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SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority to Become Fully Independent in 2026

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority to Become Fully Independent in 2026

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has announced that the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) will become a fully independent entity effective January 1, 2026.

The JRA was created by SEDA-COG in June 1983, in direct response to Conrail’s abandonment of several unprofitable rail lines in central Pennsylvania. Recognizing the critical need to maintain freight rail service in the region, SEDA-COG took action by forming the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, an official municipal authority, to purchase and operate those lines. This move preserved freight service in the region and established the JRA as a nationally recognized public-private partnership.

SEDA-COG is incredibly proud to have launched the JRA, which has grown from two lines serving freight shippers along 80 miles of track, to today’s six lines serving freight shippers along 200 miles of track. We know this growth is a testament to the strength of the foundation we built together and will continue to be a source of pride for this organization.

SEDA-COG will have no formal role in the JRA’s operations after the transition. However, existing relationships with freight shippers and local partners will remain unchanged. Any updates to contact information or administrative details will be provided directly by the JRA later this year.

The JRA joins a growing list of successful initiatives that began under SEDA-COG and later became independent, including the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and Focus Central PA.

As a fully independent entity, the JRA will continue its mission to preserve and foster rail service in Central Pennsylvania and to further economic development through retention, improvement and expansion of the infrastructure and the rail service it supports.

About the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

Established in 1983, the Joint Rail Authority’s mission is to preserve rail freight service across a nine-county area of central Pennsylvania, moving goods and materials that drive the Central Pennsylvania regional economy. The JRA is responsible for nearly 220 miles of railroad main line track across six railroads. Our railroads, in cooperation with our strategic partner and operator, North Shore Railroad, support over 100 customers and 12,600 jobs in the region. To learn more, visit sedacograil.org.

About SEDA-COG
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

Request for Quotations: Professional Engineering Services

Request for Quotations: Professional Engineering Services

Posted on by DNS Admin

Newport Borough is requesting quotations for the purchase of Professional Engineering Services. These services include all necessary design and specifications for the bidding of and contracting for the Newport Borough Curbs and Sidewalks SR0849 project in Newport Borough, Perry County. Complete quotation details, including the required quotation format, may be obtained by contacting:

Michelle Koslap, Program Analyst
SEDA-COG
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837

Quotations will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, September 30, 2025, at which time they will be publicly opened at SEDA-Council of Governments, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Quotations shall be on the forms required, sealed and clearly marked on the outside, “Newport Borough Engineering Services Quotation,” and submitted to:

Michelle Koslap, Program Analyst
SEDA-COG
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837

Quotations that are faxed or e-mailed to SEDA-COG cannot be accepted.

Downloads:

SEDA-COG Helps Bridge $1.5 Million Funding Gap for Route 147 Waterline Project

SEDA-COG Helps Bridge $1.5 Million Funding Gap for Route 147 Waterline Project

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) played a key role in helping the Herndon Borough-Jackson Township Joint Municipal Authority (HBJTJMA) secure an additional $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding to complete the final phase of the Route 147 Waterline Replacement project.

Earlier phases of the project included construction of a new treatment facility, new water metering systems, and a conversion from gas to liquid chlorination to eliminate underground chlorine gas storage. The final phase will replace over two miles of deteriorating cast iron water pipes, some of which are more than 90 years old.

Addressing these aging infrastructure issues has become increasingly urgent, but recent developments complicated the path forward. In June, bids for the final phase came in $1.5 million over the available budget. Additionally, previously secured funds needed to be spent by the end of this year. Without the needed funding, only part of the project could proceed, putting the water system at continued risk.

Leveraging its expertise in community development and grant acquisition, SEDA-COG worked quickly with the Authority and other partners to identify and secure the additional funding needed to keep the project on track.

“Thanks to SEDA-COG’s decisive leadership, our project is back on track and poised to deliver lasting benefits to our community,” said Judi Deppen of the Herndon Borough–Jackson Township Joint Municipal Authority.

Deppen continued, “we couldn’t have done this without the expertise and support of SEDA-COG and project coordinator Tonia Troup, who sought solutions when none seemed available. As a small town without the resources to manage this on our own, we’re incredibly grateful. I believe other small communities like ours should know about the tremendous resources SEDA-COG offers.”

“We also couldn’t have done this without the backing of the Northumberland County Commissioners and Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver,” said Tonia Troup, SEDA-COG project coordinator. “And, of course, the quick action at the state level from DCED.”

Currently, residents experience discolored water, odor issues, and low pressure, while the current lack of reliable hydrant service forces fire crews to depend on tanker trucks from 20 minutes away. This delay can hinder emergency response efforts and increase the risk of harm during fire events.

Upon completion of the project, Herndon residents will enjoy clean, safe drinking water leading to better health, sanitation, and overall quality of life. Firefighters will have the necessary water pressure to effectively combat fires, significantly boosting public safety. Additionally, the new water lines will be more resilient to wear and tear caused by heavy-truck traffic along Route 147, ensuring the community continues to have reliable access to water.