Author: Christine Heintzelman

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority awarded $2M in PennDOT Funding for Bridge Rehabilitations

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

Lewisburg, PA – The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) is pleased to accept a $2,000,000 grant award through PennDOT’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) for the rehabilitation of multiple railroad bridges on the Juniata Valley Railroad and the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad. The total project budget is anticipated to be $2,971,000 with the RTAP funding covering approximately 70% of the project costs.

This grant award includes the rehabilitation of 4 bridges on the Juniata Valley Railroad in Mifflin County and 3 bridges and one culvert on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad in Centre County.

“PennDOT’s ongoing financial support allows the JRA to continue the modernization of its rail lines. These bridge improvements will allow us to provide uninterrupted service to our customers for many years,” said Russ Graham, JRA Board Chairman and Centre County Representative. “We are very grateful for the grant and the investment in Centre and Mifflin counties.”

Mifflin County Commissioner Rob Postal added, “The JRA and the Juniata Valley Railroad provide excellent service to our largest manufacturers and the industrial park and plaza. This significant investment demonstrates the continuing commitment to serve the Mifflin County economy. The Commissioners thank all who have been involved with this large and critical infrastructure project.”

“This grant award is critical to the JRA’s mission to preserve rail freight service by ensuring our infrastructure is maintained, operational, and resilient for the businesses we support,” said Steven Beattie, Executive Director of the JRA. “Much of our rail infrastructure is over 100 years old, and rehabilitation of our large bridge structures is a costly endeavor. PennDOT’s partnership and investment in our railroads will allow us to efficiently service our customers, uninterrupted, for years to come while keeping additional trucks off our highways and local roadways.”

Construction of the bridge projects will occur over the next two years following design, permitting, and the public bid process. The JRA, with our partners, has invested over $10 million across the entire rail system into railroad infrastructure improvements since 2019.

About the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

Established in 1983, the Joint Rail Authority’s mission is to preserve rail freight service across a nine-county area of central Pennsylvania, moving goods and materials that drive the Central Pennsylvania regional economy. The JRA is responsible for nearly 220 miles of railroad main line track across six railroads. Our railroads, in cooperation with our strategic partner and operator, North Shore Railroad, support over 100 customers and 12,600 jobs in the region. To learn more, visit www.sedacograil.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Steven Beattie, [email protected]

Advertisement for Bids

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

Sealed bids for Contract 2024-04 for construction of Selinsgrove Industrial Track Grade Crossing Replacement Project will be received by SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority located at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837 until 3 p.m. Prevailing Time on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time. A mandatory Pre-bid Conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority office located at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837. A site visit to each crossing will follow this meeting.

Contract 2024-04 includes replacement of four (4) grade crossings and sidewalk improvements on one (1) crossing on the Selinsgrove Industrial Track in Snyder County, PA. The work includes, but is not limited to, removal of existing grade crossings; installation of timber panel and heavy-duty tub grade crossings surfaces; constructing standard ballasted track; resurfacing and realigning approach track; roadway approach work; and drainage improvements.

Bid Documents may be obtained hardcopy at the office of Stiffler McGraw & Associates, Inc., 1731 North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday upon payment of One Hundred Fifty-Nine dollars ($159.00), which includes tax, non-refundable for each set. Electronic copy of the Bid Documents may be obtained at a 50% discount of hardcopy cost. A twenty dollar ($20.00) hardcopy fee for postage and handling will be required if mailed to bidder. Addenda, if any, will be issued to only those persons whose name and address are on record with the Engineer as having obtained the Contract Documents.

All questions about the meaning or intent of the Bidding Documents are to be sent in writing to Stiffler McGraw & Associates in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Telephone inquiries are unacceptable. Each bid shall be accompanied by a Certified Check or Bid Bond in an amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid total.

The bidders’ attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum prevailing wages must be paid on this project and bids shall be prepared accordingly in accordance with the bid documents.

All bids shall be irrevocable for 60 days after the bid opening date, with the right to extend the time to 120 days if additional time is required to obtain approvals of another government agency. The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority reserves the right to waive any defects, errors, omissions, mistakes, informalities to accept any bid or combination of bids that are deemed to be in the best interest of the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, and to reject any or all bids.

Steven Beattie, Executive Director

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

Railroad Crossing Project to Begin Saturday on Bottle Drive in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

Montoursville, PA – Motorists who travel Bottle Drive (Route 4012) in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County, are advised that a railroad crossing project begins this week.

Beginning Saturday, September 7, 2024, Bottle Drive will be closed between Snydertown Road (Route 4012) and Shamrock Road (Route 2010), while the contractor, CTW, installs a full-depth timber rail / highway crossing across the road. 

A detour using Penn Avenue (Route 2008), Route 54, and Route 487 will be in place for the duration of the project. The project is anticipated to be completed on Friday, September 13, 2024, weather permitting.

