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PennDOT making $41M in grants available for state rail projects
Stacy Wescoe//July 29, 2026//
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced that the application period for grants under the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) will open Aug. 3. The state will make $41 million available between the two programs, which are designed to boost and support economic development by maintaining or expanding rail freight service.
“Pennsylvania has a robust rail freight network and the Commonwealth values and invests in this critical transportation mode that businesses rely on,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Supporting rail freight is another part of the Shapiro Administration‘s work to improve the infrastructure connecting our communities and to grow Pennsylvania’s economy.”
According to Carroll, Pennsylvania has 65 operating railroads, which he said is more than any other state in the nation.
With this funding, PennDOT is committing to work with private rail operators and businesses to construct new rail lines and assist in maintaining and improving Pennsylvania’s more than 5,500 miles of freight lines.
RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds.
RFAP is underwritten through the Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89.
For eligible organizations wishing to apply for funding through either program, applications will be available on the application website beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 3 and ending at 4 p.m. Aug. 28.
More information can be found on the PennDOT rail grant programs at Rail Freight and Ports page.
