TriCounty Area Chamber Of Commerce: The Redevelopment Authority Of Berks County Receives A $14.7 Million Grant For Renovations To Bridge

Pottstown PA

16 June, 2022

11:16 AM

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Press release from TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce: June 14, 2022 June 13—Boyertown, PA: The Redevelopment Authority of Berks County receives a $14.7 million grant for renovations to bridges, tracks, and transload facilities to support Eastern Berks Gateway Freight and Colebrookdale Railroad Passenger Services. US Senator Bob Casey joined a celebratory crowd at the Boyertown Train Station today to acknowledge that the Redevelopment Authority of Berks County [RDABC] will be receiving $14.7 million in federal funds to renovate their bridges and infrastructure including the Colebrookdale Railroad tracks for modern freight travel. "The people of Berks County deserve access to safe and efficient railways, rail crossings, and bridges," said Senator Casey. "This is a meaningful investment in the people and infrastructure of this region and it is just the beginning. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will bring even more opportunities to improve passenger and freight rail throughout Pennsylvania." U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean said she was thrilled that her colleagues came together to pass a spending plan that includes substantial funding for community projects across their districts. "Our office has advocated for these investments to make our communities healthier, safer and more accessible," Dean said. "I look forward to seeing the progress firsthand and working with community partners to achieve their visions." County Commissioners Val Arkoosh, Ken Lawrence, and Christian Leinbach as well as representatives from Congresswoman Madeline Dean's office joined the celebration with comments of their own as well as a locomotive ride down the line to observe track work already started in the transload facility. Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach added, "As we see a gallon of gas go through the roof. Moving freight by rail is far cheaper per mile, per ton, than trucking it. And so whenever we have access to rail, that is environmentally sound, financially sound." The grant award comes from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program or C.R.I.S.I. and is operated through the US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration. The Colebrookdale Railroad, built-in 1869, originally transported passengers and iron ore along the Manatawny Creek. In 2009, Berks County bought the railroad for $1.35 million following a campaign by Guest and the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust to save the line. The railroad was then turned over to the Berks County Redevelopment Authority in 2014, and the Authority and the Trust partnered to secure additional funding for railroad maintenance and improvements. Senator Casey's office announced the grant in a May 26, 2022 press release. Eastern Berks Gateway [EBG] offers freight services on the line and the Colebrookdale Railroad [CRR] provides tourist excursions that carry passengers along a scenic route through woodlands and over historical bridges. "This is very important funding to upgrade a vital link to the national rail network for eastern Berks and western Montgomery County," Nathaniel Guest, Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust president, said Thursday to the Reading Eagle. "This is a much-needed and much welcome shot in the arm." "The grant will allow the EBG to expand its freight service by funding track improvements to support the weight of modern freight cars," Guest said. "It allows the current customers to expand, and it allows customers that we currently cannot serve to be served," he noted. "It's been a collaborative effort between the railroad, Berks and Montgomery Counties, our nonprofits, our volunteers, donors, and our freight customers," Guest said. This press release was produced by TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.