PennDOT Releases Study on Allentown Service

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has identified five potential routes for the revival of intercity rail passenger service to Allentown.

The study chose among 12 potential routes. PennDOT said the study is a roadmap for the process of bringing rail passenger service to the Lehigh Valley.

Two of the routes would link Allentown with New York City, two would link it with Philadelphia and one would link it with Reading, Pennsylvania.

The latter would connect a proposed service between Reading and Philadelphia. The two New York City routes would connect with New Jersey Transit lines.

The direct Allentown-Philadelphia route would require restoration of rail lines that were removed to create hiking and biking trails.

The PennDOT study estimated the cost of bringing rail passenger service to Allentown at between $450 million to $739 million.

The most expensive routes would be the direct routes to Philadelphia.

Service to Allentown was not mentioned in a Federal Railroad Administration corridor identification program released last year.

PennDOT officials said their study is a step toward getting service to Allentown into the FRA program.

Grants Awarded for Pennsylvania Amtrak Service

The route used by Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian will receive federal grant money for expanded service.

Announcements made on Thursday indicated that the expansion will be funded by two separate grants from two programs overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration.

A $500,000 grant was awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development program to study increased service in the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia corridor.

A second $143 grant from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program will help fund an already announced plan to add a second daily train between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

That second daily train will, like the Pennsylvanian, originate in New York City.

The Pittsburgh-Philadelphia corridor is owned by Norfolk Southern west of Harrisburg and by Amtrak east of the Keystone State’s capitol city.

NS and PennDOT had earlier this year announced an agreement for the second Pittsburgh train.

At the time, the infrastructure costs for that service were said to be $171 million.

The Amtrak-owned portion of the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia corridor is known as the Keystone Corridor and hosts multiple Amtrak trains a day, many of which operate between New York and Harrisburg.

PennDOT Taking Grant Applications

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that is is accepting proposals for transportation projects from the private sector through Nov. 10.

The submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects and infrastructure. Proposals should propose “innovative ways to deliver transportation projects” across rail, roads, bridges, aviation and ports.”

In a news release, PennDOT said proposals also can include more efficient models to manage existing transportation-related services and programs.

Transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction, such as transit authorities, may establish their own timelines or accept proposals year round.

The state’s P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining and financing transportation-related projects.

Expanded Amtrak Service to Pittsburgh Pact Set

An agreement to expand intercity rail passenger in Pennsylvania has been reached among Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

In a news release, PennDOT officials said the pact “lays the groundwork” for expanding Amtrak service to Pittsburgh.

The agreement allows Amtrak to operate twice daily between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Currently the two cities are linked by the New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian.

PennDOT plans to spend more than $200 million for infrastructure work on the NS Pittsburgh Line for the increased passenger service.

The agency said it is seeking federal grants to pay for some of those planned projects.

PennDOT Taking Rail Grant Applications

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is taking applications for grants under the Rail Transportation Assistance Program, and the Rail Freight Assistance Program.

The agency manages the two programs, which are capital budget grant programs funded with bonds and the Multimodal Fund created by Act 89.

Both programs provide financial assistance for investments in freight-rail infrastructure, with the intent of preserving essential freight-rail service and stimulating economic growth, PennDOT said in a news release.

Grant applications will be available on the application website through Sept. 1. In the 2022 grant period, PennDOT awarded $26 million for 24 freight-rail projects.

PennDOT Completes Freight Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently released its 2045 Freight Movement Plan, which outlines a proposed strategic plan for the movements of goods throughout the state.

The plan was developed over the past two years and summarizes the state’s freight infrastructure and the agency’s efforts to continually improve freight movement.

The plan’s executive summary noted that Pennsylvania is eligible for approximately $58.5 million annually in federal funding under the National Highway Freight Program through 2026.

PennDOT said that the freight plan combined with the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan, “establishes priorities and critical transportation strategies to guide project investments.”

The agency said each plan takes a multimodal approach with the freight plan addressing state and federal provisions for freight planning.

PennDOT Accepting Grant Applications

Proposals are being accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from private sector group for transportation project grants.

The grants will be awarded for projects involving PennDOT owned projects, infrastructure and services.

The agency’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships is overseeing the grant process.

In a news release, PennDOT said private-sector partners are encouraged to submit proposals offering innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes, including roads, bridges, rail and ports.

Proposals can include more efficient models to manage existing transportation-related services and programs.

The Public Private Transportation Partnership Board will review the proposals.

Additionally, the private sector may submit applications for non-PennDOT-owned assets. Transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction, such as transit authorities and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, may establish their own timelines or accept proposals year-round, PennDOT officials said.

The state’s P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining and financing transportation-related projects.

Work Underway on Construction of New Amtrak, SEPTA Station in Coatesville, Pennsylvania

Amtrak, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority have begun work on a new $65 million station in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

The station, located on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor, is expected to open in fall 2025.

It will be located just east of the existing former Pennsylvania Railroad depot.

In a news release, PennDOT said work to build a foundation for the south platform is underway and will continue through this year.

That work will be followed by construction of platforms and elevators and stair towers on the south side of the station.

The project will create station that complies with all standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Amtrak owns the existing station building and leases it to the City of Coatesville. It has been closed for more than 25 years.

The existing station is located on a curve so some track relocation is being undertaken as part of the project.

Officials said that was necessary because ADA-compliant platforms cannot be built on a curve.

The new station will be located along Fleetwood Street between Third and Fourth avenues, and feature 530-foot-long high-level accessible platforms with canopies and seating; stair/elevator towers; an audio-visual public address system and security cameras; bicycle racks; and expanded surface parking.

SEPTA currently does not serve Coatesville, but has expressed interest in extending Regional Rail commuter service from Thorndale to Coatesville “in the near future.”

Funding for the project is being provided by PennDOT, Chester County, the City of Coatesville, the Coatesville Redevelopment Authority, and Federal Transit Administration.

PennDot Taking Bids for Projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is accepting unsolicited proposals for PennDOT-owned projects and infrastructure through Oct. 31.

In a news release the agency said private sector bidders may submit proposals offering “innovative ways” to deliver transportation projects involving roads, bridges, rail, aviation and ports.

The proposals also can include more efficient models to manage existing transportation services and programs, PennDOT officials said in a news release.

Bidders may also submit applications for non-PennDOT-owned assets directly to the Office of Public-Private Partnerships Board.

Transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction — such as transit authorities — may establish their own timelines or accept proposals year-round.

Instructions on how to submit a project and information on the unsolicited proposal review process can be found on the state’s P3 website.

PennDOT Seeks Comment on Freight Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on a draft of a state rail plan.

The 2045 Freight Movement Plan provides information on ways to improve the safe and efficient movement of freight. Comments will be accepted through Oct. 5.

The plan helps to ensure that the state remains eligible for federal funding under the National Highway Freight Program, which will add an average of $58.5 million to Pennsylvania’s freight program, PennDOT officials said in a news release.

Developed over a two-year period, the plan addresses state-federal provisions for freight planning, including those from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.