FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION : PASSENGER RAIL

Description

Major cities: Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh

Segment	Mileage	Top Speed (goal)	Travel Time (goal)
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh	349	110 mph	5:25 hr

Accomplishments and Status:

The Keystone Corridor is electrified between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, is almost completely grade-separated from the highway grid, and enjoys direct track access to Center City Philadelphia and, via the Northeast Corridor Main Line, to Midtown Manhattan. Thus, the Harrisburg-Philadelphia portion of the Keystone Corridor has for many decades been one of the Nation's most highly developed and best-served intercity rail passenger routes, although formal recognition as a "designated high-speed corridor" came only with TEA-21. In recent years, Amtrak (the line's owner and manager) has invested over $26 million in remedying deferred maintenance on the 104-mile Harrisburg-Philadelphia portion.

The State is working to eliminate the remaining three public highway grade crossings on the Harrisburg to Philadelphia portion and has budgeted $9 million for the work. FRA allocated $500,000 in 1999 in TEA-21, Section 1103(c) funding to begin preliminary design for the grade separation and bypass road needed to eliminate these 3 crossings and an additional $500,000 in 2001. The design work for the crossing elimination is underway in 2004.

The Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Highway Administration jointly manage the Section 1103(c) grade crossing hazard elimination program in designated high-speed corridors. $1 million has been invested in reducing grade crossing hazards in the Keystone Corridor since the program's beginning in 1993. Details on the grade crossing inventory in this corridor can be found HERE .

Outlook:

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, FRA and Amtrak have recently studied the infrastructure needs and the potential uses of the Harrisburg to Philadelphia portion of the Keystone Corridor. The preliminary study conclusions suggest that the Amtrak owned line could indeed support the Commonwealth's goal of a 90-minute travel time between Harrisburg and Center City Philadelphia, as well as direct, high-speed service between Harrisburg, Philadelphia's western suburbs, and New York City.

Accordingly, the Commonwealth and Amtrak recently updated an aggressive three-year capital investment program in the corridor worth $100 million; with costs shared equally. Travel times would be reduced to 90 minutes along the 104-mile route. This partnership could lead to the acquisition of all-electric equipment capable of linking Harrisburg with the urban centers of Philadelphia and New York. Work commencing in 2004 focuses on improving track and tie conditions and includes the installation of 10 miles of continuous welded rail. There will also be upgrades to electric traction cables, bridge improvements and the installation of communications and signal equipment.

Station improvements and new construction are being pursued at Harrisburg Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Norfolk Southern (NS) and the airport are finalizing agreements to address right of way issues and accommodations for NS associated with the need to relocate the existing freight track to permit construction of the new intermodal Harrisburg station. Funding of $10 million to complete the Harrisburg station is available. Approximately $7 million in upgrades to the Lancaster station will be completed in late spring 2004. Cost estimates and plans for the upgrade of the Mount Joy station are being developed and the master plan and conceptual design for renovations to the Elizabethtown station have been completed. PENNDOT recently awarded a grant for $250,000 to NS to complete an assessment of infrastructure improvements required between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh to add two additional passenger trains per day. The study is expected to be complete by fall 2004.

Station improvements and new construction are being pursued at Harrisburg Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), Norfolk Southern (NS) and the airport are finalizing agreements to address right of way issues and accommodations for NS associated with the need to relocate the existing freight track to permit construction of the new intermodal Harrisburg station.Harrisburg station is available. Approximately $7 million in upgrades to the Lancaster station will be completed in late spring 2004. Cost estimates and plans for the upgrade of the Mount Joy station are being developed and the master plan and conceptual design for renovations to the Elizabethtown station have been completed. PENNDOT recently awarded a grant for $250,000 to NS to complete an assessment of infrastructure improvements required between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh to add two additional passenger trains per day.

Keystone Corridor Contacts
*Organization*	*Personal Contact*	*Topics*
Pennsylvania Dept Of Transportation 400 North ST, 8th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0095 www.dot.state.pa.us	Ms Sharon Daboin, Acting Secretary for Local and Area Transportation Tel: 717-787-8197 Fax: 727-787-5491 sdaboin@state.pa.us	Amtrak; Passenger and freight rail service; Grade crossings; Infrastructure improvements; High speed rail.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) contacts for the Keystone HSR Corridor