This work is a cooperative effort between the Shamokin Valley Rail Road and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect delays in travel, and drive with caution.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. 

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Tioga, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District3.

Information about infrastructure in District 3 including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D3Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Find PennDOT news on  X,  Facebook and Instagram. 

Railroad Crossing Work to Close Johns Estate Road and North Shamokin Street in Northumberland County

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

Lewisburg, PA – Motorists are advised that a portion of Johns Estate Road in Coal Township and North Shamokin Street in the City of Shamokin will close over the next two weeks for a railroad crossing replacement project being completed by the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority on the Shamokin Valley Railroad. The Johns Estate Road and North Shamokin Street crossings are part of a larger project to upgrade 15 at-grade crossings along the Shamokin Valley Railroad between Sunbury and Shamokin. This $4.6 million investment in safety is funded through PennDOT’s Railroad Safety Program.

From Sunday, August 18, through Friday, August 23, Johns Estate Road will be closed between Center Street and Hospital Road, while the contractor replaces the railroad crossing. 

The Johns Estate Road detour will utilize Center Street and Hospital Road and be in place for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed on Friday, August 23, weather permitting.

From Sunday, August 25, through Tuesday, September 3, North Shamokin Street will be closed between Commerce Street and Water Street, while the contractor replaces the railroad crossing. 

The North Shamokin Street detour will utilize Franklin Street, Sunbury Street, Washington Street and Water Street and be in place for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed on Tuesday, September 3, weather permitting.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect delays in travel and drive with caution.

About the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

Established in 1983, the Joint Rail Authority’s mission is to preserve rail freight service across a nine-county area of central Pennsylvania, moving goods and materials that drive the Central Pennsylvania regional economy. The JRA is responsible for nearly 220 miles of railroad across six railroads. Our railroads, in cooperation with our strategic partner and operator, North Shore Railroad, supports over 100 customers and 12,600 jobs in the region. To learn more, visit our website at www.sedacograil.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Steven Beattie, [email protected]

Railroad Crossing Project to Begin Aug. 2 on Shamrock Road in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

​Montoursville, PA – Motorists who travel Shamrock Road (Route 2010) in Shamokin Township, Northumberland County, are advised that a railroad crossing project begins this week.

Beginning Friday, August 2, 2024, Shamrock Road will be closed between Mulberry Road and Rose Road, while the contractor, CTW, installs a custom tub-style rail / highway crossing across the road.

A detour using Bottle Road (Route 4012), Snydertown Road (Route 4012), and Short Road (Route 2007) will be in place for the duration of the project. The project is anticipated to be completed on Friday, August 9, 2024, weather permitting.

This work is a cooperative effort between the Shamokin Valley Rail Road and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect delays in travel, and drive with caution.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local accounts on X.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Tioga, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District3.

Information about infrastructure in District 3 including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D3Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.​

Find PennDOT news on  X,  Facebook and Instagram. 

Railroad Crossing Work to Close Lenker Avenue and Haas Avenue in the City of Sunbury, Northumberland County

Posted on by Christine Heintzelman

July 1, 2024

Lewisburg, PA – Motorists are advised that a portion of Lenker Avenue and Haas Avenue will close over the next two weeks in the City of Sunbury, Northumberland County, for a railroad crossing replacement project being completed by the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority on the Shamokin Valley Railroad. The Lenker Avenue and Haas Avenue crossings are part of a larger project to upgrade 15 at-grade crossings along the Shamokin Valley Railroad between Sunbury and Shamokin. This $4.6 million investment in safety is funded through PennDOT’s Railroad Safety Program.

From Sunday, July 7, 2024, through Friday, July 12, 2024, Lenker Avenue will be closed between Wolverton Street and Penn Street, while the contractor replaces the railroad crossing. 

The Lenker Avenue detour will utilize South 10th Street, Walnut Street, and Wolverton Street and be in place for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed on Friday, July 12, 2024, weather permitting.

From Sunday, July 14, 2024, through Friday, July 19, 2024, Haas Avenue will be closed between Wolverton Street and Walnut Street Extension, while the contractor replaces the railroad crossing. 

The Haas Avenue detour will utilize South 10th Street, Walnut Street, Wolverton Street, and Market Street and be in place for the duration of the project. The project is expected to be completed on Friday, July 19, 2024, weather permitting.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect delays in travel and drive with caution.

About the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

Established in 1983, the Joint Rail Authority’s mission is to preserve rail freight service across a nine-county area of central Pennsylvania, moving goods and materials that drive the Central Pennsylvania regional economy. The JRA is responsible for nearly 220 miles of railroad across six railroads. Our railroads, in cooperation with our strategic partner and operator, North Shore Railroad, supports over 100 customers and 12,600 jobs in the region. To learn more, visit our website at www.sedacograil.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Steven Beattie, [email protected]