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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Rail Freight

    The application period for PennDOT’s 2025 Rail Freight Grant Program will open at 8:00AM, Monday, August 4, 2025, and will close at 4:00PM, Friday, August 29, 2025. The application portal can be accessed here. Application questions should be directed to Harrison Warren at hwarren@pa.gov or 717-736-7150 and Kyle Daugherty at kydaughert@pa.gov or 717-783-1043.

    Pennsylvania ranks first in the country in the number of operating railroads (65) and also ranks near the top in total track mileage (more than 5,600 miles).  PennDOT provides financial and technical assistance to railroads and businesses while promoting economic development through its grant programs and other resources.

    Rail Freight Resources:

     

    Ports

    Pennsylvania ranks 35th in the country for volume of goods moved through its ports with more than 50 million tons of goods moving through the ports of Erie, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
     
    PhilaPort is one of the nation's Strategic Military Ports and is consistently ranked among the top 25 ports in the country. It is ranked first in US ports for productivity in 2023.
     
    The Port of Pittsburgh is the second busiest inland port in the United States.
     
     The Port of Erie has a 1,000 foot-long dry dock which is used to repair and build ships on the Great Lakes. 
     
    The department’s ports program was created to oversee and administer the allocation of state funds to the three ports. It also serves as an advocate for both publicly- and privately- owned and operated ports.
     
    As part of its advocacy efforts, the department has created the Ports Incentive Program to entice shippers to increase their shipping volume through the three ports.
     

    Port Resources:

    Policies

    Grant Program Policy (PDF) - revised July 2025

    For any questions regarding the Grant Program policy, please contact Steve Panko, Rail Planning Manager.

    Project Management Policy with Appendices (PDF) - revised July 2025

    For any questions regarding the Project Management policy, please contact Nevin Myers, Chief Railroad Engineer.

     

    Engineering

    Engineering

    Planning

    Planning