It’s an ongoing  project that requires agreements between Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, PennDOT, and the federal government.

“We have one train a day.  Eastern Pennsylvania has 14 trains a day.  For Johnstown and Altoona, having commuter rail service to Pittsburgh and return the same day would be very exciting,” Richard Burkert, JAHA president, says.

Tuesday morning local and state officials will meet in Pittsburgh to discuss adding train service to make Johnstown a commuter city with Pittsburgh.

“We’re going to be in a position to get people to Pittsburgh easier and also to get people home meaning Greensburg, Latrobe, Johnstown, and Altoona” says Representative Bryan Barbin.

Representative Barbin says he wants folks to consider living in a more rural area like Cambria County, but still have access to bigger city jobs.  He thinks this project could provide a big advantage to small businesses.

“Because when you provide additional rail service in and out of Pittsburgh you now make other relationships with small businesses and people in Pittsburgh that much easier to work through.”

Barbin says a new funding plan was approved at the federal level.

“So there is funding.  You have to submit grants.  However, without a second passenger service, it’s hard to get the additional grants for the service.  So it’s the first step you have to take.”

They hope it’s something that doesn’t just impact Cambria County riders, but all of western and central Pennsylvania.

“It’s a two way street,” Cambria County president commissioner Tom Chernisky says.  “We can bridge that gap and work together.  This is not just for the city of Johnstown.  This is for Cambria County and the entire region.”

After Tuesday’s hearing there will still have to be meetings with the various organizations involved.  Representative Barbin says he expects rail service to be extended as early as next June.