Lewisburg, PA – The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has announced that the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) will become a fully independent entity effective January 1, 2026.
The JRA was created by SEDA-COG in June 1983, in direct response to Conrail’s abandonment of several unprofitable rail lines in central Pennsylvania. Recognizing the critical need to maintain freight rail service in the region, SEDA-COG took action by forming the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, an official municipal authority, to purchase and operate those lines. This move preserved freight service in the region and established the JRA as a nationally recognized public-private partnership.
SEDA-COG is incredibly proud to have launched the JRA, which has grown from two lines serving freight shippers along 80 miles of track, to today’s six lines serving freight shippers along 200 miles of track. We know this growth is a testament to the strength of the foundation we built together and will continue to be a source of pride for this organization.
SEDA-COG will have no formal role in the JRA’s operations after the transition. However, existing relationships with freight shippers and local partners will remain unchanged. JRA staff — Executive Director Steven Beattie, Property and MoW Manager Kyle Postupack and Program Assistant Tina Heintzelman — and office location will also remain unchanged.
The JRA joins a growing list of successful initiatives that began under SEDA-COG and later became independent, including the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and Focus Central PA.
As a fully independent entity, the JRA will continue its mission to preserve and foster rail service in Central Pennsylvania and to further economic development through retention, improvement and expansion of the infrastructure and the rail service it supports. The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority has been in existence since 1983 as a Pennsylvania Municipal Authority and its governance structure will not change during this transition period.
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 sedacograil.org.
About SEDA-COG
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.