Pennsylvania advances new funding program, seeks applicants for freight-rail grants

Late last week, Pennsylvania's transportation commission adopted a new 12-year program that calls for providing more than $90 billion for improvements to railroads, transit systems, roads, bridges, airports and other transportation systems. 

The allocation in the new 12-year program represents an increase of more than 3% from the previous program that was adopted in 2025, commission officials said in a press release. 

In the first four years of the new program, which begins Oct. 1, 2026, improvements involving public transit and freight rail would receive $12.9 billion and $240 million, respectively. State highway and bridge projects would receive $16.9 billion, multimodal projects would obtain $367 million and aviation projects would be allocated $154 million. 

“This plan was developed through significant collaboration with Pennsylvania communities to enhance safety and modernize our system,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll. 

PennDOT now will submit the program to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration for review. 

Meanwhile, PennDOT recently opened the application period for grants under the state's Rail Transportation Assistance and Rail Freight Assistance programs. Applications are due Aug. 28. 

Sixty-five railroads operate in Pennsylvania, more than any other state, PennDOT officials said. The department is committed to working with railroads and businesses to construct new rail lines and maintain/improve more than 5,500 miles of rail lines in the state. 

“Pennsylvania has a robust freight-rail network and the Commonwealth values and invests in this critical transportation mode that businesses rely on,” said Carroll.