KSRRA Spring Meeting | April 29, 2019
Our Spring Meeting will be held Monday, April 29, 2019 at 1 p.m., in Room 14E of the State Capitol Building. The KSRRA Spring Meeting will feature guest speaker, Deputy Secretary of Multimodal Transportation, Jennie Granger.
KSRRA Rail Day on the Hill | April 30, 2019
We are pleased to report that meetings have been scheduled with Senate President Pro Tempore, Joe Scarnati; Transportation Committee Chairs, Senator Kim Ward and Senator John Sabatina; and new House Transportation Committee Chairs, Rep. Tim Hennesey and Rep. Mike Carroll. We have also added a meeting with House Speaker Mike Turzai’s office. This is a great opportunity to meet with key leaders of the PA Legislature.
We will be meeting in the Capitol rotunda at 9 a.m. Our first meetings will start at 9:30 a.m. and our last meeting is scheduled at 3 p.m. There will be 30 meetings divided among four groups of KSRRA members. If you have not already done so, please RSVP for this event to Justin Shuey.
Legislation Co-Sponsor Memos
There are two co-sponsor memos we are tracking at this time.
The first one is from Rep. Martina White. This bill is similar to the one that was introduced in the previous session regarding two man crew requirements. You can find more information on the memo HERE.
The second memo that has been circulated is a bill that would increase the penalties for blocking railroad crossings. This memo is being circulated by Rep. Steve Barrar. More information on this memo can be found HERE.
Spotted Lantern Fly Letters
We are looking for Railroad members that have been contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to request a meeting regarding the spread of the Spotted Lantern Fly. If you have been contacted by the Department of Agriculture, please let Justin Shuey know.
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2019 SENATE SESSION SCHEDULE
April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
2019 HOUSE SESSION SCHEDULE
April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30
May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23
June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
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Bills in Committee
SR 33 | Senator Killion
Concurrent Resolution establishing a special bipartisan, bicameral legislative commission to recommend safety, oversight and interagency coordination improvements for the transport of oil, natural gas and other hazardous liquids through pipelines in this Commonwealth and develop and promote legislation in furtherance of the commission's recommendations.
House Bill 413 | Rep. Donna Oberlander
Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in fees, for hauling permits; & in size, weight and load, for conditions of permits & security for damages & for permit for movement of commercial implements of husbandry and farm equipment.
House Bill 1077 | Rep. Jim Marshall
An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fees, further providing for annual hauling permits; and, in size, weight and load, further providing for permit for movement during course of manufacture and providing for permit for movement of hot ingots or hot boxes.
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Upcoming Events
April 10, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
House Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Room 60, East Wing Informational meeting on milk hauling and: HB 915 Causer, Martin Amends Title 75 re: milk hauling
April 10, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
House Human Services, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building Joint public hearing with the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee on the challenges for people with a disability who are traveling
April 10, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
House Tourism and Recreational Development, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building Joint public hearing with the House Human Services CPA State Transportation Advisory Committee April 11, 2019 - 10:00 a.m., Commonwealth Keystone Building, Room 8N1, 400 North Street, Harrisburg Committee Meeting. For additional information: (717) 787-2913
April 11, 2019 | 10:00 a.m.
PA Public Utility Commission, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Hearing Room 1, 400 North St., Harrisburg Public Meeting. For additional information: (717) 783-1740
April 11, 2019 | 10:00 a.m.
House Democratic Policy Committee, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Stager Conference Room 3,Ground Floor, 555 North Duke Street, Lancaster Public hearing with Chairman Mike Sturla on adverse childhood experiences
April 16, 2019 | 10:00 a.m.
PA Turnpike Commission, Turnpike Admin. Bldg, Large Board Room, 700 S. Eisenhower Blvd., 3rd Fl., Middletown Commission Meeting. For additional information: (717) 831-7333
April 17, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO, One Port Center, 11th Floor, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJBoard Meeting. For additional information: (856) 968-2253
April 18, 2019 | 10:00 a.m.
House Transportation, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building Public hearing on: HB 631 Rothman, Greg Amends Title 75 re electric low-speed scooters
May 15, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
House Human Services, Room 60, East Wing Joint Public Hearing with the House Tourism & Recreational Development Committee to learn about the challenges of traveling for people who have a disability
May 15, 2019 | 9:00 a.m.
House Tourism and Recreational Development Room 60, East Wing Joint Public Hearing with the House Human Services Committee to learn about the challenges of traveling for people who have a disability committee on the challenges for people with a disability who are traveling
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Pennsylvania rail authority receives funds for Lackawana Cut-Off project
Progressive Railroading
Reconstruction of the Lackwanna Cut-Off line includes track and signal improvements to approximately 88 miles of right of way, new stations, parking facilities, a train storage yard and additional rail rolling stock.
The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA) this week was awarded a $400,000 state grant for engineering services needed to continue track and structure construction for a passenger-rail restoration project.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded the Local Share Account grant to allow the Scranton-to-New York City Lackawanna Cut-Off passenger-rail restoration project's construction to continue, according to a PNRRA press release.
New Jersey Transit is now in the construction phase of the Lackawanna Cut-Off project between Port Morris and Andover, New Jersey.
“The remaining 21 miles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania will require state and federal funding to complete the full restoration of the famed Lackawanna Cut-Off trackage and complete the through route which will be instrumental in taking cars and congestion off of Interstate 80 in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, especially during peak travel periods,”said PNRRA President Larry Malski.
The $400,000 is in addition to $300,000 in federal funding the PNRRA received from the Appalachian Regional Commission. That grant is being used to fund engineering costs as part of the next phase of construction.
Pennsylvania approves $1M grant to improve rail access
RT&S
According to local news reports, the state Department of Community and Economic Development announced that the grant would be given to Montour County through Driving Real Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) — the economic development council serving Pennsylvania’s Montour and Columbia counties.
The project was among 106 proposals approved last week, according to DCED spokesman Michael Gerber.
The grant funding is available through the Multimodal Transportation Fund, according to the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Local news reports state that Montour County partnered and leased transportation assets with SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA), an eight-county joint municipal authority, and DRIVE to enhance rail and truck access to the DRIVE industrial park.
The project aims to rehabilitate the site that is located on land that has been previously developed and is not currently in use, resulting in improved rail and truck access. Officials said the project involves repaving an entire roadway from Wall Street, moving and expanding a railroad crossing to two lanes, building a new access road, raising a rail bridge, carrying out drainage improvements and building a new rail turnout.
The planned work is expected to minimize damage from flash floods and establish an industrial facility that is capable of supporting several new manufacturers.
Montour County Commissioner Trevor Finn also serves on the DRIVE board. Finn recognized Executive Director Jennifer Wakeman and her staff, who he noted “worked very hard to secure this grant to bring in new jobs and retain jobs in Montour County,” according to local news reports.
Officials told local news outlets that the rail enhancements will be used by a lumber company that fireproofs wood for the construction industry. The company is expected to occupy a space at the Metso property off Railroad Street that DRIVE purchased in December of 2017.
Montour County partnered with DRIVE to apply for the grant, eliminating the need for a match, officials said. The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority and North Shore Railroad, which was Railway Age’s Shortline of the Year in 2017, are each expected to contribute $25,000 to the project. Improvements to an access road on the Metso property are also scheduled.
Metso Minerals Industries, Inc. manufactures and offers equipment and services for quarrying and aggregates production, according to the company’s website.
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