A national research team led by two Penn State Altoona faculty members has been awarded a $6.87 million grant through the 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The funding will establish the Rail Center for Research Enhancing Short-line Transportation (Rail CREST), a forward-thinking initiative aimed at developing and deploying affordable technologies to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of short-line and regional railroads.
ALTOONA, Pa. — A national research team led by two Penn State Altoona faculty members has been awarded a $6.87 million grant through the 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements by the Federal Railroad Administration.
This funding will establish the Rail Center for Research Enhancing Short-line Transportation (Rail CREST), an initiative aimed at developing and deploying affordable technologies to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability and sustainability of short line and regional railroads.
Short line railroads play a vital role in the U.S. rail network, supporting local and regional economies through essential “first mile, last mile” services, the process by which goods are moved from manufacturer to consumer. Often operated by small companies, these railroads face significant challenges, including aging infrastructure, limited resources for safety and maintenance, and a need for sustainable practices. Rail CREST aims to address these challenges through focused research, technology transfer and workforce development efforts.
Under the leadership of Hai Huang, center director and professor of engineering at Penn State Altoona, and Shihui Shen, associate center director and professor of rail transportation engineering (RTE) at Penn State Altoona, Rail CREST will bring together faculty and researchers from six partnering institutions: Kansas State University, University of Texas at Austin, Auburn University, University of South Carolina and University of New Mexico. This collaboration will facilitate 10 targeted research projects to provide practical, cost-effective solutions tailored to the unique needs of short line rail operators, according to Huang.
“RTE faculty began rail research efforts more than a decade ago alongside the establishment of the nation’s first and only ABET-accredited RTE program,” Huang said, referring to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. “Our partner universities also bring extensive experience in rail-focused research and education, making this collaboration uniquely positioned and well-prepared for this important work.”
Rail CREST’s research will focus on key areas such as affordable technologies for infrastructure monitoring through computer vision technologies, advanced safety mechanisms for grade crossings and artificial intelligence-driven geohazard prediction models. Sustainability efforts will include investigating ways to use recycled materials for track ties and developing comprehensive energy analysis tools to promote environmentally friendly practices.
“This work reflects Penn State Altoona’s commitment to supporting impactful research and showcases the dedication of our faculty and administration,” Shen said. “We hope it affirms for our students the strength of the RTE program and the pride that comes with being part of it.”
The establishment of Rail CREST has garnered significant support from Penn State’s College of Engineering, especially the Larson Transportation Institute, and legislative leaders, including Senator Bob Casey, Senator John Fetterman, and Congressmen John Joyce and Glenn “GT” Thompson, who emphasized the critical role that short line railroads play in regional economic development and transportation safety.
“For generations, short line rail has played a major role in the transportation of freight and raw materials throughout central Pennsylvania and our country,” Joyce said. “I was honored to support the Rail CREST grant proposal, which will gather the leading experts in rail research and education to focus on the safe, timely deployment of new technologies designed to improve short line infrastructure, and I applaud Penn State for its commitment to ensuring the success of this critical part of Pennsylvania’s transportation past, present and future.”
“Short lines, particularly after years of neglect in rural areas, are in urgent need of research on affordable technologies to improve aging infrastructure, workplace safety, and tailored maintenance strategies to improve and extend the service life of this vital freight transportation network,” said Thompson. “... the Rail CREST will gather the leading experts in rail research and education to focus on the safe, timely deployment of new technologies designed to improve short line infrastructure.”
The project is also backed by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and guided by an Industrial Advisory Board composed of industry experts and short line operators, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
“Short line rail provides the critical ‘first mile, last mile’ rail infrastructure to support freight shipment service across multiple vital industries including agriculture, energy production and manufacturing,” said Casey. “By engaging in research focused on identifying affordable ways to repair and upgrade short line railroads, including solutions to address aging infrastructure, workplace safety improvements, and maintenance strategies, the Rail CREST project seeks to improve supply chain resilience and safety.”
The initiative is further supported by non-federal matching contributions from The Everett Railroad Company, H&J International PC and Seda-Council of Governments.
“The Rail CREST project will bring together academics with proven success in rail research to focus on the shared goal of improving short line infrastructure across the Nation,” said Fetterman. “Penn State Altoona is home to the first and only rail engineering program in the United States, educating students based on workforce needs in the rail transportation industry.”
Expected outcomes of Rail CREST include enhanced safety and operational practices, the adoption of cost-effective and sustainable solutions, and the development of a skilled workforce equipped for modern industry challenges, the researchers said. By fostering strong partnerships between academia and the short line rail industry, Rail CREST aims to contribute to long-term economic and environmental resilience.
“I congratulate Drs. Huang and Shen for their scholarship as part of their commitment to improving an industry so fundamental to Pennsylvania and the nation,” said Ron Darbeau, chancellor of Penn State Altoona. “Their efforts further amplify Penn State Altoona’s role in academic pursuit in service to the rail industry. I couldn’t be prouder of them, or more grateful to our legislators who lent support to this proposal.”
