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Fetterman Secures $25 Million for Colebrookdale Railroad Project

BRADDOCK, PA — This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $25 million grant award for a railway improvement project along the Colebrookdale Railroad in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The award comes after U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) penned a letter of support to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy highlighting the safety and economic benefits of federal investment in this historic railroad.

“When we invest in historic landmarks like the Colebrookdale Railroad, we invest in Pennsylvania’s future,” said Senator Fetterman. “I’m proud to have fought for this funding and am grateful to Secretary Duffy for his commitment to this hidden Pennsylvania treasure, which will continue to play a critical role in the region’s economic future.”

The Colebrookdale Railroad is an active freight and heritage railroad that operates between Berks and Montgomery counties. The railroad, which was nearly abandoned after years of neglect, is now a pillar of the region’s economy.

The $25 million award will be used to install new track to separate local freight operations from the railroad’s tourist operations. The funding will also rehabilitate more than 2,000 feet of existing track along the corridor, enable the construction of a new train shed for Colebrookdale’s locomotives and rail cars, and connect the railroad to pedestrian infrastructure, public transit, and the nearby Schuylkill River Trail.

The funding was awarded through DOT’s Fiscal Year 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. In addition to this $25 million award, Montgomery County was also awarded $600,000 to study the feasibility of proposed infrastructure improvements along Germantown Pike and Sumneytown Pike.

“This award belongs to Pottstown. Montgomery County, the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks, and hundreds of residents and volunteers made the case that a town built on iron and rail deserved infrastructure equal to its ambitions. For me it is also personal: Pottstown raised me, and there is a particular satisfaction in helping the federal government see what those of us from here have always known,” said Nathaniel Guest, Executive Director of the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust and managing director of the Switchpoint Foundation.

“Pottstown helped build Pennsylvania’s past, and this $25 million BUILD Grant will help accelerate its future. Thanks to Senator Fetterman’s leadership, this investment will transform the Pottstown corridor into an engine for economic growth, job creation, and opportunity,” said Jamila Winder, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

“I’m grateful to Senator Fetterman for securing this transformative investment in Pennsylvania. The $25 million BUILD grant for the Pottstown area and Colebrookdale Railroad project will boost our economy, support local businesses, and create new opportunities for residents across the region,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija. 

“Pottstown is a very important part of our county and we are thrilled to see it get the federal support it deserves,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello.

“There are those who say government can’t get things done. I’d ask them to come to this valley. Two counties, a state, and a nation rolled up their sleeves, not for the glory of government, but for the good of its people. The men and women here once forged the iron that built America. That spirit never left. Today, we put it back to work to help people with housing, training and a future,” said Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach.

“I am thrilled to see that the Colebrookdale Railroad was awarded this grant! The railroad is an important economic driver for both the Boyertown and Pottstown areas. I want to thank Senator Fetterman for his support of this project,” said Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera.

“First, I want to thank Senator Fetterman and his office for their support throughout this process. Receiving a BUILD Grant is an incredible achievement, and it’s a testament to what can happen when people come together around a shared vision. This project represents years of collaboration between our federal, state, county, local, nonprofit, and private partners. No single organization accomplishes transformational change alone. It takes trust, persistence, and a willingness to work together. The investment in the Colebrookdale Railroad is about much more than rail infrastructure. It’s about preserving history, creating economic opportunity, supporting tourism, and investing in the long-term future of both Berks and Montgomery Counties. Today is a day to celebrate everyone who helped make this possible, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as we move from planning to construction and, ultimately, to delivering lasting benefits for the people of Berks and Montgomery Counties,” said Jaime O. Perez, Executive Director of the Berks County Redevelopment Authority.