construction will occur over the next two years following design, permitting and the public bid process. Collectively, the authority and its partners have invested over $10 million into railroad infrastructure improvements since 2019.

"These bridge improvements will allow us to provide uninterrupted service to our customers for many years,” said Russ Graham, who chairs the authority's board.