An estimated 9,200 jobs will be created and more than 39,000 will be retained over the next five years due to 31 rail projects being made possible by two PennDOT-managed grant programs.
“Pennsylvania has the most railroads in the country, and these make up a vital component of our economic and transportation activities,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a press release. “These investments underscore our role in supporting jobs and economies across the state.”
The State Transportation Commission (STC) voted on Thursday, May 12, to approve $36 million for 15 projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and 16 projects through the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds, and RFAP is underwritten through the new Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89, a far-reaching transportation program that clears the way for significant investments in all transportation modes, the release said.
The RTAP projects include $665,000 to East Penn Railroad LLC for turnouts, rail, ties, resurfacing and rebuilding a 2,000-foot siding, as well as replacing 3,800 mainline ties, 110 mainline switch timbers, surfacing five mainline turnouts and 18,750 feet of mainline track. East Penn Railroad (ESPN), based in Kennett Square, operates of 109 miles of track in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, including the Octoraro and Wilmington and Northern line.
The RFAP projects include $560,000 to East Penn Railroad LLC to rehabilitate the Lancaster Northern and York Line, including tie replacement and resurfacing, and $259,748 to Consolidated Rail Corp., also known as Conrail, in Delaware County to replace three existing railroad diamonds.
For more information on rail in Pennsylvania visit www.penndot.gov.
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