Pa. Invests Nearly $53M in Rail Infrastructure Projects

PennDOT is investing $53M in 30 rail projects across PA to enhance freight mobility, create jobs, & boost the economy. The projects include track rehabilitation, bridge repairs, and siding construction on rail lines connecting various counties. For more info, visit pa.gov/agencies/penndot.

January 27, 2026 - Northeast Edition
Office of Gov. Josh Shapiro

PennDOT logo

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Jan. 21, 2026, that it will invest nearly $53 million in 30 rail freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility while creating and sustaining an estimated 450 jobs across Pennsylvania.

These investments — funded through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) — builds on the current progress to improve the infrastructure that connects Pennsylvania businesses and communities and grow Pennsylvania's economy. Pennsylvania is the only state with a dedicated rail freight grant program in the country, and the Shapiro administration has invested over $150 million in the commonwealth's rail freight network since taking office in 2023.

"Pennsylvania's rail freight network supports family sustaining jobs and connects Pennsylvania communities to the global economy while bolstering local economic development," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "These investments to expand and improve the network will create opportunities for generations of Pennsylvanians to come."

Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, which is more than any other state in the nation. PennDOT said they are committed to working with private rail operators and rail-served businesses to construct new rail lines and assist in maintaining and improving Pennsylvania's roughly 5,600 mi. of freight lines.

The following is a list of the 30 rail freight projects that will be funded through RTAP and RFAP:

Allegheny County

• Allegheny Valley Railroad: $2.1 million to replace 1.3 mi. of jointed rail with new 136 lb. rail on the Allegheny Subdivision.

• Union Railroad: $700,000 to replace ties within seven tracks within the Ore Yard and four tracks on the Joe Wolf Yard.

• MetalTech: $840,000 to replace approximately 2,000 ft. of rail and rebuilt a 250-ft. concrete embedded grade crossing at its metals processing facility.

Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence and McKean Counties

• Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad: $4 million to improve 218 mi. of the Main Line and P&W Subdivisions through replacements of 40 grade crossings, 80,000 ft. of rail, 30,000 ties and surfacing 48 mi. of track.

Berks County

• Berks County Redevelopment Authority: $2.6 million to replace 1,600 ft. of existing track, construct 2,430 ft. of new track and a siding to serve the Boyertown Foundry.

• H&K Group Inc.: $827,000 to rehabilitate and improve the track siding at the Birdsboro Quarry.

Blair County

• Everett Railroad: $285,000 to rehabilitate the approach, masonry substructure and bridge deck on a railroad bridge span in Freedom Township.

Blair and Centre Counties

• SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority: $2.1 million to rehabilitate five bridges on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad (NBER) Nittany Main and the Bellefonte Branch.

Bradford and Wyoming Counties

• RJ Corman Railroad Company Lehigh Line: $3 million to rehabilitate approximately 22 mi. of track along the Lehigh Line with ties, ballast and surfacing.

Butler, Cameron and Elk Counties

• Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad: $3.1 million to rehabilitate approximately 20 mi. of track on the Laurel Subdivision, an additional six mi. of track, install two switch machines and improve a grade crossing in the Butler Yard.

Cambria County

• Lehigh Valley Rail Management: $2.1 million to replace approximately 7,000 ties and install 10 new turnouts at its Johnstown rail facility.

Cambria and Clearfield Counties

• RJ Corman Railroad Company Pennsylvania Lines: $1 million to rehabilitate approximately eight mi. of track along the Cresson and Wallaceton Subdivisions with ties, ballast and surfacing.

Clinton County

• Snavely's Mill: $3.2 million to construct two new rail spurs and rehabilitate more than 3,000 ft. of track at its transloading facility.

• South Avis Realty: $819,000 to replace ties and rehabilitate three grade crossings throughout its facility.

Columbia County

• Sekisui Kydex LLC: $1 million to remove an existing siding and construct a new extended siding to increase capacity at its Bloomsburg South Campus Facility.

Dauphin County

• Consolidated Scrap Resources: $455,000 to rehabilitate existing track and construct new rail track within its 28-acre Harrisburg yard.

Delaware County

• Conrail: $1.7 million to replace 11 turnouts within Stoney Creek Yard and includes replacements with steel timbers.

Franklin County

• Pennsylvania and Southern Railway: $912,000 to rehabilitate more than 6,000 ft. on the outbound and inbound tracks serving the Cumberland Valley Business Park in Chambersburg.

Lancaster County

• Strasburg Rail Road: $1.2 million to rehabilitate approximately 3,000 ft. of track, improve a grade crossing and install permanent bulk transloading equipment.

Lebanon County

• Allen Distribution: $722,000 to construct three rail sidings at a 625,000-sq.-ft. logistics center connecting to a Norfolk Southern line in Jackson Township.

• Peachey Rail Works: $810,000 to construct two additional tracks and install unloading equipment.

Luzerne County

• Greiner Packaging Corp.: $1.6 million to construct a 0.2 mi. spur and 1,600-linear-ft. vacuum push/pull system to transfer resin from the railyard to on-site silos.

• Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County: $673,000 to rehabilitate a grade crossing and approximately 10 mi. of spot tie replacement.

Philadelphia County

• Philadelphia Regional Port Authority dba PhilaPort: $974,473 to rehabilitate 2,600 ft. of rail storage track and replace a turnout at Tioga Marine Terminal.

• Riverside Materials Inc.: $679,000 to rehabilitate their industrial unloading and conveying system used to unload unit trains of aggregates.

Susquehanna County

• Central New York Railroad: $3.4 million to rehabilitate Bridge 192.22 near Susquehanna.

Washington County

• Pittsburgh and Ohio Central Railroad: $1.1 million to construct approximately 4,800 ft. of new track in the Scully Yard and rehabilitate 10,560 linear ft. of track on the Arden Subdivision.

• Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway: $5.9 million to rehabilitate three rail bridges located on the Pittsburgh and Rook subdivisions.

Westmoreland County

• Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad: $3.24 million to rehabilitate 3 mi. of rail replacing jointed rail on the Radebaugh Subdivision with welded rail.

York County

• York Railway: $1.5 million to improve track in the Lincoln Yard with rail replacement, upgrading turnouts and surfacing two grade crossings.

For more information, visit pa.gov/agencies/penndot.