The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently made $41 million available in grants via its Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP), with applications for that funding due by August 28.
[Above photo by PennDOT]
The agency said RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds, while the RFAP is underwritten through the state’s Multimodal Fund. PennDOT added that both programs seek to boost and support economic development by maintaining or expanding rail freight service. The agency noted that Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads and more than 5,500 miles of freight rail lines.
“Pennsylvania has a robust rail freight network and the Commonwealth values and invests in this critical transportation mode that businesses rely on,” said Mike Carroll, PennDOT secretary, in a statement. “Supporting rail freight is another part of the Shapiro Administration’s work to improve the infrastructure connecting our communities and to grow Pennsylvania’s economy.”
Other state departments of transportation are also making rail freight project funding available.
For example, the Maine Department of Transportation is currently pursuing applications for $2 million in grants via its Industrial Rail Access Program or IRAP; a public/private freight partnership program overseen by the agency’s Office of Freight and Business Logistics.
The agency noted in a statement that IRAP provides financial assistance to businesses and shippers for investment in rail or freight rail related infrastructure located on, within or adjacent to the general railroad system. Maine DOT added that this state investment will be matched at a minimum 50/50 level with local and/or private industry funds.
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