Governor Rendell Announces Investment in Pennsylvania's Rail Freight

Hoping to boost local economies and improve rail infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania, Governor Ed Rendell last week announced a $38.5 million investment in the state’s rail freight. PennDOT’s Rail Freight Capital Budget/Transportation Assistance program will get $30 million, and the other $8.5 million will be designated for Rail Freight Assistance grants. The funds will be administered by PennDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports, and Waterways, and be used for safety and efficiency upgrades. Governor Rendell noted that the rail industry is a staple of PA’s economy, supplying thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue. Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 miles of rail lines and more than 7,000 Pennsylvanians are employed by freight railroads.

Some of the projects funded in the region include:

Bucks County
· CSX Transportation Inc. - $4 million to improve overhead clearances at 16 locations in CSX’s Trenton Subdivision
· Samuel Grossi and Sons - $250,000 for a new railroad spur from the existing indoor fabricating facility to another building

Chester County
· East Penn Railroad LLC - $557,200 for track rehabilitation and upgrades to six at-grade crossings along the Octoraro Branch

Delaware County
· Conrail - $224,000 for track rehabilitation to support overseas shipments of GE locomotives and other commodities through the Penn Terminal

Montgomery County
· Lansdale Warehouse Co., Inc. - $17,850 to rehabilitate track servicing the Lansdale and Hatfield locations

Philadelphia County
· CSX Transportation Inc. - $1.5 million to construct new track connecting CSX’s Trenton Subdivision with Conrail’s Engleside connection track at Park Junction
· Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. - $53,550 to reconnect vandalized track and improve additional track to facilitate increase rail volumes