By Matthew Santoni

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission approved nearly $8 million in grants on Friday for Pittsburgh-area railroads to make improvements and repairs, officials announced.

Ten short-line railroads or industries shipping via railroad in Western Pennsylvania received money. Statewide, 24 projects won grants totaling about $18.6 million.

PennDOT spokeswoman Erin Waters said many of the grant applications were tied to the Marcellus shale natural gas industry.

In Allegheny County, Allegheny Valley Railroad Co. got $1.6 million for the final phase of its Glenwood Yard reconstruction in Hazelwood.

In Ambridge, Beaver County, Nicholas Enterprises Inc. received about $416,000 for track remediation at the Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminal. An additional $250,000 went to install two rail spurs and equipment for loading and unloading at Nalco Co. in Monaca.

In Fayette County, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Railroad will get $1.2 million to rehabilitate its Fairmont Morgantown & Pittsburgh subdivision, and Brownsville Marine Products received $250,000 for a rail spur and conveyor system.

The Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad will get $2.1 million to rehabilitate and expand tracks in Indiana and Jefferson counties.

Johnstown Industrial Development Corp. received about $339,000 to rehabilitate a bridge and railroad track leading into Quemahoning Industrial Park in Somerset County.

The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad got a $1.1 million grant to build a siding in Washington County; Three Rivers Marine & Rail Terminal, based in Charleroi, got $303,000 for new and rehabilitated track; and Alumisource LLC received $355,000 to re-establish a rail connection between its Monessen facility and a nearby CSX rail line.

Matthew Santoni is a staff writerfor Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5625 or msantoni@tribweb.com.

1. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
2. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
3. Penguins Insider: Time is right for Jokinen’s return
4. Kovacevic: Pens improve under microscope
5. Neal’s solid play soon could pay off on scoresheet for Penguins
6. ‘We did it!’ Peduto tells city, as he defeats Wagner 
7. Rupert wins Democratic nod to run for sheriff
8. Snider’s grand slam pushes Pirates to late victory over Cubs
9. Mt. Pleasant mayor victorious
10. Charleroi Area School Board getting two new members
11. Senators get vote of confidence

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.