EBT Foundation, Inc. has been awarded $125,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Area Development Program for the East Broad Top Railroad Master Plan. The ARC funds will be used to update and build upon the National Park Service’s East Broad Top Railroad Study of Alternatives (1990) and will support a master planning process for the rehabilitation and phased re-opening of the railroad.
The development of the master plan will include an analysis of how each phase of development will result in benefits to business and employment of surrounding communities, and compliment related and/or nearby existing and proposed regional assets, as well as recommend alternatives for management and maintenance as the railroad increases operations. The ARC funds, along with $125,000 in local sources, will be used to fulfill the specific project activities mentioned above.
“The East Broad Top Railroad is a historic part of Huntingdon County that showcases and celebrates our region’s robust railroad legacy. The East Broad Top Railroad Master Plan will make important progress in the mission to build economic development in our community and strengthen our tourism industry. I have visited the East Broad Top Railroad, and this is an important project for our region. I thank the EBT Foundation, Huntingdon County, and the Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission for securing this support.” – Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13)
The application was prepared by Zack Lee, the Regional Planner at Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission (SAP&DC), in coordination with EBT Foundation and Huntingdon County. The Huntingdon County Commissioners said “we greatly appreciate ARC’s investment in the EBT Master Plan that supports tourism and economic resilience in Huntingdon County. The plan will lay the framework to attract individuals from all over the country to experience the rich rail history we have here in the County. The East Broad Top Railroad is poised to enhance the tourism industry and will support the creation of new jobs and private investment in our communities.”
If you would like more information on the project, please contact Zack Lee, Regional Planner at SAP&DC at zlee@sapdc.org.
For more about this program or other programs please visit www.sapdc.org.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (www.arc.gov) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
