ALTOONA – The Altoona freight railcar repair facility Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) is the recipient of a $1 million grant through the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) and Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) announced.
“Railroading remains a key to Pennsylvania’s economy and our local economy. “This funding will help propel it forward while retaining and creating jobs,” Schmitt said. “I applaud PennDOT’s decision to invest in Altoona and its people to ensure our rich railroading tradition continues.”
The PennDOT grant will be used to rehabilitate the transfer table pit retaining walls. A transfer table is used to move locomotives and train cars from one section of track to another.
“The state’s investment in rail freight is particularly important and meaningful to Altoona, a city built around the railroad industry and full of rich rail heritage,” Ward said. “Union Tank Car, a leader in tank car manufacturing, leasing and repair, is committed to high-value rail transportation solutions for its customers. This project will help UTLX in this mission and will benefit the local community.”
The sources of the grant funding are the Act 89 Transportation Plan of 2013 and Act 119 of 2013, both of which support improvements to freight rail infrastructure. Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, which is more than any other state in the country, and is made up of roughly 5,600 miles of freight lines.
For more information on Schmitt and his legislative priorities, please visit RepLouSchmitt.com or Facebook.com/RepSchmitt.