Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP)

Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) is sponsored by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Bureau of Rail, Freight, Ports, and Waterways. This program provides funding to invest in rail freight infrastructure. The goal is to keep important rail freight service if it makes economic sense and to keep or boost economic development by creating new or expanded rail freight service.

Rail Freight & Ports | Department of Transportation | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Rail Freight</h1>\r\n<p class=\"ms-rteElement-P\" style=\"font-size: 1. 0em;\">The application period for PennDOT’s 2025 Rail Freight Grant Program will open at 8:00AM, Monday, August 4, 2025, and will close at 4:00PM, Friday, August 29, 2025. The application portal can be accessed <a href=\"https://grants.

pa. gov/login. aspx\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.

Application questions should be directed to Harrison Warren at <a href=\"mailto:hwarren@pa. gov\">hwarren@pa. gov</a> or 717-736-7150 and Kyle Daugherty at <a href=\"mailto:kydaughert@pa.

gov\">kydaughert@pa. gov</a> or 717-783-1043. </p>\r\n<p class=\"ms-rteElement-P\" style=\"font-size: 1.

0em;\">Pennsylvania ranks first in the country in the number of operating railroads (65) and also ranks near the top in total track mileage (more than 5,600 miles). PennDOT provides financial and technical assistance to railroads and businesses while promoting economic development through its grant programs and other resources.

</p>\r\n<h3><b>Rail Freight Resources:</b></h3>\r\n<div><a href=\"/content/copapwp-pagov/en/agencies/penndot/programs-and-doing-business/rail-freight-ports/engineering. html\">Engineering</a></div>\r\n<div><a href=\"/content/copapwp-pagov/en/agencies/penndot/programs-and-doing-business/egrants.

html\">Grant Programs</a></div>\r\n<div><a href=\"/content/copapwp-pagov/en/agencies/penndot/programs-and-doing-business/rail-freight-ports/planning. html\">Planning</a></div>\r\n<div> </div>\r\n"}}"> The application period for PennDOT’s 2025 Rail Freight Grant Program will open at 8:00AM, Monday, August 4, 2025, and will close at 4:00PM, Friday, August 29, 2025. The application portal can be accessed here .

Application questions should be directed to Harrison Warren at hwarren@pa. gov or 717-736-7150 and Kyle Daugherty at kydaughert@pa. gov or 717-783-1043.

Pennsylvania ranks first in the country in the number of operating railroads (65) and also ranks near the top in total track mileage (more than 5,600 miles). PennDOT provides financial and technical assistance to railroads and businesses while promoting economic development through its grant programs and other resources.

<h1>Ports<br>\r\n</h1>\r\n<div><div><div>Pennsylvania ranks 35th in the country for volume of goods moved through its ports with more than 50 million tons of goods moving through the ports of Erie, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. </div>\r\n<div> </div>\r\n<div>PhilaPort is one of the nation's Strategic Military Ports and is consistently ranked among the top 25 ports in the country. It is ranked first in US ports for productivity in 2023.

</div>\r\n<div> </div>\r\n<div>The Port of Pittsburgh is the second busiest inland port in the United States. </div>\r\n<div> </div>\r\n<div> The Port of Erie has a 1,000 foot-long dry dock which is used to repair and build ships on the Great Lakes. </div>\r\n<div> <br>\r\n</div>\r\n<div>The department’s ports program was created to oversee and administer the allocation of state funds to the three ports.

It also serves as an advocate for both publicly- and privately- owned and operated ports. </div>\r\n<div> </div>\r\n<div>As part of its advocacy efforts, the department has created the Ports Incentive Program to entice shippers to increase their shipping volume through the three ports.

<br>\r\n <br>\r\n</div>\r\n<div><h4 class=\"ms-rteElement-H4\"><span class=\"text-headline--small\">Port Resources:</span></h4>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<div><div><span class=\"ms-rteFontSize-2\"><a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/programs-and-doing-business/railfreightandports/documents/2023. 11. 20%20picgip%20guidelines%20-%20exhibit%20a.

pdf? appId=aemshell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ports Incentive Program Guidelines</a> (PDF)</span></div>\r\n<div><span class=\"ms-rteFontSize-2\"><a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/programs-and-doing-business/railfreightandports/policies/documents/picgip%20program%20applicant%20instructions_4-28-21.

pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Apply to the PICGIP Program</a> (PDF)</span></div>\r\n<div><a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/programs-and-doing-business/railfreightandports/documents/picgip%20data%20verification%20reporting%20-%20grantee%20guide.

pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PICGIP Data Verification Reporting Grantee Guide</a> (PDF)</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n</div>\r\n"}}"> Pennsylvania ranks 35th in the country for volume of goods moved through its ports with more than 50 million tons of goods moving through the ports of Erie, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

PhilaPort is one of the nation's Strategic Military Ports and is consistently ranked among the top 25 ports in the country. It is ranked first in US ports for productivity in 2023. The Port of Pittsburgh is the second busiest inland port in the United States.

The Port of Erie has a 1,000 foot-long dry dock which is used to repair and build ships on the Great Lakes. The department’s ports program was created to oversee and administer the allocation of state funds to the three ports. It also serves as an advocate for both publicly- and privately- owned and operated ports.

As part of its advocacy efforts, the department has created the Ports Incentive Program to entice shippers to increase their shipping volume through the three ports.

Ports Incentive Program Guidelines (PDF) How to Apply to the PICGIP Program (PDF) PICGIP Data Verification Reporting Grantee Guide (PDF) Policies</h1>\r\n<p><a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/programs-and-doing-business/railfreightandports/policies/july-2025-grant-policy-program.

pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Grant Program Policy</a> (PDF) - revised July 2025<br>\r\n</p>\r\n<p>For any questions regarding the Grant Program policy, please contact <a href=\"mailto:stepanko@pa. gov\">Steve Panko</a>, Rail Planning Manager. <br>\r\n<br>\r\n<a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/programs-and-doing-business/railfreightandports/policies/july-2025-project-management-policy.

pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Project Management Policy with Appendices</a> (PDF) - revised July 2025</p>\r\n<p>For any questions regarding the Project Management policy, please contact <a href=\"mailto:nemyers@pa. gov\">Nevin Myers</a>, Chief Railroad Engineer. </p>\r\n<p> </p>\r\n"}}"> Grant Program Policy (PDF) - revised July 2025 For any questions regarding the Grant Program policy, please contact Steve Panko , Rail Planning Manager.

Project Management Policy with Appendices (PDF) - revised July 2025 For any questions regarding the Project Management policy, please contact Nevin Myers , Chief Railroad Engineer.