PennDOT Awards Grants to Rail Projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will award a combined $33 million to 25 freight-rail improvement projects.

The funding is coming from PennDOT’s Rail Transportation Assistance and the Rail Freight Assistance programs.

Among the railroad receiving grants and for what purpose are:

• Wheeling and Lake Erie, $9 million to replace 19 miles of rail, improving the track from jointed rail to continuous-welded rail.

•CSX, $6 million to rehabilitate the railroad bridge over Washington Avenue and remove an inactive spur bridge along the 25th Street Viaduct, increasing safety and improving access in Philadelphia County.

• R. J. Corman, $3 million to improve the Cresson Subdivision and Clearfield Yard with spot tie and rail replacement, and rehabilitate five grade crossings.

• Central New York Railroad, $2.3 million to rehabilitate the nine-span 1930 Lanesboro Bridge, improving safety for freight trains as well as vehicles and pedestrians beneath the bridge in Susquehanna County.

• Buffalo & Pittsburgh, $1.8 million to replace 5.5 miles of worn rail on curves to improve rail conditions and safety.

• SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, $1.5 million to rehabilitate nine railroad bridges.

• Western New York and Pennsylvania, $1.1 million to rehabilitate 11.5 miles of track between Lottsville and East Columbus.

• R. J. Corman Lehigh Line in Bradford County, $700,000 to replace 5,000 ties and rehabilitate a crossing.

• East Penn Railroad, $700,000 to rehabilitate the Octoraro Branch by replacing 7,000 ties, 1,100 feet of rail and three mainline switches, as well as 10 miles of surfacing.

• Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, $699,000 to replace six turnouts on Bridge 60 on the Strawberry Hill rail line.

• Pittsburgh and Ohio Central, $693,000 to rehabilitate two crossings, replace a turnout and repair the Greer Tunnel.

• Bucks County Railroad Preservation & Restoration Corporation, $490,000 to install four turnouts, replace 800 feet of rail and ties, and construct 800 feet of new track.

• Everett Railroad, $309,000 to rehabilitate three bridges with new deck ties and complete pier repairs.