State makes $41M available for rail freight grants
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - A Reading and Northern locomotive passes through Gilberton in 2020.
HARRISBURG – Grant funding totaling $41 Million is available for rail freight, PennDOT announced Monday.
They’re part of the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program.
Grant applications are open until August 29 for both programs.
“Pennsylvania’s rail freight network keeps goods moving and supports the economy, making it a critical piece of our transportation infrastructure,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These investments are another example of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to bolstering the business community and enhancing rail-line safety.”
Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, PennDOT says, totaling 5,600 miles of freight rail lines. In the Sentinel area, three railroads operate.
The Reading, Blue Mountain, and Northern operates a rail line through the Mahanoy Valley between Tamaqua and Mount Carmel, and into the Hazleton area via McAdoo, with spurs serving the Morea and Delano areas on each line respectively. Norfolk Southern has trackage in the Hazleton area, and the Shamokin Valley Railroad operates from Locust Summit to Sunbury.
Last year, PennDOT awarded $55 Million for 30 rail freight projects they say created or sustained 344 jobs statewide.
For eligible organizations wishing to apply for funding through either program, applications will be available on the application website beginning 8:00 AM on Monday, August 4, 2025 and ending at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025.
Program information can be found on the PennDOT website and application questions should be directed to Harrison Warren at [email protected] or 717-736-7150 and Kyle Daugherty at [email protected] or 717-783-1043.
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