EIGHTY FOUR, March 28, 2008 — State Senator J. Barry Stout (D-Washington/Greene) announced today that Washington County has received over $263,000 for rail freight infrastructure from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) rail freight assistance program.
“I am pleased that we were able to secure funds to help preserve and promote rail freight service in our state,” Stout said. “Pennsylvania has a rich history in rail freight and these grants will help stimulate economic development through rail freight service upgrades.”
Prime Plastics Inc. will receive about $103,000 for construction of a new sidetrack at a recently established manufacturing facility serviced by the Allegheny Valley Railroad. Washington Penn Plastic Co, Inc. will receive $160,300 for construction of a siding to serve a thermoplastic compounding facility serviced by the Allegheny Valley Railroad.
The Rail Freight Assistance Program awards grants yearly to provide financial assistance for investment in rail freight infrastructure. Stout said that the intent of this program is to preserve essential rail freight service where economically feasible, and to preserve or stimulate economic development through the generation of new or expanded rail freight service.
Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation with more than 6,000 rail miles and more than 7,000 Pennsylvanians are employed by freight railroads, according to PennDOT.
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